National MS Society: Harry Weaver Scholar Awards Grant

National MS Society: Harry Weaver Scholar Awards Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Last Updated: November 29, 2025

Summary

The National MS Society offers Harry Weaver Scholar Awards to support emerging researchers in multiple sclerosis. This prestigious award honors Dr. Harry Weaver's legacy and aims to facilitate independent research careers. Eligible candidates must have a doctoral degree and relevant postdoctoral training. The funding is designed to provide salary and grant support for five years, allowing awardees to establish competence in their research area. Applications should align with the Society's Pathways to Cures Roadmap.

Overview

National Multiple Sclerosis Society The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is bringing the world together to cure MS for every single person — as fast as possible. The Pathways to Cures Roadmap will drive progress by increasing alignment and focus of global resources on high-priority research questions. Our research awards align with the three Pathways outlined in the Roadmap: STOPPING MSRESTORING functionENDING MS by prevention MS research is a high priority for the Society, and we strategically invest in research worldwide to drive solutions for every single person with MS. Applicants must clearly state the relevance of their proposals to at least one of the research questions outlined in the Roadmap. The Society supports all types of research including laboratory models, human studies, population-based approaches, and data-intensive investigations that leverage both researcher and patient-reported outcomes. We value studies that: promote synergies between researchers in diverse disciplines;adhere to principles of sharing data and resources;focus on underserved and understudied ethnic and racial MS populations (Please consult this toolkit for strategies regarding Minority Engagement in MS Research). Harry Weaver Scholar Awards Harry Weaver, Ph.D., known worldwide for his contribution to neurosciences and multiple sclerosis research, was the Society's Director of Research from 1966-1977. Throughout his tenure with the Society and throughout his career, Dr. Weaver continued to encourage young investigators to enter and pursue MS research, and to broaden our understanding of basic and clinical aspects of MS. In recognition of Dr. Weaver's contribution to the neurosciences and MS research, and to his dedication to young researchers, the Society named this prestigious Award in his honor. As part of its overarching goals of stopping MS progression, restoring function, and ending MS forever, the National MS Society offers a limited number of Harry Weaver awards to highly qualified candidates who have concluded their research training and begun academic careers as independent investigators in an area related to multiple sclerosis. The awards are designed to provide salary and grant support for a five year period, thus permitting the awardee to establish competence in his/her chosen research area. Application must be made jointly by a candidate and the institution in which an appointment is held.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Previous Training and Experience: Candidates are eligible who hold a doctoral degree (M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent) and have received sufficient research training at the postdoctoral level to be capable of independent research. Sponsoring Institution: Candidates must hold or have been offered an academic appointment at the assistant professor (or equivalent) level at an approved university, professional school or research institute in the United States at the initiation of the award.Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is not required.Concurrent Applications and Ongoing Research Support: An applicant for a Weaver Award should not dual- submit an application to the Society’s regular research grant program at the same deadline date.However, because the award is primarily intended to provide faculty salary support, the scientific proposal may overlap with existing or pending grants.The applicant should clearly demonstrate that they have the financial resources – whether in the form of start-up funds or other forms of funding to support the conduct of their research program.The awardee is expected to submit applications for additional research funding to the Society or other funding organizations during the course of the Weaver award.Research Program: The applicant is expected to spend at least 75% of the working time on fundamental or clinical research, the remainder being reserved for patient care, teaching, or service. His/her research program is expected to concern one or more aspects of multiple sclerosis-related investigation. This may be in areas such as epidemiology, genetics, neurochemistry, neurobiology, neurophysiology, virology, immunology, or pharmacology, or patient management, care and rehabilitation, and may be carried out on MS patients, on animal models of MS, or on other model systems.

Ineligibility

Individuals who are more than seven years beyond the completion of their postdoctoral training are not eligible for this award.