FSMA is pleased to announce that we are soliciting grant applications for 2009 funding. The deadline for submission is September 15th 2008.   Award announcements will be made in December 2008 with funding to commence in early 2009.

To apply for a grant, please down load an application from our website. Please submit an electronic copy as well as 5 hard copies to Families of SMA. An electronic copy should be sent to jill@fsma.org, while hard copies should be sent to 14047 Petronella Drive, Suite 107, Libertyville, IL 60048.

 

Listed below in random order are the FSMA funding priorities for the upcoming grant application deadline. We would like to encourage applications in these areas, but also welcome novel proposals that will enhance our understanding of SMA disease pathology and contribute to developing new therapeutic approaches.

 

 1.  Development of a large animal model of SMA (most particularly a larger rodent model or possibly a pig model) for use in assessing stem cell, oligonucleotide, and potential new drug therapies for SMA.

2.  Identification of modifier genes for SMA using genetic systems.

3.  Studies investigating the regulation of SMN expression, the regulation of SMN splicing, the regulation of SMN stability, and the discovery of downstream SMN effectors with the long-term goal of identifying and understanding potential new routes  of molecular intervention / targets for SMA therapies.

4.  Projects systematically assessing candidate drug compounds (or oligonucleotides) for SMA, including in cellular and animal models of SMA, as well as projects assessing mechanism action of drug compounds.

5.  Focused experiments to determine the critical role of SMN in motor neurons.

6.  Proteomics experiments to assess what SMN complexes exist in motor neurons. Projects providing an indication of complex stoichiometry are particularly encouraged.

7.  Experiments to assess the benefit of motor neuron replacement in established animal models of SMA.

Again we also welcome other novel approaches that will enhance our understanding of SMA disease pathology and contribute to developing new therapeutic approaches.