FARA Named Research Awards

FARA Named Research Awards

Funds named Friedreich ataxia research programs in cardiac, translational, and collaboration areas.

Eligibility · United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany

FARA administers three named annual awards that share the spring application calendar (Letter of Intent due 15 February, full application due 15 April), each targeting a distinct research domain within Friedreich's ataxia. The Keith Michael Andrus Cardiac Award funds research on the cardiac mechanisms of FA — including molecular pathways, cardiac metabolism, and therapy development to reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality — at up to $125,000 per year for one to two years. The Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award supports translational and pre-clinical development activities, including therapeutics, biomarkers, novel tools, and mechanism-of-action studies, at up to $200,000 per year for one to two years, making it the highest single-year ceiling among the named awards. The Bronya J. Keats Research Collaboration Award funds multi-institutional research, with a stated preference for international collaborations, at up to $175,000 per year for one to two years; single-laboratory applications are disqualified from this award.

All three awards follow the same two-stage process: a Letter of Intent is required (unlike the AIM award), followed by a full application of up to ten pages. Indirect costs are not funded under any FARA mechanism. Salary is capped at the NIH salary cap at 100% effort. The spring 2026 cycle has closed; the next cycle opens with LOI submissions due 15 February 2027 and full applications due 15 April 2027. Award notices are expected by approximately 1 August 2027.

Eligibility for the named awards is broadly similar to other FARA mechanisms: universities, research organisations, non-profits, and for-profit companies are eligible; individual applicants are not. The Keats Award requires demonstrated synergy across institutions, and applicants should document meaningful collaboration rather than nominal affiliations. The Bryant Award is restricted to translational and pre-clinical stage work and will not fund purely basic science. Applications are submitted through the FARA online grant portal; enquiries should be directed to grants@curefa.org.