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Get Funding

To move closer toward a world free of MS, the National MS Society provides a broad spectrum of financial support for research to prevent, treat and cure multiple sclerosis. Our funding programs fuel novel ideas, foster collaborations and provide training opportunities in these and other areas of research emphasis:

  • Immunologic basis of MS
  • CNS repair and neuroprotection
  • Biology of glia/myelin
  • Genetics and gender differences
  • Understanding and preventing disease progression
  • Infectious triggers and risk factors
  • Cognitive and psychosocial issues
  • Patient management, care and rehabilitation
  • Pathology of MS
  • Clinical trials
  • Health care delivery and policy
  • Measures of disease activity, imaging, surrogate and biomarkers

The Society also emphasizes industry partnerships by providing milestone-driven drug development funding to private companies. Read more about our Fast Forward initiative.

Research Funding Policies and Procedures Manual

  • Download our complete manual of Policies and Procedures: Research Funding Programs and Other Awards (.pdf) or find details and links below to individual research award opportunities and other policy sections.
     
  • Summary and overview of the National MS Society’s guidelines on award administration and policies governing research awards, including the Society’s patent, intellectual property and technology transfer policies, our standards on scientific misconduct, and deadlines.

Apply Online

Log in to begin the online application. Only those applicants who have obtained a password and invitation code may gain access to the Apply Online facility. Consult individual program descriptions below for further information.  


FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

  • Research Grants
    Multi-year investigations by university-based scientists and clinicians for basic, clinical and rehabilitation research
    Deadline: Early February and early August
  • Pilot Research
    Funding for one year to test innovative, cutting-edge ideas or untested methods and gather sufficient preliminary data to apply for longer-term funding
    Deadline: Please contact the National MS Society
  • Training Grants and Fellowships
    To attract and train promising young investigators and doctors and help more established investigators learn new techniques, we offer the following research training programs. For training related to patient care, refer to clinical training opportunities.)
 

Postdoctoral Fellowships
Research projects from 1-3 years by investigators working under the mentorship of senior scientists
Deadline: August

Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowships
Support for up to 3 years to train young doctors to conduct MS clinical trials
Deadline: August

NMSS-AAN MS Clinician Scientist Development Award
Three years of support to young physicians to receive training in MS clinical research
Deadline: August

Career Transition Fellowships
Awards up to 5 years to facilitate the advancement of promising young fellows into full faculty positions
Deadline: Preliminary Applications due Early March, Full Applications due following August

Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Awards
Five-year projects by promising young investigators starting their careers as independent researchers
Deadline: August

Daniel Haughton Senior Faculty Awards
Research by established investigators to provide specialized training to facilitate moves into new areas of MS research
Deadline: August

Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship In Rehabilitation Research
Multi-year support for a mentor-institution combination to train young clinician scientists to conduct MS-specific rehabilitation research
Deadline: Early August

 

Research Grants

Pilot Research

Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship In Rehabilitation Research 

Other Awards and Prizes