HDF Research Grants

HDF Research Grant

Supports Huntington disease researchers pursuing creative studies and translational advances toward stronger care, biomarkers, and disease understanding.

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

The Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF) Research Grant funds experienced scientists pursuing promising and creative basic or translational research on Huntington's disease, with the explicit aim of generating preliminary data that positions recipients to secure larger follow-on funding from sources such as the National Institutes of Health. The HDF was established in 1968 by Dr. Milton Wexler and is headquartered in New York City; it played a central role in the 1993 discovery of the HTT (IT-15) gene responsible for HD, organized by its Gene Hunters consortium of more than 100 scientists. The Research Grant is a one-year award of up to $100,000 and is renewable once, for a maximum of two consecutive years of HDF support.

Researchers worldwide may apply — there are no country-of-origin restrictions. Eligible institutions include universities, research organizations, and nonprofit entities; for-profit companies are not eligible. Individual investigators apply on behalf of their affiliated institution. A critical financial constraint: HDF pays zero indirect costs, meaning the applicant's institution cannot recover overhead from the award. Investigators and co-investigators must submit NIH-style biosketches. The 2026 cycle followed a staged process: letters of intent were accepted July 15–September 3, 2025; full applications were due December 2, 2025; funding decisions were communicated in February 2026; and project start dates fell in March–April 2026.

Progress reports are required every six months and must include a 150-word lay summary accessible to non-specialist readers. Applicants with overdue progress reports from prior HDF funding are not permitted to submit new proposals. Full applications are reviewed by at least three independent reviewers, scored on relevance to HD, novelty, scientific rigor, approach, applicant qualifications, and institutional environment. Applications are submitted via ProposalCentral, starting with a 500-word text-only LOI. The next cycle (2027) is expected to open for LOI submissions in summer 2026.