DSF Research Grant Programs


2024 Grant Applications are due Friday, August 23

Click on each grant category below to find more details and application instructions.

DSF’s Research Grant Programs offers funding for research directly related to Dravet syndrome and associated disorders. These grants fund initial research hypotheses that have not been fully explored. The results extracted from this type of research will help bring untested research to the point that it can qualify for larger governmental funding. Research applications are judged principally on novelty of the hypotheses, innovative approaches with a direct relevance and application to Dravet syndrome and related epilepsies, scientific quality, strength of approach, and likelihood of success. 

Applications undergo a rigorous NIH-style scientific review process and final decisions are made by the DSF Board of Directors, ensuring projects funded by DSF meet high scientific standards and align with the most pressing needs of the patient community. DSF takes integrity around our grant review process seriously, carefully following guidelines around conflicts of interest for scientific grant review panels and bringing in additional reviewers from relevant research fields when necessary to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure reviewers have the appropriate expertise to evaluate the submissions. Grant Awardees are required to give updates on their work throughout the grant cycle and present their findings at our annual Research Roundtable meeting.

DSF offers five grant categories: Transformational Science Grants, Research Grants, Clinical Research Grants, Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Clinician-Researcher Awards. 

2024 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

2024 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

Click on the buttons below to learn more about each grant category and find information on the application process. 

Projects previously funded by DSF can be found here.

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Transformational Science Grants

New Category Added in 2023!

Award: $500,000 over 3 years

Transformational Science Grants are intended for established, experienced, independent investigators affiliated with a research or academic institution whose proposed projects have substantial preliminary data, investigate hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome, and have potential to significantly impact the field.

Eligibility:

  • MD, PhD, DO, or equivalent degree
  • Independent investigator affiliated with an academic or research institution (Awards are not given to private companies)
  • Faculty appointment or offer letter and department/institution commitment of resources and space
  • US citizenship not required

Indirect Costs: Not to exceed 10% of total award

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Research Grants

New Larger Budget introduced in 2023!

Award: $250,000 over 2 years

Research Grants are intended for established, experienced, independent investigators affiliated with a research or academic institution whose proposed projects investigate early-stage hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome.

Eligibility:

  • MD, PhD, DO, or equivalent degree
  • Independent investigator affiliated with an academic or research institution (Awards are not given to private companies)
  • Faculty appointment or offer letter and department/institution commitment of resources and space
  • US citizenship not required

Indirect Costs: Not to exceed 10% of total award

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Clinical Research Grants

New Larger Budget introduced in 2023!

Award: $250,000 over 2 years

Clinical Research Grants are intended for established, experienced, independent investigators affiliated with a research or academic institution whose proposed projects have a clinical focus, directly involving patients or patient samples, and investigate hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome.

Eligibility:

  • MD, PhD, DO, or equivalent degree
  • Project has a clinical focus, utilizing patient samples or data
  • Independent investigator affiliated with an academic or research institution (Awards are not given to private companies)
  • Faculty appointment or offer letter and department/institution commitment of resources and space
  • US citizenship not required

Indirect Costs: Not to exceed 10% of total award

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Clinician Researcher Awards

Now Includes Funding Opportunities for Clinical Trainees!

Award: $75,000 for one year

Clinician-Researcher Awards support hypothesis-driven clinical research projects. The clinician-researcher award is meant to aid early-career clinicians in gaining experience in clinical research studies of Dravet syndrome (established clinicians without research experience are also eligible). 

Eligibility: 

  • MD, DO, or equivalent
  • Active U.S. medical license
  • Eligible applicants include full-time medical residents, fellows, early-career clinicians, or established clinicians lacking research experience who are affiliated with an academic or research institution on or before the start date of the award. (Awards are not made to private companies)
  • Applicant should have a direct research mentor with experience in the proposed area of research
  • Not the PI of a current multi-year research grant >$225,000, a current R01 research grant or equivalent, or any other fellowship (with the exception of NIH Career Development Awards)
  • U.S. citizenship is not required.

Indirect costs are not permitted under this award category.

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Postdoctoral Fellowships

New Larger Budget introduced in 2022!

Award: $75,000 for one year

 Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards are designed to support early-career researchers under the mentorship of an independent investigator whose proposed project investigates hypotheses directly related to Dravet syndrome.

Eligibility: 

  • Hold a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Science, or equivalent degree.
  • Be a clinical or post-doctoral fellow at an appropriate institution before or by the start date of the fellowship.
  • Have an acceptable research plan directed towards the purpose of DSF’s research program
  • Have access to institutional resources to conduct the proposed research project.
  • Not have previously been awarded a DSF Post-Doctoral Research Training Fellowship.
  • Academic faculty holding the rank of Adjunct Professor, Research Assistant, Assistant or Associate Professor are not eligible, nor are graduate or medical students, medical residents, permanent government employees, or employees of private industry.
  • Individuals receiving a fellowship from another source are not eligible to receive DSF funding.
  • US Citizenship is not required.

Indirect costs are not permitted under this award category.

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