NIH - NINDS Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research program. The overarching goal of this program is to support specialized research Centers that work collaboratively as well as independently to define the causes of and discover improved treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD). A more immediate goal for each Center is to rapidly advance synergistic, interdisciplinary research programs while serving as national leaders in PD research. Applicants will identify an overall research theme that directly addresses a critical challenge in PD research. The Center theme, proposed research projects, and associated cores will inform the etiology, pathogenesis, or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such directly address the identified PD research challenge. Udall Centers also serve as local resources by providing research career enhancement activities for Center investigators and periodic outreach to the PD patient/advocacy community. Required components of this FOA include: an Overall section describing the Center theme, vision and organization; three or more Research Projects, plus a dedicated Udall Catalyst research project led by an early career researcher poised to become an expert in PD research; an Administrative Core; at least one integrated Research Core that is essential to and accelerates the progress of two or more Research Projects; a mission statement for career enhancement of Center investigators, and a plan for periodic outreach to the local patient/advocacy community, including specific outreach events to convey Center research advances. The NINDS Udall Centers program prioritizes innovative and integrative research with significant potential for discovery. Considerable synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that the Center structure is required for successful completion of the aims. Funding decisions will focus on those applications most likely to make significant contributions to PD research, as well as those with greatest potential to collaborate effectively across the Udall Centers program. 

See full solicitation here