HDF Postdoctoral Fellowships

HDF Postdoctoral Fellowship

Supports postdoctoral scientists building independent research careers in Huntington disease science with collaboration and translational focus.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF) Postdoctoral Fellowship is a two-year award from a New York–based nonprofit established in 1968 that has funded Huntington's disease research since the organisation's founding by Dr. Milton Wexler. The program supports early-career scientists whose work focuses exclusively on Huntington's disease — no other disease area qualifies. HDF pays $100,000 per year for up to two years, yielding a total of $200,000; the foundation explicitly pays zero indirect costs, so the full award flows to direct research and personnel expenses.

Eligibility is open to postdoctoral fellows or researchers within seven years of earning a PhD at the time of application. Applicants worldwide may apply — there are no country restrictions. A mentor letter of support is mandatory. The 2026 cycle followed a two-stage process: letters of intent were accepted between July 15 and September 3, 2025, full applications were due December 2, 2025, with funding decisions in February 2026 and project start in March–April 2026. Applicants with overdue progress reports from prior HDF funding are barred from new submissions. Recipients may not subsequently apply for additional postdoctoral fellowships.

Applications are submitted through ProposalCentral using NIH-formatted materials. HDF's Scientific Advisory Board scores LOIs; only top-ranked candidates receive full application invitations. Reviewers assess relevance to HD, novelty, significance, scientific premise, approach quality, applicant qualifications, institutional environment, and budget. Progress reports are required biannually — every six months — and each must include a 150-word lay summary. Awards run annually; the 2026 cycle is closed and the 2027 cycle is anticipated on a similar calendar.