While new therapeutics targeting causative genetic mutations have begun moving the needle for some people with ALS, other candidate therapeutics targeting specific cellular pathways and pathology have been less successful in clinical trials. Target ALS seeks to incentivize collaborations between academia and biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies that broaden the landscape of candidate ALS therapeutics strongly rooted in a deep biological understanding of the disease. We are soliciting proposals from collaborative groups focused on the discovery of novel therapeutic targets with strong potential for translation into the clinical pipeline.
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Key Dates
early November 2025
December 2025
What We’re Funding
Target ALS seeks to support projects that meet the following criteria:
- At least one biotech/pharma partner with lab capabilities in-house and drug discovery expertise that will provide material intellectual and laboratory contributions to the project. This group does not need to lead the consortium, but industry-led consortia are encouraged to apply.
- At least one collaborator that will conduct research in human samples or data that rationalizes and/or validates the proposed target(s).
- Projects focused on a novel ALS target with robust biological rationale validated (at least in part) in human samples or data. Screens to identify and optimize novel lead candidate molecules that act on a known target are permitted.
- Proposed therapeutics targeting C9orf72, SOD1, or FUS ALS must be applicable to other forms of ALS.
- All therapeutic modalities welcome, projects with DNA, RNA, and protein targets are all acceptable.
NOTE: “Novel target” in this context means a target with robust biological backing that has never entered the ALS clinical pipeline OR a mechanism of action for targeting known ALS genes and proteins that has never entered the ALS clinical pipeline. Projects focused on traditional modulation of TDP-43, e.g. targeting post-translational modifications, will be excluded.
Confidentiality of investigators’ data, research, and intellectual property will be strictly honored. Target ALS does not seek ownership of any intellectual property or financial gains that result on the basis of its funding.
Target ALS Research Cores are available to researchers worldwide, independent of direct or in-kind funding from Target ALS. Applicants are encouraged to include use of Target ALS Research Cores in their proposals for funding.
Who Should Apply
This call is focused on bringing investigators together to work collaboratively on ALS biology with the aim of developing novel ALS therapeutic targets. Only collaborative projects will be considered.
- Collaborative projects for this call comprise groups of 3-5 laboratories working around a common theme or target.
- All collaborators must provide a copy of the executed agreement between their institutions on data/IP sharing OR provide a document that confirms each Technology Transfer Office has been made aware of the collaborative project and the need to sign a data/IP sharing agreement as part of the full proposal submission. NOTE: A fully executed data/IP sharing agreement must be shared within 60 days of notification of award or the grant will be rescinded.
- Each consortium must have at least one investigator from the biotech/pharmaceutical industry that meets the criteria outlined above.
- A Principal Investigator can only participate in one LOI submission.
- Principal Investigators who have two or more active competitive grants from Target ALS at the time of LOI submission for this call are not eligible to apply.
What Our Grants Support
- Funding to cover the following project components:
- Researcher salaries and fringe benefits
- Lab supplies, materials, and equipment
- Research associated costs up to 15% of the award (e.g. lab’s rent)
- A speaker slot at the Target ALS Annual Meeting, held in Boston, MA. This meeting provides an immersive experience in cutting edge ALS research and offers an opportunity to network with leaders from academia, pharma/biotech, venture capital and other non-profits.
- Grant structure:
- $130,000 per lab, per year maximum
- The total budget for a collaborative project cannot exceed a maximum of $500,000 per year.
- The grant will be for a two-year period.
Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
Ready to start the application process?
