New Epilepsy Funding Opportunities at NINDS

We are excited to bring the following announcement to your attention. This is the first RFP to come from the new initiative "Accelerating Research in the Epilepsies,” which we announced last month.

NINDS Epilepsies EUREKA Program

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking applications proposing exceptionally innovative research that could have a transformative effect on biomedical or biobehavioral research in the epilepsies. These disorders involve disruption of basic neurobiological functions at all levels, including cellular/molecular biology and genetics, cognitive/behavioral and systems neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and neurodevelopment. Investigators from outside the field of epilepsy are strongly encouraged to submit applications to this funding opportunity announcement that apply knowledge from these areas to bring potentially paradigm-shifting approaches to the study and/or treatment of the epilepsies. Investigators who are currently working in epilepsy research are encouraged to submit applications on highly innovative concepts that cannot be supported through other research mechanisms. Applications from new collaborative teams are particularly encouraged. For additional information, please view the Request for Applications here.

NINDS Cooperative Program in Translational Research for Resistant Epilepsy and Epileptogenesis

NINDS is also announcing a call for applications for translational research to support preclinical development of new therapies to cure epilepsy, prevent the emergence of epilepsy in high-risk groups, or to better treat individuals with intractable epilepsy. The program will facilitate solicitation, development, and review of therapy-directed projects to accelerate the translation of basic research discoveries into therapeutic candidates for clinical testing. This program is specifically directed at projects that include therapeutic leads with demonstrated activity against the intended disease target. The program supports preclinical optimization and testing of these leads and projects must be sufficiently advanced that an Investigational New Drug (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application to the FDA can be submitted by the end of the project period. This is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement (U01) program involving participation of NIH staff in the development of the project plan and monitoring of research progress. An exploratory (R21) program is also available to support projects intended to complete preliminary steps in the pipeline. Such projects, if successful, should lead directly to a subsequent project that will include all remaining activities for submission of IND or IDE application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information, please view the Funding Opportunity Announcements here (U01) and here (R21).

For additional information, contact CURE: 800.765.7118.