Graduate Research Fellowship Grant for Ataxia Research

Deadline: 18-Nov-2026

The National Ataxia Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship provides $25,000 for one year to outstanding PhD or equivalent research-degree students conducting basic, translational, or clinical research on ataxia. Eligible students and institutions may be based in the United States or other countries, and funding can support approved direct research expenses but cannot cover tuition or institutional overhead.

About the Graduate Research Fellowship

The Graduate Research Fellowship is a one-year, non-renewable funding opportunity offered through the National Ataxia Foundation’s research program. It supports graduate students conducting research that advances the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of: - Hereditary ataxias - Sporadic ataxias - Acquired ataxias Projects may involve laboratory research, disease models, therapeutic development, diagnostic studies, patient-focused research, or other scientifically rigorous approaches relevant to ataxia.

About the National Ataxia Foundation

The National Ataxia Foundation is a patient-centered nonprofit organization working to accelerate the development of treatments for ataxia and improve the lives of affected individuals and families.

NAF promotes collaboration among:

- Graduate students - Established investigators - Clinicians - Academic institutions - Research organizations - Industry partners - Patients and families - International research networks Its research funding programs support scientific discovery, professional development, treatment development, diagnosis, and clinical care. What Is Ataxia? Ataxia describes impaired coordination, balance, speech, movement, or control of voluntary muscles.

It may be caused by:

- Inherited genetic changes - Sporadic neurodegenerative conditions - Neurological injury - Immune-related conditions - Nutritional deficiencies - Infections - Toxic exposure - Other acquired factors Ataxia can affect mobility, communication, independence, and quality of life. Research is needed to improve diagnosis, clarify disease mechanisms, and develop effective treatments. Purpose of the Funding The program helps graduate students develop research experience while producing knowledge that may advance the ataxia field.

Its objectives include:

- Supporting promising graduate researchers - Generating preliminary data - Improving understanding of ataxia mechanisms - Developing and validating disease models - Identifying therapeutic targets - Exploring new treatment approaches - Improving diagnostic methods - Supporting basic, translational, and clinical research - Strengthening mentorship in ataxia research - Developing the next generation of ataxia investigators Priority Research Areas Priority is given to projects demonstrating scientific merit and innovation.

Relevant areas include:

- Fundamental disease mechanisms - Molecular and cellular pathways - Disease-model development - Disease-model validation - Novel therapeutic targets - Experimental treatment approaches - Biomarker research - Diagnostic development - Natural-history studies - Clinical research - Preliminary data generation - Research supporting future studies Projects should address a meaningful gap in ataxia knowledge, diagnosis, care, or treatment. Basic Research Basic research seeks to improve fundamental understanding of how ataxia begins and progresses.

Projects may investigate:

- Genetic mechanisms - Cellular dysfunction - Protein pathways - Neurodegeneration - Cerebellar biology - Disease progression - Molecular signaling - Neurological pathways - Experimental models Applicants should explain how the findings could support future diagnostic, translational, or therapeutic research. Translational Research Translational research connects laboratory discoveries with clinical development or patient care.

Projects may address:

- Therapeutic-target validation - Biomarker development - Drug screening - Preclinical treatment studies - Diagnostic tools - Patient stratification - Clinical-trial readiness - Translation of disease models into therapeutic applications A strong translational proposal should identify the gap between scientific discovery and practical application. Clinical Research Clinical research involves patients, clinical information, human samples, or healthcare outcomes.

Potential topics include:

- Natural-history research - Clinical outcome measures - Diagnosis - Biomarkers - Patient-reported outcomes - Treatment response - Clinical-trial readiness - Disease progression - Quality of life - Patient care Projects involving human participants must follow appropriate ethical, regulatory, privacy, and informed-consent requirements. Funding Amount and Duration

The fellowship provides:

- Total funding: $25,000

- Funding period: One year

- Renewal: Not available

- Funding type: Direct research expenses only

Applicants should design a focused project that can produce meaningful results within the one-year funding period. Eligible Research Expenses

The award may support:

- Salary or stipend - Laboratory reagents - Consumable research supplies - Essential equipment - Animal purchase and care - Publication expenses - Travel to scientific meetings - Patient-related research expenses - Other approved direct project costs Every expense should be necessary for the proposed research and justified in the project budget. Budget Limits

The following limits apply:

- Salary or stipend: Up to 100% of the award

- Essential equipment: Up to 20% of the budget

- Publication costs: Up to $2,500

- Scientific meeting travel: Up to $2,000

For a $25,000 award, essential equipment may not exceed $5,000. Although the full grant may be used for salary or stipend, a proposal requesting other expenses must distribute funds accordingly within the $25,000 total. Patient-Related Expenses Approved patient-related costs may be covered when directly connected to the study. These may include eligible expenses associated with: - Participant recruitment - Clinical as