ASAP seeks applications for $6M in Parkinson’s research grants
Grants to develop preclinical tools that may advance new treatments
The Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative is investing $6 million in research grants to support the development of new tools — including cell and animal models, as well as methods to detect or deliver therapeutic molecules — to advance the study of potential treatment targets for Parkinson’s disease.
These grants provide up to $2 million per year for three years to develop preclinical tools that can be reliably produced and shared with the research community to push forward discoveries around targets previously found through the ASAP initiative.
“By bringing researchers together to generate new preclinical tools, our goal is to help accelerate drug discovery and research outcomes for Parkinson’s disease,” Ekemini A. U. Riley, PhD, ASAP’s managing director, said in a press release.
Funded researchers will join the Collaborative Research Network 2025 Technical Track, which supports projects directly relevant to human Parkinson’s disease. Its goal is to develop, test, and share research tools or models for at least five priority targets from a list of 20.
More than $290M has been awarded to 35 research teams
The Collaborative Research Network brings together teams of researchers working in collaboration to find better treatments faster. Over the course of four years, it has awarded more than $290 million in research grants to 35 teams around the world.
“This funding opportunity builds on the Collaborative Research Network’s collective efforts to grow our understanding of Parkinson’s disease through open science, resource generation, and data sharing,” Riley said.
To qualify, projects must not only focus on human Parkinson’s but follow ASAP’s rules for team structure, application, and budget. Researchers must also agree to ASAP’s open science policy, which ensures that discoveries are shared openly.
The deadline to submit a letter of intent is May 5 at 6 p.m. ET, and decisions will be announced early next year. The letter must include the title of the project, a summary of the project in plain language, its goals and strategy, and how it aligns with ASAP’s goals.
Tools of interest include preclinical models, such as lab-grown cells or animal models, to study and test potential targets, as well as antibodies and other molecules that can detect or measure the levels and activity of these targets. Additionally, the initiative supports the development of modulation agents, like viral vectors or oligonucleotides (short strands of genetic material), to explore how altering these targets might pave the way for new treatments.
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