The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is inviting researchers across a broad range of disciplines to apply for a new funding opportunity focused on advancing earlier detection of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Despite remarkable advances in the treatment of MS, many people still experience substantial delays between the first signs of disease and a definitive diagnosis. An accelerated path to diagnosis could shorten the time to treatment and improve long-term outcomes for people living with the disease.
To accelerate progress in this area, the National MS Society opened a Request for Applications (RFA) seeking innovative screening technologies that can identify individuals likely to have MS within populations already enriched for MS risk. The goal of the RFA is to support development and validation of scalable, clinically practical, and economical screening approaches that can be used across a wide variety of healthcare settings (e.g., primary care, specialty care, or community-based settings). Successful technologies will improve the ability to identify individuals who should undergo comprehensive neurological evaluation for MS, ultimately accelerating time to diagnosis.
Experience in MS research is not required, and investigators from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged to apply, including (but not limited to) those with expertise in multiple sclerosis, neurology, neuroimmunology, autoimmune disease, imaging, ophthalmology, artificial intelligence, digital health, biomarker discovery, diagnostics development, and data science. Applications are open to academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and commercial organizations.
Potential approaches could include blood-based biomarkers, retinal and visual biomarkers, imaging technologies, digital measures, artificial intelligence-enabled platforms, or multimodal screening platforms that improve the identification of people at highest likelihood of having MS. General population risk prediction tools, symptom checkers, education or awareness programs, implementation science, therapeutic interventions, or basic MS biology research are outside the scope of this funding opportunity.
The program includes a 3-stage process beginning with a short concept note due December 16, 2026. Select applicants will receive 3-month Planning Grants before submitting a full proposal.
For complete details and to access the full Request for Applications, visit the National MS Society's website.
Key Dates:
- Concept note deadline: December 16, 2026
- Concept note notification: Around February 1, 2027
- Full proposal deadline: June 2, 2027
- Award notification: Around August 31, 2027
- Anticipated award start: November 2027
This is one of two opportunities that will be administered through the FIRST-MS initiative. By supporting the development of innovative risk identification and screening technologies, FIRST-MS (Faster Identification, Recognition, and Screening for Timely MS Diagnosis) aims to enable earlier diagnosis, thereby shortening time to treatment, and improving long-term outcomes for people with MS.
A second, complementary funding opportunity will focus on innovative approaches to risk classification and support development of scalable, low-cost approaches that identify individuals at elevated risk of MS. The National MS Society anticipates sharing more details in January or February of 2027.