The Therapeutic Development Award supports the preclinical assessment of therapeutics for ALS. The proposed studies are expected to be empirical in nature and product-driven but may have a hypothesis-driven approach, provided the focus is on therapeutics. It is anticipated that the agents and/or data generated from these awards will lead to the advancement of new therapies for ALS.

The Therapeutic Development Award mechanism is designed to support preclinical testing and  development of therapeutics for ALS. Applications must include preliminary data relevant to the phase(s) of the preclinical development process covered by the proposed research. The application should include a clear statistical plan of analysis, if appropriate. Applicants must clearly and explicitly articulate what impact the project may have on therapeutic development for ALS. Clinical trials will not be supported with this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity

a. Areas of interest:

i. Confirmation of candidate therapeutics obtained from screening or by other means

ii. Validation of lead pharmacological agents up to IND submission 

iii. Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies

b. Elegibility Information:

i. Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications.

ii. Cost sharing / matching is not an elegibility requierement.

c. Funding:

i. The maximum period of performance is 2 years.

ii. The maximun allowable direct cost for the entired period of performance are $1,500,000 plus indirect cost.

iii. All direct and indirect costs of any subaward (subgrant or subcontract) must be included in the total direct costs of the primary award.

iv. The applicant may request the entire maximum funding amount for a project that may have a period of performance less than the maximum 2 years.

v. Regardless of the period of performance proposed, the applicant may not exceed the maximum allowable direct costs.  Indirect cost shall be proposed in accordance with the organization's negotiated rate agreement.

d. Dates:

i. Pre-application deadline:

       - VHIR's deadline: June 22th, 2018

       - Official deadline: June 22th, 2018 5:00p.m Eastern time

ii. Invitation to submit an Application: only by invitation; October 11, 2018 11:59:00 p.m Eastern time

e. More information: HERE