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Graduate Research Fellowship

Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance(FARA)

The Graduate Research Fellowship provides 1 to 3 years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree (or equivalent).

FARA will award up to 3 Graduate Research Fellowships per year. For this application type, the PI/applicant of the grant proposal is the graduate student. Applicants need to be matriculated in the chosen graduate school and have a chosen thesis adviser at the time of application. Proof of passing qualifying exam, if applicable, is required at time of application or must be provided within a year of receiving the award, to receive funding for years 2 and 3. If passing a qualifying exam is not an institutional requirement, then the applicant must have been doing research in the adviser’s lab for at least the 6 months prior to the application deadline and must provide: (1) Institutional proof of acceptance to the PhD program; and (2) a letter from the adviser stating that the student will be supported by the adviser until completion of the student’s PhD degree (or equivalent). The research proposal must focus on projects that fall within FARA’s Research Priorities. Preliminary data are encouraged but not required. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement describing their plans for the future as it relates to FA research, with a description of career goals and how the proposed research and research environment will favor achieving those goals. A mentoring plan developed jointly by the graduate student and the primary research mentor, as well as a mentor’s letter of support are also required. The only allowable budget items are the graduate student’s salary/stipend plus applicable fringe benefits (including health insurance) and tuition costs and fees that are not already covered by the institution. The majority of the student’s time should be dedicated to this project. Recipients of this Fellowship are encouraged to attend the International Congress for Ataxia Research, and FARA will facilitate their participation.

Maximum Budget (USD): $50,000 per year, up to 3 years

Deadlines and Important Dates:

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: March 15
Application Deadline: May 15
Award Notice: September 1
Grant Start Dates: Oct. 1 – Nov. 1

AI Based Application Success Predictor

While FARA does not publish a scoring rubric, successful projects share several strong, consistent traits:

✅ 1. Alignment With FARA Research Priorities

Applications must clearly map to at least one of the priority areas above. Reviewers look for explicit justification of how the project addresses FA disease mechanisms or therapeutic pathways. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Success tip: In your narrative, tie your aims directly to FARA-listed priorities and explain why they are critical gaps in FA research.

✅ 2. Clear, Testable Hypothesis and Scientific Rationale

Grants should articulate a strong scientific question with a hypothesis grounded in existing literature and preliminary evidence. Even when preliminary data are limited (especially for AIM awards), the rationale must be compelling.

Success tip: Present a coherent mechanistic story with well-justified hypotheses that reviewers can easily evaluate.

✅ 3. Feasibility and Realistic Experimental Plan

FARA awards are modest in duration and budget relative to large NIH grants. Reviewers prioritize projects with clearly defined milestones, achievable aims, and feasible timelines within the funding period. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Success tip: Include contingency plans and measurable endpoints tied to specific timelines.

✅ 4. Innovation With Therapeutic Impact Potential

Especially for mechanisms like the Award for Innovative Mindset (AIM), FARA prioritizes high-risk, high-reward approaches that deviate from incremental advances. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Success tip: Explain how the work could create new research directions, tools, or drug targets for FA.

✅ 5. Relevance to Disease and Potential Translation

Projects that bridge discovery biology to translational endpoints — such as biomarker development, clinical measures, or preclinical efficacy — are viewed as more impactful. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Success tip: In clinical or translational proposals, emphasize how outcomes inform therapeutic development or clinical trial design.

✅ 6. Investigator Experience and Environment

For career and fellowships (e.g., Postdoctoral, Clinician Scientist, Graduate Research Fellowship), reviewers consider:

Investigator’s track record and productivity

How mentorship and environment support success

Clear professional development plan tied to FA research goals Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Success tip: Include mentor letters that describe training and career milestone support.

✅ 7. Clear Budget Justification

FARA expects budgets that are strongly tied to project activities with no unrelated costs. Crafting a budget narrative that matches each aim increases confidence in feasibility. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

✅ 8. Engagement With FARA Community

FARA encourages collaboration, participation in forums, and engagement with the FA research community. Although not a formal requirement, active engagement signals commitment and networking that can strengthen applications. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

📌 Practical Application Tips

Before submission:

Read the latest FARA Grant Priorities page and match your aims directly to them. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Contact FARA staff (e.g., grants@curefa.org) with questions about fit or clarifications. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Select the grant type that matches the scale and scope of your research (e.g., AIM for innovative ideas vs. General Research for standard studies). Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Proposal drafting:

Start with a concise summary that expresses significance and translational relevance.

Define specific aims with measurable endpoints and tie them to FA pathophysiology or therapy development.

Use figures, timelines, and tables to clarify experimental design and deliverables.

Review readiness:

Ask for internal feedback from colleagues familiar with rare disease funding.

Keep lay summaries clear — reviewers often include clinicians or patient advocates.

🧠 What FARA Does Not Typically Fund

Projects unrelated to FA biology or therapy development. Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

Incremental work lacking innovation (especially under AIM). Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance

🧠 Summary: FARA Success Predictors

Predictor	Why It Matters
Aligns with FARA research priorities	Ensures eligibility and relevance Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
Strong hypothesis and rationale	Foundation of scientific merit
Feasible and detailed plan	Essential for trust in deliverability Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
Innovation and translational emphasis	High impact potential Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
Investigator experience & mentoring plan	Supports execution and career growth Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
Justified budget	Demonstrates efficient use of funds

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals must be enrolled full-time in a research-based (dissertation-required) program, leading to a Ph.D. (or equivalent) at a not-for-profit U.S. or foreign institution of higher education at the time of application. Applicants must be matriculated in the chosen graduate school and have a chosen thesis adviser.
Proof of passing qualifying exam, if applicable, is required at the time of application or must be provided within a year of receiving the award to receive funding for years 2 and 3.
If passing a qualifying exam is not an institutional requirement, then the applicant must have been doing research in the adviser’s lab for at least the 6 months prior to the application deadline.
Individuals must be enrolled full-time and may not accept full-time teaching or research assistantships or internships during fellowship tenure.
May not be a recipient of another fellowship / studentship / scholarship, or a previous recipient of this fellowship.
Must remain in good academic standing per guidelines of the chosen graduate program.
This fellowship can support the Ph.D. portion of an M.D./Ph.D. joint program, if this is not already supported through institutional funds.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance(FARA)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 533 W. Uwchlan Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335

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