Not Verified

Postdoctoral Fellowship

TSC Alliance

The TSC Alliance is dedicated to creating a future where everyone affected by tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) can live their fullest lives. We invest in early-career researchers to drive innovative TSC research and to foster a diverse group of researchers dedicated to our shared mission. In 2024, we anticipate awarding three or four awards to postdoctoral fellows and early-stage investigators depending on merit, requested budgets, and funds available. A description of research funded previously is available on the TSC Alliance grants webpage.

Key Dates The TSC Alliance’s program follows a two-step process. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required and must be submitted by the due date below. LOIs will be peer-reviewed, and a subset of applicants submitting LOIs will be invited to submit full applications.

Step in process Due Date

LOI due Monday, May 18

Full proposal invitations distributed Week of July 20

Full proposal due (by invitation only) Monday, September 8

Project start date December 1, 2026

Award Budget and Project Period

• Postdoctoral fellowship awards may support any type of basic or translational research relevant to TSC that provides an outstanding opportunity for the trainee’s professional growth.

• Postdoctoral fellowship awards are intended to fund the applicant’s salary and some of the laboratory supplies or tools necessary to conduct the proposed research.

• Postdoctoral fellowship awards are not intended to fund technical support for the project or to purchase equipment in the Sponsor’s laboratory.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong alignment with TSC Alliance research priorities (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important criterion.

Competitive research proposals should address one or more of the Alliance's priority areas:

Understanding phenotypic heterogeneity in TSC
TSC signaling pathways and cellular consequences of TSC deficiency
Improved cell, tissue, or animal models of TSC
Clinical biomarkers
Patient-reported outcome measures
Disease progression and risk stratification

Projects outside these strategic priorities are generally less competitive.

2. Scientific excellence and innovation (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

Novel scientific hypotheses
Innovative experimental approaches
Strong scientific rationale
Original concepts
Potential to significantly advance TSC biology

The Alliance invests specifically in innovative research that can accelerate progress toward better therapies and ultimately a cure.

3. Translational potential and clinical relevance (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Successful projects should demonstrate potential to:

Improve diagnosis
Develop biomarkers
Advance therapeutic development
Improve epilepsy management
Enhance patient outcomes
Translate laboratory discoveries into clinical benefit

Research with a clear pathway toward improving care for individuals with TSC receives strong consideration.

4. Strong support for early-stage investigators (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

A defining feature of the TSC Alliance program is its emphasis on early-career researchers.

Competitive applicants are typically:

NIH-defined Early-Stage Investigators
Early independent faculty
Postdoctoral fellows
Investigators building independent TSC research programs

The program is specifically designed to foster the next generation of TSC researchers.

5. Rigorous methodology and project feasibility (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals include:

Clearly defined aims
Robust experimental design
Appropriate statistical analyses
Realistic milestones
Feasible timelines
Reproducible methods

Projects should demonstrate a high likelihood of successful completion within the award period.

6. Strong mentorship and career development (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

For fellowship applications, reviewers evaluate:

Quality of the research sponsor
Mentoring plan
Training environment
Professional development opportunities
Long-term career potential

The anticipated impact of the fellowship on the applicant's research career is an important consideration.

7. Investigator expertise and collaborative research environment (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers consider:

Scientific expertise
Publication record
Institutional support
Laboratory resources
Collaborative environment

The Alliance welcomes collaborations among academic institutions, research organizations, and biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

8. Focus on epilepsy and high-priority manifestations (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Applications addressing epilepsy may receive additional recognition through the Wong Family Foundation Research Award, particularly projects involving:

Drug-resistant epilepsy
Infantile spasms
Epilepsy models
Imaging technologies
Electrophysiology
Novel epilepsy therapies

No separate application is required for consideration.

9. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and open science (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The Alliance encourages:

Diverse applicant populations
Inclusive research environments
Open sharing of research outputs
Data and resource accessibility
Collaboration across the TSC research community

Open science practices are supported to accelerate therapeutic development.

10. Complete, compliant application and realistic budget (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Successful applications include:

Complete documentation
Appropriate budget justification
Compliance with eligibility criteria
Well-prepared LOI and full proposal
Adherence to submission deadlines

The competitive LOI → invited full application process makes careful preparation essential.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

• Postdoctoral fellowship applicants must be working with and mentored by a Sponsor to do research relevant to TSC. The Sponsor must be tenure-track faculty, or an equivalent level at a research institution or company.

• The trainee applicant is considered the “Principal Investigator” for the purpose of postdoctoral fellowship awards.

• Postdoctoral fellowship applicants must have been a member of the Sponsor’s laboratory for at least 12 months as of the LOI due date.

• Previous recipients of a TSC Alliance Postdoctoral Fellowship are not eligible to receive a second TSC Alliance Postdoctoral Fellowship award, but they may be eligible to receive a Research Grant as an independent, early-stage investigator.

• Previous recipients of a TSC Alliance Biosample Seed Grant are eligible to receive a Postdoctoral Fellowship if they meet other eligibility criteria.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: TSC Alliance

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 400 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3921 USA 800.225.6872 (Toll-Free) 301.562.9890

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity