2026 USS Translational Research Grant

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

• Applications Due: October 24, 2025 (5 pm EDT)
• 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