$266,000 Awarded
NTSAD is pleased to announce the 2015 Research Initiative Grants totaling $266,000 thanks to many generous research supporters.
This year NTSAD solicited proposals for innovative research projects that involve
- basic research
- translational studies or
- clinical studies
Grant awards were based on final proposal evaluations by a Research Evaluation Subcommittee of NTSAD's Scientific Advisory Committee and other scientists who generously volunteered their time. Grants were made for a one to two year period for up to $40,000 per year. (Funding for a second year is predicated by adequate progress during year one.
View the full Request For Proposal
View Press Release
NTSAD would like to thank all of those that submitted an application this year. The pool of applicants was highly competitive and numerous proposals were conducive to the NTSAD mission. At this time NTSAD congratulates the five awardees for the 2015 research grants and includes their summaries below.
The Awards
Denis C. Lehotay, PhD, Principal Investigator
University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine
Project: Development and validation of a rapid, MS/MS-based method
to detect Hexosaminidase deficiency in Tay-Sachs disease
Douglas R. Martin, PhD, Principal Investigator
Auburn University
Project: Intravascular gene therapy for feline GM2 gangliosidosis
Heather A. Lau, MD, MS, Principal Investigator
Paola Leone, PhD, Co-Investigator
New York University
The Canavan Foundation, Co-funder
Project: Defining the Natural History of Canavan Disease through Development of an International Registry
The following two grants are made possible by the Katie & Allie Buryk Research Fund of NTSAD:
Florian S. Eichler, MD, Principal Investigator
Massachusetts General Hospital
Project: Registry and Repository for Late Onset GM2 Gangliosidoses
Eric R. Sjoberg, PhD, Principal Investigator
OrPhi Therapeutics
Project: Generation of a knock-in mutant Hexb mouse model
Project Details
For a description of each project's goals and impact, read more at 2015 Research Initiative Grants
About the Research Grant Initiative
NTSAD has maintained a strong commitment to funding research over the years to advance its mission to lead the fight to treat and cure Tay-Sachs, GM-1, Sandhoff, Canavan, and other related genetic diseases. Read about the NTSAD Research Initiative including highlights and past awards.