Angelman Syndrome Foundation Opens Calls for Research Proposals

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) plans to award one- or two-year grants of up to $100,000 to projects that test new ideas regarding the biology behind Angelman syndrome and treatments for the genetic disease.

The ASF conducts biannual calls for proposals through its research funding program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with deadlines for review occurring every Oct. 15 and April 15.

Translational research and clinical research are also priorities, as are projects that study communication, behavioral issues and identification of issues and treatments that affect the daily life of patients and families living with Angelman — a rare genetic disorder caused by the deletion/mutation of the UBE3A gene.

Researchers from all countries are encouraged to apply by filling this research grant submission form. All proposals, including cover letters, should be submitted in one PDF file.

Applications should include one cover page, completed with a title of proposal and name of principal investigator; a one-page summary abstract of proposed research; the research proposal, including hypothesis, background, research plan and significance of the proposed research (page limits are indicated in the application form); the applicant’s resume; a one-page detailed budget of indirect costs, and an institutional approval, in case proposals involve human or animal subjects.

Since its establishment in 1996, the ASF has awarded more than $8 million. in research funding. The organization, based in Aurora, Illinois, is committed to not only fund research but also make available platforms for sharing results and debating unmet needs.

To meet this objective, the ASF in September organized its 2017 Angelman Syndrome Foundation Research Symposium and Family Conference in Phoenix. One of the event’s highlights was a presentation by Agilis Biotherapeutics.

The talk, “AAV Mediated Strategies for the Treatment of Angelman syndrome,” was given by Dr. Jodi A. Cook, chief operating officer of Agilis, and Dr. Edwin Weeber, a professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa.