Global NMO Atlas (2018)
- Principal Investigator | Farrah Mateen, MD, PhD
- Institution | Massachusetts General Hospital
- Aim | To understand availability and affordability of NMOSD testing and treatments in developing countries.
- Funds Awarded | $10,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
- Publication | Neuromyelitis optica testing and treatment: Availability and affordability in 60 countries (published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders journal – May 2019 Edition)
Immune Tolerization (2018)
- Principal Investigator | Tanuja Chitnis, MD
- Institution | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Aim | To use Immune Tolerance as a method to prevent NMOSD attacks while retraining the immune system to no longer attack the brain and spinal cord.
- Funds Awarded | $8,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
Therapeutic Response in Pediatric NMOSD (2019)
- Principal Investigator | Tanuja Chitnis, MD
- Institution | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Aim | To evaluate the effect of different disease modifying treatments on attack and disability prevention in children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
- Funds Awarded | $10,000
- Grant Type | Joannie’s Unicorn Grant
Severe NMO / MOG / Idiopathic Optic Neuritis Treatment Analysis (2019)
- Principal Investigator | Kristin Galetta, MD
- Institution | Massachusetts General Hospital
- Aim | To address how to best treat patients with attacks of severe optic neuritis.
- Funds Awarded | $10,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
Diagnostics in NMOSD (2020)
- Principal Investigator | Farrah Mateen, MD, PhD
- Institution | Massachusetts General Hospital
- Aim | To pilot a novel point-of-care dry blood spot diagnostic test for patients with aquaporin 4-antibody (AQP4) seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).
- Funds Awarded | $25,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
Autoantibodies in NMOSD (2020)
- Principal Investigator | Stacey Clardy, MD, PhD & Jonathan Galli, MD
- Institution | University of Utah Health
- Aim I | To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of all patients who carry a diagnosis of NMOSD within the Department of Defense/Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS).
- Aim II | To confirm the presence of Aquaporin-4 and MOG autoantibodies in pre-symptomatic NMO samples.
- Funds Awarded | $25,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
Investigating a Relapse Biomarker in MOG (2020)
- Principal Investigator | Tanuja Chitnis, MD
- Institution | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Aim I | To evaluate dynamics of TNFAIP3 as a relapse biomarker in adults and children with MOG-AD.
- Aim II | To evaluate the effects endogenous and exogenous steroids on levels of TNFAIP3 in patients with MOG-AD.
- Funds Awarded | $25,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
Link between MOG & Cholestrol (2020)
- Principal Investigator | Michael Levy, MD, PhD
- Institution | Massachusetts General Hospital
- Aim | To repurpose existing medications to stop the inflammatory process in patients with MOG antibody disease
- Funds Awarded | $25,000
- Grant Type | SPARK Grant
FAQs
Who is eligible for the grant award?
Clinical, translational and basic researchers with experience in the field of NMOSD and autoimmune diseases, who are affiliated with academic institutions in the United States are encouraged to apply.
How much funding is available?
At the beginning of every calendar year, the TSF Board determines the dollar amount and number of grants that will be available that year. As part of the application process, investigators are required to outline their plans for the grant funding, and to demonstrate their leadership in patient care and research in NMOSD for consideration by the TSF Grant Committee.
Is the grant awarded to the individual's institution?
Yes, this award will be granted to an institution.
What is the difference between TSF's SPARK Grant and Joannie's Unicorn Grant?
SPARK grants are for adult NMO / MOG research. Joannie’s Unicorn Grant was created to specifically fund pediatric NMO / MOG research in honor of Joannie Rios, a 6-year old girl from Rochester, New York who lost her battle to neuromyelitis optica in February 2019.
Who is on the TSF Grant Committee?
To ensure fairness, the grant committee will consist of a member of the medical board, two members of the executive committee and 1 or 2 independent key opinion leaders in NMOSD research. Committee members have been selected based on their leadership role in the practice of patient’s interest, care and research. The grant committee has sole decision-making authority in determining the winner and runner-up and will score applications based on predetermined criteria.
Once a grant is awarded, will there be any requirements for the investigator to meet certain milestones or report to TSF?
Yes, the winning team is required to share its outcomes through a report at the mid-term and completion of the project.
For more information and/or application instructions, please email grants@sumairafoundation.org