MND Advancing Treatment Awards

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation 2025 Advancing Treatments Award will support the early-stage development of new treatments to slow, stop or reverse MND disease progression. We will also consider the development of treatments to better manage the symptoms of MND, where they could transform the lives of people living with the condition. We encourage applications for projects with the potential to be effective across a broad range of people living with MND. 

The Award aims to help researchers build data packages that will attract onward investment and strategic partnerships to accelerate promising treatments through further testing and towards commercialisation.

Scope

We are accepting applications for projects across two of the strategic priorities in our research strategy:

1. Validate therapeutic targets

We will support studies to robustly validate novel targets for MND treatments

2. Accelerate new treatments

We will support the pre-clinical development of novel or repositioned pharmacological interventions for MND

For projects focusing on validating therapeutic targets, we expect applicants to be able to demonstrate the target’s relevance (i.e. biological rationale), differentiation, and safety. Applicants must clearly outline how they will demonstrate that target modulation results in pathway modification and rescue of disease phenotype. Successful projects will seek to define target engagement and downstream pharmacodynamic biomarkers.

For projects focused on accelerating new treatments, we will support the development of new pharmacological interventions and studies to demonstrate their efficacy in pre-clinical models. Projects must assess target engagement and build a robust body of evidence using multiple relevant models or approaches. We will also support safety and pharmacokinetic studies, enabling human dose prediction. Successful studies will consider the development of biomarker and patient stratification approaches.

For further guidance, please read our guidance on implementing the Guiding Principles for Drug Discovery and Development in ALS.

Out-of-scope research includes early discovery research aimed at identifying novel targets, clinical trials, and health and social care research.

Eligibility

Lead applicants must be based in a UK academic institution, although collaborators may be based anywhere worldwide.

We encourage early career researchers (ECRs – senior postdocs working towards independence) to apply as lead and co-applicants. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from both the ECR’s host institution and principal investigator.

Sub-contracting to contract research organisations is permitted and industry partnerships are encouraged, but pharmaceutical and biotech companies are not eligible for grant funding.

Projects that leverage additional funding sources or in-kind support will be looked upon favourably.

Funding

Eligible expenses include costs for research staff, consumables, and expenses related to conferences and publications. Requests for funding to cover other items must be pre-approved by the Foundation before application.

The Foundation does not cover indirect research costs.

Awards are for a maximum of £500k for up to 5 years, unless otherwise pre-agreed with the Foundation. Projects exceeding £300k or 3 years should be milestone-gated with clear go/no-go decisions built in.

We are happy to explore co-funding projects with other funders. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that funding for the total cost of the project has been secured.

A maximum of £1.5m million is available for this grant round, depending on suitable quality applications.

Application Process and Timeline

All applications are to be made using our online grant management system, Flexi-Grant.

Key dates are outlined below:

• 18th March 2025 – Applications are open for Expression of Interest (EoI)
• 2nd of May, midday – Deadline for Expression of Interest (EoI)
• June – Successful EoIs are invited to Full Application stage
• July – Deadline for Full Applications
• November – Anticipated Award decision

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed by our independent Research Review Committee. Please note this committee is made up of scientific experts and people affected by MND, who score the applications with equal weighting.

Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Good communication of research with non-scientific audiences audiences (lay summaries that are not understandable will be sent back before a full review is completed. Please see Muscular Dystrophy UK’s guidance on how to write a lay summary)
• Strategic fit and potential impact for people with MND
• Scientific robustness of the proposal including strength of existing evidence, methodology proposed and level of scientific innovation
• Alignment to the Guiding Principles for Drug Discovery and Development in ALS
• If animal use is proposed and justified, the appropriateness of number of animals and chosen models
• Suitability of the applicant(s) to carry out the research
• Potential of the project to rapidly translate towards the clinic
• Appropriateness of patient and public involvement, such as whether the ask of people affected by MND in the proposal is reasonable
• Appropriateness of mitigation of risks associated with the project
• Cost effectiveness, justification of funds requested and feasibility of the approach within the proposed budget and timescale

Full terms and conditions for the Advancing Treatments Award can be found here.

Making an application

My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is committed to supporting you throughout your project funding journey, beginning with the chance for 1:1 support even before you submit your Expression of Interest (EoI). This step can be invaluable in strengthening your submission. Should you wish to book a 1:1 or have any queries about the Advancing Treatments Award or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us at research@myname5doddie.co.uk.

Previous success rate

In 2024, for our Advancing Treatments Award we received 8 expressions of interest, 7 were invited to full application stage and 5 projects were awarded funding. In 2023, for our Advancing Treatments Award (previously “Project Award”) we received 9 expressions of interest, 5 were invited to full application stage and 3 projects were awarded funding.

Visit funding web page
(https://www.myname5doddie.co.uk/research/funding-opportunities/)