Innovations in Science

Funding Opportunities

• MDA Development Grants (DG)

  The purpose of the Development Grants program is to expand the number of scientists conducting meritorious neuromuscular disease research funding postdoctoral investigators in the laboratory of a senior investigator under whose guidance the researcher will be given flexibility to work independently or as part of a collaborative effort. Applications will be accepted for no more than $70,000 per year for 3 years.

  See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e., D.O.),
  • Be a member of a research team at an appropriate US or non-US based institution,
  • Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of an independent investigator (mentor),
  • Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's portfolio,
  • Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project,
  • Have a minimum of eighteen (18) months of post-degree research laboratory training at the time of application,
  • Be no more than 84 months (7 years) from receiving a Ph.D. or D.Sc.; or no more than 120 months (9 years) from receiving an M.D., D.O. or M.D., Ph.D. by the application deadline. Please email Bryan Criswell at bcriswell@mdausa.org with any questions about the eligibility window.
  • Not have been funded under the Development Grant program in the past,
  • By the application deadline, applicants must be in compliance with MDA’s Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  Letter of Intent Due – December 9, 2024
  Application Due – Friday, March 07, 2025
  Proposed Start Date - Monday, September 01, 2025

  Apply Now

  For questions email grants@mdausa.org

• MDA Research Grants (RG)

  MDA Research Grants are awarded to independent, established investigators to accelerate progress toward understanding and treating neuromuscular disease. Applications will be accepted for no more than $100,000 per year for 3 years.

  See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  New for 2025 grant cycle! - MDA is implementing a new triage process at the LOI stage. The Research Plan (2-pages) will be reviewed by MDA’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to determine whether applicants should be invited to submit a full grant application. The LOI must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for the full application.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible to apply for an MDA Research Grant, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree  (i.e. D.O.);
  • Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution. Investigators from both US and non-US institutions are eligible to apply. Applicants with non-traditional positions/titles (such Group Leader, Research Scientist, or Instructor etc.) should contact the grants manager ehabeeblouks@mdausa.org to confirm eligibility.
  • Be qualified to conduct a program of original research within their own laboratory;
  • Have an independent research plan for a specific disease in MDA's portfolio;
  • Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant;
  • Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
  • An investigator may only apply once per grant type (such as Research Grant, Idea, etc.) per cycle as the PI on the application.
  • By the application deadline, applicants must be in compliance with MDA’s Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  Letter of Intent Due – Monday, December 09, 2024
  Application Due – Friday, March 07, 2025
  Proposed Start Date - Monday, September 01, 2025

  Apply Now

  For questions email grants@mdausa.org

• MDA Conference Grants (CG)

  MDA supports meetings and conferences focused on the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (including Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies. Conference grants are awarded to encourage scientific meetings for researchers and/or clinicians to exchange ideas and to establish collaborations. Meetings focused on therapy development will be considered a priority. Conference grants are awarded to applicants who are organizing meetings and not to individuals wishing to travel to conferences.

  • Applications for 2025 will be accepted and reviewed on a continual rolling basis by invitation only. Contact grants@mdausa.org for more information on how to apply.

• MDA Idea Awards

  The MDA Idea Award Program seeks bold, innovative research ideas that can have an impact in the field of neuromuscular disease. The idea should be supported by a strong scientific premise and include a feasible experimental plan. Applications will be accepted for no more than $50,000 for one year.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible to apply for the MDA Idea Award, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree  (i.e. D.O.);
  • Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution. Investigators from both US and non-US institutions are eligible to apply. Applicants with non-traditional positions/titles (such Group Leader, Research Scientist, or Instructor etc.) should contact the grants manager ehabeeblouks@mdausa.org to confirm eligibility.
  • Be qualified to conduct a program of original research within their own laboratory;
  • Have an independent research plan for a specific disease in MDA's portfolio;
  • Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant;
  • Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
  • An investigator may only apply once per grant type (such as Research Grant, Idea, etc.) per cycle as the PI on the application.
  • By the application deadline, applicants must be in compliance with MDA’s Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  MDA is not accepting Idea grant applications for the 2025 grant review cycle.

• MDA Research Infrastructure Grants (RIG)

  Infrastructure Grants are designed to support the development of tools, techniques, and services of need to the neuromuscular research community. The main review criterion for this grant is need for the infrastructure to further research for the purpose of therapy development. Recipients of an MDA Infrastructure Grant must develop a plan to make this MDA-funded resource available to the research community and have a plan for sustaining the infrastructure beyond the period of MDA support. Letters of support from the community are an essential part of the application.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible to apply for an MDA Research Infrastructure Grant, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree  (i.e. D.O.);
  • Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution. Investigators from both US and non-US institutions are eligible to apply. Applicants with non-traditional positions/titles (such Group Leader, Research Scientist, or Instructor etc.) should contact the grants manager ehabeeblouks@mdausa.org to confirm eligibility.
  • Be qualified to conduct a program of original research within their own laboratory;
  • Have an independent research plan for a specific disease in MDA's portfolio;
  • Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant;
  • Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
  • An investigator may only apply once per grant type (such as Research Grant, Idea, etc.) per cycle as the PI on the application.
  • By the application deadline, applicants must be in compliance with MDA’s Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  MDA is not accepting Infrastructure grant applications for the 2025 grant review cycle.

• MDA Clinical Research Grants (CRG)

  Clinical Research Grants are milestone-driven projects that aid of development of therapeutic interventions for neuromuscular diseases.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible to apply for a Clinical Research Grant, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.),
  • Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original clinical research at an appropriate US or non-US based institution as an independent investigator (not a trainee, post-doctoral fellow, research assistant, research associate and not under the supervision of another person who is directing the research), 
  • Have an independent clinical research plan for a specific disease in MDA's portfolio;
  • Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant,
  • Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project,
  • By the application deadline, applicants must be in compliance with MDA’s Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  MDA is not accepting Clinical Research grant applications for the 2025 grant review cycle.

• MDA Clinical Research Network Grants (CRNG)

  Clinical Research Network Grants are meant to form a network to promote and accelerate clinical research helping support the infrastructure necessary to conduct this research efficiently through the collaborative activities of the network.

  Who can apply?

  To be eligible to apply for a Clinical Research Network Grant, an applicant must:

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.),
  • Be a permanent member of an MDA Care Center team.  If the PI is not a named MDA Care Center director, a letter of support from the Care Center’s director(s) is required, 
  • Be qualified to conduct clinical research at an appropriate US or non-US based institution,
  • See or have access to a minimum of 100 individuals with a disease covered in MDA’s portfolio each year,
  • Have an independent clinical research network plan for a disease covered in MDA’s program,
  • Have or employ adequate personnel to allow active participation in network activities,
  • Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant,
  • Have the ability to obtain funding for research projects conducted through the network,
  • By the application deadline, applicant must be in compliance with MDAs Good Standing policy and be up to date on any delinquent or incomplete grant deliverable from previously awarded grants. See MDA Research Department Grant Policy Manual for details.

  MDA is not accepting Clinical Research Network grant applications for the 2025 grant review cycle.