As the largest MS organization in the world and a global leader of the MS movement, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is committed to supporting research and career development that will accelerate breakthroughs in understanding, treating, and ultimately curing MS. The Society is pleased to highlight a number of new funding opportunities aimed to bolster MS research and training. Support originates both from the Society and outside entities.
Awards are summarized below along with individual links to learn more about the details of each award, eligibility, and application instructions.
The National MS Society is offering funding opportunities that invest in the next generation of MS researchers and clinicians, and support projects focused on advancing women’s health in MS:
- Building a workforce of highly trained scientists and clinicians is crucial to finding cures for MS. Offered annually, advanced training fellowships and early-career awards are now accepting applications from MS researchers and physicians. The opportunities differ in duration (ranging from one to five years) and scope (covering both basic science and clinical research). Applications are also being accepted for awards to train board eligible/certified neurologists or physiatrists in specialized MS clinical care. All opportunities are designed to invest in emerging talent to build the skills needed to optimize clinical care and drive future breakthroughs in MS. Pre-applications are due August 6, 2025 (clinical care) and August 13, 2025 (fellowships).
- When Society staff identify gaps in the Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap, targeted funding opportunities are created to increase awareness and research in those specific areas. The Society recently highlighted priority research areas related to women’s health in MS that remain largely unexplored. In response, the Society is requesting grant applications for proposed research that addresses the knowledge gaps in women’s health issues for people with MS. Pre-applications are due August 20, 2025.
The American Brain Foundation, with support from the National MS Society and other organizations, is soliciting applications for Breakthrough Grants and Catalyst Grants as part of the 2025 Cure One, Cure Many Award in Neuroinflammation:
- A total of at least $5.4M is available through this call. Two Breakthrough Grants of up to $2M each and at least two Catalyst Grants of up to $500k each are available for research proposals in Neuroinflammation.
- Breakthrough Grants are designed to support interdisciplinary teams investigating novel neuroinflammation mechanisms and the potential development of new biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or technologies. Catalyst Grants are intended to help researchers overcome critical research hurdles and offer flexibility to explore bold ideas that have the potential to lead to significant advances in diagnosis, treatment, or prevention.
- Details are available in the full Request for Applications or by visiting the American Brain Foundation website. Pre-proposals are due July 15, 2025.
The United States Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) is accepting applications for its FY25 Technology/Therapeutic Development Award and Clinical Trial Award:
- The Technology/Therapeutic Development Award is a product-driven award intended to provide support for the translation of promising preclinical findings into products for clinical applications, including prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, or quality of life, for a disease or condition related to one of the FY25 PRMRP topic areas, which includes multiple sclerosis. Pre-applications are due June 9, 2025.
- The Clinical Trial Award supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment or management of a disease or condition addressed in one of the congressionally directed FY25 PRMRP topic areas, which includes multiple sclerosis. Pre-applications are due June 9, 2025.