+ 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

The Donald A. King Summer Research Fellowship

Huntington’s Disease Society of America

Overview

In 2005, HDSA established the Donald A. King Summer Research Fellowship program in honor of Donald King who passed away in 2004. Don was a tireless advocate for HD families and served as HDSA’s Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2003. The purpose of this fellowship program is two-fold: first, to attract the brightest young scientists into the field of Huntington’s disease research and secondly, to facilitate meaningful HD research to clarify the biological mechanisms underlying HD pathology.

The Fellowship sponsors college students to pursue an HD research project that can be conducted over a 10-week period, between May and September. Fellowship recipients, working under the supervision of senior HD scientists, will undertake a project that is focused and achievable in a short time-frame, yet helpful in guiding future HD research. Applications are accepted between December and March each year.

Terms

The Donald A. King Summer Fellowship will provide funds, in the amount of $4,500, as stipend for a student(s) who completes a 10-week summer fellowship and submits to HDSA a report of their activities and findings. In addition, up to $500 is available for the host university/lab/center to help defray the costs associated with the research. Awards will be paid by HDSA directly to the student in two installments: the first payment of $3,500 shall be made upon written acceptance of the award; the second installment of $1,000 shall be made upon successful completion and fulfillment of the terms and conditions of the award. Any and all published papers, posters and abstracts resulting from research performed as an awardee must acknowledge the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, and be provided to HDSA when in-press.

Application

Each student applying for a fellowship must complete an application outlining their project, and can only submit the form with an endorsement from a faculty mentor who will supervise the student. Selection criteria will include the academic credentials of the student, the scientific merit of the proposed project, and the relevancy of the proposal to HD. HDSA’s Scientific Advisory Board will review and select candidates. Each recipient will be required to submit a progress report upon completion to receive final payment. Payment will be made directly to the fellowship recipient. A separate payment for the research expenses will be paid directly to the host institution where the research will be performed. Progress Reports will be circulated among all HDSA senior investigators and reports of interest may be published by HDSA in its research publications. Awardees may be invited to present the results of their research findings at an annual HDSA Convention. You can read the 2026 HDSA Donald A. King Summer Research Fellowship Request for Proposals here.

Important Dates

HDSA accepts applications for the Donald A. King Summer Research Fellowship through ProposalCentral yearly.

Completed applications for the summer of 2026 must be received by HDSA no later than Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5:00 pm (EDT).
Awardees will be notified by late April of 2026.
Final reports are due by the end of September 2026.

AI based application success predictor

HDSA awards are reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of HD experts and family/community representatives. Competitive applications share several hallmarks:

🧠 1. Direct Relevance to Huntington’s Disease

HDSA prioritizes work that clearly advances HD biology, clinical understanding, biomarkers, or interventions specific to HD. Projects must explain why the research is important to HD and not just general neurobiology. hdsa.org

Success tips:

Center proposals on disease mechanisms, human biology, or HD-specific clinical questions.

Make explicit links to patient outcomes or translational pathways.

👩‍🔬 2. Human-Focused, Translational Emphasis

For the HD Human Biology Project, research must involve human samples or data (e.g., patient tissues, biomarkers, clinical phenotypes) and show how findings help interpret HD in patients rather than in animal models alone. hdsa.org

Success tips:

Partner with HD clinics or use clinical cohorts.

Show clinical relevance and meaningful links to patient biology.

📈 3. Innovation & Scientific Rigor

Even small fellowships or summer awards should demonstrate sound study design, clearly defined specific aims, appropriate methods and statistical considerations. Reviewers assess feasibility and the likelihood of generating impactful data.

Success tips:

Articulate hypotheses, milestones, and outcome measures.

Provide a clear experimental plan with feasibility justification.

👩‍🎓 4. Career Commitment & Development Potential

For career awards (e.g., Berman-Topper Fellowships) and human biology grants, reviewers value applicants who show clear commitment to HD research and a trajectory toward independence — especially early-career scientists transitioning to leadership roles. hdsa.org

Success tips:

Highlight relevant publications, technical skills, mentors and institutional support.

Position HD research as central to your long-term career.

📑 5. Clear, Well-Written Proposals

HDSA reviewers — scientists and community representatives — evaluate clarity of goals, rationale, and how success will be judged.

Success tips:

Use NIH-style sections if possible (Specific Aims, Significance, Approach).

Define technical terms and justify design choices.

🤝 6. Patient/Community Engagement (When Applicable)

Though not always required, proposals that show awareness of patient priorities — for instance how the research addresses quality of life or symptom burden — can be more competitive for human biology funding. hdsa.org

Success tips:

Link research questions to unmet clinical needs.

Mention relevance to quality of life or clinical decision-making if appropriate.

🧠 Practical Steps Before Applying

✔ Start early & check deadlines: Some programs use Letters of Intent (LOIs) before full proposals. hdsa.org
✔ Engage mentors or collaborators: Especially for early-career fellowships.
✔ Check eligibility & submission portals: HDSA uses systems like ProposalCentral for LOIs and applications. hdsa.org
✔ Review past funded projects: HDSA often highlights funded studies to guide topic relevance.

📌 Summary: HDSA Funding & Success Checklist

Program	Typical Support	Focus	Success Predictors
HD Human Biology Project	~$90,000/year (1–2 yrs)	Human HD biology	Clinical relevance, human data, translational impact
Berman-Topper Fellowship	~$80,000/yr	Early-career investigator development	Track record, clear HD career plan
Donald A. King Summer Fellowship	~$4,500	Undergraduate research	Clear project plan, mentorship
HD-COPE Engagement	N/A	Patient research engagement	Communication and patient focus

Specialties

Pathology

Eligibility Requirements

Application is open to matriculated undergraduate life sciences students and pre-medical students who are currently attending accredited institutions in the United States. Applications will also be accepted for the summer after graduating from college, the summer after the first year of medical school, or the summer after spending a year as a laboratory technician. The students will conduct full-time research, under the direction of a mentor, investigating a subject relevant to Huntington’s disease. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from the mentor who oversees the laboratory where the research will be performed. The duration of each project shall be at least 10 weeks. Note that HDSA does not place students in HD laboratories.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Huntington’s Disease Society of America

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 505 Eighth Avenue / Suite 1402 New York, NY 10018

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