+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dravet Syndrome Foundation

Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards are designed to support early-career researchers under the mentorship of an independent investigator. These fellowships are awarded to qualified applicants whose proposed projects investigate hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome. Proposals are scored according to NIH guidelines based on the quality of preliminary data, research design, feasibility, investigator’s qualifications, and overall impact. Grants are awarded for $150,000 over 2 years (beginning January), intended to support a full-time research effort with salary and benefits (no indirect costs are allowed under this fellowship award). Award funds can also be allocated towards conference travel or support technology (such as a computer).

Applicants should ensure their proposed project addresses the needs of the Dravet syndrome community and DSF’s mission to support research toward better treatments and a cure for Dravet syndrome. DSF research funding priority areas are listed below.

Fellowship recipients are required to provide a final report upon completion and present their findings at our Research Roundtable meeting.

DSF Basic and Translational Priority Areas include:

Understanding the mechanisms of epileptogenesis in Dravet syndrome
Development of enhanced models to study Dravet syndrome
Understanding of the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of Dravet syndrome
Revealing causes and interventions for seizures and comorbidities in Dravet syndrome
Understanding causes and developing interventions for SUDEP
Development of novel treatments and interventions that will prevent the onset or halt the progression of Dravet syndrome; this includes research that may overcome the current size and delivery hurdles for gene-therapy approaches

DSF Clinical Priority Areas include:

Research that helps better characterize the natural history of Dravet syndrome across the patient lifetime, including identifying patient trends, characteristics, epidemiology, or other clinical aspects of Dravet syndrome and/or its comorbidities
Research that develops or refines outcome measurements that can fully reflect meaningful improvements in patient symptoms and quality of life
Research that helps to understand, predict, and prevent SUDEP
Research that will encourage the development of novel therapies to prevent onset or halt the progression of the Dravet syndrome

Applications are due Friday, August 21, 2026.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct Relevance to Dravet Syndrome (Strongest Predictor)

DSF explicitly states that funded projects must investigate hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome or associated epilepsies. Applications with only indirect relevance are unlikely to be competitive.

2. Novelty and Innovation

Research applications are judged principally on:

Novel hypotheses
Innovative approaches
New therapeutic concepts
Creative solutions to longstanding challenges in Dravet syndrome

Innovation is repeatedly highlighted as a primary review criterion.

3. Scientific Quality

Successful proposals typically demonstrate:

Rigorous methodology
Strong experimental design
Appropriate statistical planning
Clear milestones and endpoints

DSF uses a rigorous NIH-style review process and places substantial weight on scientific excellence.

4. Potential Impact on Patients

Competitive applications show how the work could:

Improve treatment options
Advance disease-modifying therapies
Reduce seizure burden
Improve quality of life
Address severe complications such as SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)

Projects with clear patient benefit receive strong consideration.

5. Alignment with DSF Priority Areas

Recent priority areas include:

Mechanisms of epileptogenesis
Cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms of disease
Improved disease models
Novel therapeutic approaches
SUDEP prediction and prevention
Natural-history studies
Outcome-measure development
Gene therapy and disease-modifying interventions

Applications matching these priorities are particularly competitive.

6. Feasibility and Likelihood of Success

DSF specifically evaluates the strength of approach and likelihood of success.

Successful applications generally include:

Realistic timelines
Achievable aims
Appropriate methodologies
Access to required resources and patient populations when relevant.

7. Strong Preliminary Data

For larger mechanisms such as Transformational Science Grants, substantial preliminary data is specifically required and forms an important scoring criterion. Clinical Research Grants are also evaluated on the quality of preliminary evidence supporting the proposed work.

8. Translational and Clinical Potential

DSF prioritizes research with a clear path toward:

Clinical application
Therapeutic development
Genetic understanding
Disease modification

Projects that can move discoveries closer to patient care often score highly.

9. Investigator and Institutional Strength

Reviewers assess:

Investigator qualifications
Prior productivity
Relevant expertise
Institutional support
Research environment

For fellowships and clinician-researcher awards, mentor quality is also important.

10. Addressing Community Needs

A distinctive feature of DSF review is that final funding decisions consider not only scientific merit but also the priorities and needs of the patient community. Applications that address major unmet needs in Dravet syndrome may receive additional support.

Frequently Funded Research Themes

Recent DSF-funded projects commonly involve:

SCN1A biology and genetics
Gene therapy approaches
Disease-modifying therapies
Epileptogenesis mechanisms
Biomarker discovery
Natural-history studies
SUDEP prevention
Novel seizure interventions
Cellular and molecular disease mechanisms
Outcome measures and quality-of-life research

Specialties

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

Successful applicants hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree, are a clinical or post-doctoral fellow at an academic institution, may be US or foreign based, and do not hold a higher level faculty appointment.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Dravet Syndrome Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: PO Box 3026, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 (203) 392-1955

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