2026 USS Translational Research Grant

Funder: Usher Syndrome Society (USS), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness and research funds for Usher syndrome and finding treatments and cures.

Geographic Scope: U.S. and international research institutions; collaborative projects between U.S. and international scientists are acceptable.

Funding Focus Areas:

• Preclinical Research encompassing basic science research with direct links to the clinical population (human genetics, patient tissue, iPSC, humanized animal models)
• Mechanism-based Therapeutic Development focused on novel disease-modifying therapeutic modalities utilizing in vitro or in vivo preclinical models
• Research related to discovery pipeline including identification of therapeutic strategies and development of novel therapeutic agents

Priority Areas:

• Collaborative efforts extending across sensory modalities (eye and ear)
• Platform technologies that may advance therapeutic development for multiple forms of USH
• Highly promising proposals addressing specific USH genes or mutations
• Applications offering greatest benefit for the largest patient population
• Targeted approaches with great promise for select USH genes or mutations

Award Details

• Maximum Budget: $100,000 per year (direct costs only; no indirect costs allowed)
• Duration: Up to two years of support, contingent upon adequate progress
• Year Two Funding: Based on adequate progress and milestone achievements; reviewed on non-competitive basis
• Number of Awards: Determined by quality of proposals, total requested budgets, and available funds

Eligibility

• Applicant Requirements: Principal investigators must hold a tenure-track faculty position with an M.D., Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., or equivalent
• Institutional Affiliation: Qualified U.S. and international research institutions

Obligations

• Funded PIs will have biannual collaborative consultations with USS scientific advisors for feedback and progress updates

Review Process

• Applications reviewed by multidisciplinary scientific advisory committee composed of established hearing/vision scientists
• Committee chaired by Jeffrey R. Holt, Ph.D., Professor of Otolaryngology and Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard Medical School

Important Dates

• Notification of Award: December 15, 2025
• Funds Available: January 1, 2026

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Usher Syndrome Society, 1544 Central Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
• Phone: 781.838.0204

Application Requirements

Submission Format:

• Single-spaced text with one-half inch margins
• 12-point Arial or Helvetica font
• Primary applicant's name in upper right-hand corner of each page
• Submit as single PDF file to [email protected]

Composition of Research Proposal:

1. Cover Letter
2. Abstracts:
   • Scientific abstract (250 words)
   • Lay summary (100 words)
3. Budget & Budget Justification (~1 page limit)
4. Biosketch(es) (PI and co-investigators; NIH format)
5. Other Support page (list pending and current support only)
6. Research Plan (5-page limit, not including references):
   • a. Hypothesis and Specific Aims
   • b. Background and Significance
   • c. Preliminary Results / Progress Report
   • d. Research Design and Methods
   • e. Statement of how proposal supports USS mission and research priorities
7. Literature Cited
8. Letters of Support from collaborators or consultants (1 page limit per letter) - optional

Submission Deadline: October 24, 2025 by 5 pm EDT