Open opportunities (fellowships, awards, training, research, funding, career, etc.) of interest to NEALS members can be found here. Please contact Christina Smith, NEALS Communications Coordinator, at csmith@neals.org to submit an announcement for posting on the website.
We are hiring a postdoctoral researcher!
An exciting opportunity to join our new project on MRI-based imaging biomarker development in ALS. The appointment will be at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota. The CMRR is one of the world’s premier magnetic resonance imaging facilities, with considerable expertise in imaging physics, engineering, and clinical research. Further details and a formal application link are available at
https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/359206
CVs and/or informal inquiries about the position may be emailed to Pramod Pisharady at email hidden; JavaScript is required before submitting a formal application.
Challenge Works, a not-for-profit enterprise owned by Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for social good, has launched a £7.5 million (~$10 million) international program to incentivize the use of AI-based approaches to transform therapeutic discovery for the treatment of ALS. This five-year prize will see global multidisciplinary teams compete in a three-phased program to identify, prioritize, and validate high-potential therapeutic targets for ALS. Aside from funding, the prize will also support multidisciplinary teams by providing a wide range of resources, including robust datasets, computational power, technical expertise, and partnership opportunities. Submissions must be received by December 3, 2025.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is forecasted to issue a funding opportunity: “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Intermediate Patient Population Expanded Access (U01 Clinical Trial Required),” RFA-NS-26-001. Please note that forecasted opportunities are not guaranteed and may not result in a published Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
This funding opportunity is intended to support scientific research utilizing data from expanded access (EA) studies for ALS using investigational drugs or biological products. Eligible applicants must be clinical trial sites that participate in a phase 3/efficacy clinical trial supported by a small business concern that is the FDA-designated sponsor of a drug or biological product which is the subject of an IND under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat, or cure ALS. The definition of a small business concern can be found at https://seed.nih.gov/small-business-funding/small-business-program-basics/eligibility-criteria.
NINDS encourages eligible drug sponsors to review RFA-NS-26-001 and consider working with an eligible Phase 3 clinical trial site to submit an application.
Receipt dates are still being finalized and are subject to change.
NINDS program staff (contact information below) are available to address any questions you may have about the funding opportunity, and to discuss your application should you choose to submit. In addition, technical assistance webinars for potential applicants to RFA-NS-26-001 will be scheduled prior to the receipt dates.
Amy Tsou, Program Director, Division of Clinical Research, NINDS, email hidden; JavaScript is required
Emily Caporello, Program Director, Division of Translational Research, NINDS, email hidden; JavaScript is required
Amelie Gubitz, Program Director, Division of Neuroscience, NINDS, email hidden; JavaScript is required
Dina Lyon, Clinical Research Project Manager, Division of Clinical Research, email hidden; JavaScript is required
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The ALS Association is now accepting applications for our 2026 Hoffman ALS Clinical Trial Awards. This program supports early- to mid-stage (phase 1 or 2a) biomarker-driven clinical trials of novel or repurposed therapeutics for ALS (either disease-modifying or symptomatic). Early trials testing imaging tracers are also in scope.
Letters of intent are due by October 28, 2025, 1 p.m. US ET.
Richard Olney Clinician Scientist Development Award in ALS
This award, funded by the ALS Association and American Brain Foundation in collaboration with AAN, aims to encourage early career investigators in ALS clinical studies by providing $75,000 per year for three years, plus a $5,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs. Applicants must be AAN members interested in an academic career in neurological research and have completed a residency or Ph.D. no more than seven years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2026). All applications must be received by September 9, 2025.
MDA provides support for research throughout the pipeline of drug development from discovery research through clinical trials. Funding opportunities exist for both academic investigators as well as for biotech and pharma seeking to develop therapies for neuromuscular disease.
Learn about all our grant programs and find deadlines and instructions on how to apply.
Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS
This award, funded by the ALS Association and American Brain Foundation in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), aims to encourage early career investigators in ALS clinical studies by providing $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs. Applicants must be interested in an academic career in neurological research and have completed a residency or Ph.D. no more than five years prior to the beginning of the award (July 1, 2026). All applications must be received by September 9, 2025.
The Springboard Fellowship is focused on supporting senior lab fellows to transition to an independent academic tenure track or equivalent position. This fellowship is designed to support and advance scientists pursuing careers in ALS/FTD research. Target ALS is especially interested in proposals that tackle fundamental questions of ALS/FTD disease biology for sporadic and genetic forms of the disease.
Due date for proposals: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
To learn more: Target ALS Springboard Fellowship
Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS
This award, funded by the ALS Association and American Brain Foundation in collaboration with AAN, aims to encourage early career investigators in ALS clinical studies by providing $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs. Applicants must be interested in an academic career in neurological research and have completed residency or a Ph.D. no more than five years prior to the beginning of the award (July 1, 2026). All applications must be received by September 9, 2025.
The Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family ALS Endowed Award for Innovative Healing is a global award celebrating excellence in research for an individual or team of investigators who are making transformative breakthroughs in the science of repair and regeneration of neurological function. The goal is to identify and recognize therapies and modalities to regain loss of neurol function in ALS or that may be applied in ALS patients in the future.
Due date for nominations: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
To learn more: 2025 Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family Award for Innovative Healing
The AAN is currently accepting applications for multiple grants and awards listed below.
• Career Development Award• Neuroscience Research Training Scholarship• Practice Research Training Scholarship
*Applicants can only be eligible for one award and will not be accepted for multiple AAN research program grants.
Due date for applications: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
To learn more: AAN Research Programs
Sheila Essey Award for ALS Research
Presented by the American Brain Foundation, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the ALS Network, and the ALS Association, and supported through the philanthropy of the Essey family, this award recognizes an individual who has made significant research contributions in the search for the cause, prevention of, and cure for ALS. The recipient will receive $50,000 to continue their ALS research and complimentary registration for the 2026 AAN Annual Meeting. Applications close October 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
This award, funded by the ALS Association and American Brain Foundation in collaboration with AAN, aims to encourage early career investigators in ALS clinical studies by providing $75,000 per year for three years, plus a $5,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs. Applicants must be AAN members interested in an academic career in neurological research and have completed residency or a Ph.D. no more than seven years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2026). All applications must be received by September 9, 2025.
In addition, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, on behalf of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® in ALS (AMP® ALS), has launched a request for information (RFI) regarding current gaps and emerging opportunities in biomarker research for ALS. This RFI is actively seeking ideas, innovative information, and valuable insights to help identify the most promising opportunities for biomarker research in ALS, including the ALS-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) clinical spectrum, as well as recommendations for the collection of clinical biospecimens to facilitate such research. The full RFI can be accessed here. Responses are due December 31, 2025, 5 p.m. ET.
Provided by the American Philosophical Society, the Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation are awarded for research with emphasis on patient-oriented research. The fellowship is usually intended to be the first post-clinical-training fellowship, but each case will be decided on its merits.
Due date for applications: Monday, September 15, 2025
To learn more: Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation