Research Grants

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DYRK1A SYNDROME INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION GRANTS PROGRAM

DYRK1A Syndrome International Association (DSIA) is pleased to announce a competitive grants program to enable investigator-led research that advances the understanding of DYRK1A biology as well as the discovery and development of safe and effective therapies for individuals affected by DYRK1A Syndrome. The intent of the grant is to support well-defined research projects that have the potential to make a significant contribution to the DYRK1A field. 

The program is open to applicants worldwide and will consist of one-year grants. The DSIA anticipates awarding ~3-5 seed grants of up to $30,000 each to applicants in 2024. The window is currently open for new applicants through 2024. Awardees will be expected to present their proposal and any preliminary data at the Annual DYRK1A Family Conference Scientific Roundtable.

Objectives/Areas of Interest 

  • Pre-clinical studies of DYRK1A syndrome 

  • In vivo assessment/measurement of DYRK1A protein and/or function

  • DYRK1A syndrome genotype/phenotype correlations 

  • Functional assessments/validation of genetic variants 

  • DYRK1A syndrome natural history 

  • Biomarkers and clinical endpoints/outcome assessments 

  • Novel precision medicines or targeted therapies that correct DYRK1A haploinsufficiency

  • The Gut/Brain axis, and improving gut function 

Eligibility 

The DSIA Grants Program is open to research investigators at academic institutions and affiliates.

Application Instructions 

There will be a two-stage peer-review application process. 

I. Letter of Intent (LOI): All applicants must submit a one-page maximum LOI to the Foundation by email, as a PDF file, to grants@dyrk1a.org. Only select applicants will subsequently submit a full proposal. 

II. Full-length Application: The Foundation will supply the applicant with Grant Application Instructions to be followed for submission. 

Review Mechanism 

All proposals will undergo rigorous peer review by the DSIA Medical and Scientific Advisory Board: experts in DYRK1A Syndrome and related disciplines. Applications will be scored according to Key Selection Criteria including, but not limited to, (i) significance of the research to DSIA; (ii) innovation of the project; (iii) feasibility of the proposed methods; (iv) potential impact of the project on individuals affected by DYRK1A Syndrome. 

  • Applications are reviewed in detail by the DSIA’s medical and scientific advisors and are discussed as a group to determine funding priority based on DSIA’s research criteria.

  • A prioritized list is reviewed by DSIA’s Board of Directors for final funding decisions. 

The grant selection process is unbiased and independent; awards are based solely on scientific merit and expected contribution to the body of knowledge about DYRK1A Syndrome. Advisors and board members with a conflict of interest will not participate in voting for those specific applications. 

The application, along with the attachments, must be assembled and submitted electronically as a single PDF to research@dyrk1a.org. 

If there are any questions please contact Sarah Glass or Amy Clugston at msab@dyrk1a.org.

Our first grant was awarded to Craig McIntosh, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Research at n-Lorem. To explore a personalized ASO treatment for a DYRK1A patient. If successful, this would provide the first clinical data evaluating individualized ASOs as a treatment option for DYRK1A syndrome.

We look forward to making many more grant awards for research.