Target ALS – Basic Biology Consortia | Research Funding
Event details
| Date | 17.12.2025 |
| Category | Call for proposal |
Aim: Target ALS is a medical research foundation committed to the search for effective treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Target ALS funds investigators who collaborate across scientific disciplines and research constituencies to drive medical breakthroughs for the treatment of ALS.
In this call, Target ALS is seeking proposals focused on understanding the fundamental biology of genetic and sporadic forms of ALS to help uncover the next wave of therapeutic targets.
While all proposals studying disease mechanisms and novel targets are welcome, Target ALS is particularly interested in supporting projects that propose the study of:
Funding: $130,000 per lab per year (not to exceed a total of $500K / year)
Duration: 24 months
Eligibility: This call is focused on bringing investigators together to work collaboratively on ALS biology with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets for sporadic ALS. Only collaborative projects will be considered. Collaborative projects for this call comprise groups of 3-5 laboratories working around a common research theme or target.
How to Apply: The two-step application process begins with a Letter of Intent. The letter of intent can be filled in directly on the application portal, with three questions to be answered (see below for the list of questions). Select applicants will be notified in January 2026 and invited to submit a full proposal. At the full proposal stage, a detailed budget is required. Budgets can include researcher salaries and fringe benefits, materials and consumables, equipment, and overhead of 15%.
Deadline, LOI: 17 December 2025
Deadline, Full Proposal: 25 February 2026
Further information
Letter of Intent Questions
In this call, Target ALS is seeking proposals focused on understanding the fundamental biology of genetic and sporadic forms of ALS to help uncover the next wave of therapeutic targets.
While all proposals studying disease mechanisms and novel targets are welcome, Target ALS is particularly interested in supporting projects that propose the study of:
- selective resilience and vulnerability
- role of central and peripheral inflammation
- altered neuronal trafficking
- lipid dysregulation
- role of RNA dysregulation in neurodegeneration
- genetic risk factors
- upstream pathways leading to TDP-43 mislocalization/aggregation
Funding: $130,000 per lab per year (not to exceed a total of $500K / year)
Duration: 24 months
Eligibility: This call is focused on bringing investigators together to work collaboratively on ALS biology with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets for sporadic ALS. Only collaborative projects will be considered. Collaborative projects for this call comprise groups of 3-5 laboratories working around a common research theme or target.
How to Apply: The two-step application process begins with a Letter of Intent. The letter of intent can be filled in directly on the application portal, with three questions to be answered (see below for the list of questions). Select applicants will be notified in January 2026 and invited to submit a full proposal. At the full proposal stage, a detailed budget is required. Budgets can include researcher salaries and fringe benefits, materials and consumables, equipment, and overhead of 15%.
Deadline, LOI: 17 December 2025
Deadline, Full Proposal: 25 February 2026
Further information
- More information about the program is available here
- The application portal can be found here
- For any other questions, please contact the Research Office
Letter of Intent Questions
- Clearly identify the scientists involved with a short paragraph about the expected contribution of each individual.
- Define a set of scientific objectives (specific aims) with explicit milestones.
- Describe how the project will focus on understanding fundamental biology of genetic and sporadic forms of ALS to help uncover the next wave of therapeutic targets.
Practical information
- General public
- Free