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Target ALS Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$15.5M
Grant Range
$130K - $0.5M
Decision Time
2mo

Target ALS Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15.5 million (2024)
  • Total Investment: $80.4 million across 675+ grants (since 2013)
  • Grant Range: $130,000 - $500,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Global/International
  • Assets: $180.6 million
  • Application Method: Competitive, multi-stage review process

Contact Details

Website: https://www.targetals.org

Phone: (332) 333-4140

Address: Target ALS Foundation, 244 Madison Avenue #1025, New York, NY 10016

Grant Information: https://www.targetals.org/grants/

Overview

Target ALS Foundation was established in 2013 by Dan Doctoroff with a mission to "break down barriers to ALS research to find effective treatments." Headquartered in New York with 14 international research sites worldwide, the foundation has invested $80.4 million across 675+ research grants. In 2024 alone, Target ALS launched six competitive funding opportunities and funded 67 projects with $15.5 million in grants. The organization employs a distinctive collaborative model that unites academia, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, government, venture capital, and the ALS community. CEO Dr. Manish Raisinghani, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., has led the organization since its founding, emphasizing that Target ALS serves as "the glue that binds" discoveries in academia with the bench-to-bedside expertise of the biotech industry. Notable achievements include 56% of funded consortia advancing to drug discovery programs, 8 emerging clinical trials, and 5 biotech companies launching from funded work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Industry-Led Consortia (ILCs)

  • Maximum budget: $500,000 per year total; $130,000 per lab per year
  • Brings together investigators from pharma/biotech and academia
  • Includes direct funding for industry partners
  • Two-stage application: Letter of Intent (1-2 pages), then full proposal by invitation
  • Two-year initial grant period

Drug Discovery Consortia

  • Maximum budget: $400,000 per year; $200,000 per lab per year
  • Multi-investigator teams (2-4 laboratories)
  • Focus on novel therapeutic targets toward clinical development

Neurology Resident Grants

  • $150,000 per year for up to three years (total possible grant: $450,000)
  • Initial two-year award with possible third year based on progress
  • Supports early-career clinician-scientists
  • Must dedicate minimum 50% time annually to project
  • Awardees receive speaker slot at annual Target ALS meeting in Boston

In Vivo Target Validation Program (Partnership with The ALS Association)

  • Supports proof-of-concept studies for cutting-edge ALS research
  • Enables evaluation of novel therapeutics for target engagement and disease-modifying potential

Biomarker Consortia Grants (Partnership with Gates Ventures and Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation)

  • Focus on pioneering discovery and development of novel disease progression and patient stratification biomarkers
  • Groups of 3-5 scientists with at least one from pharma/biotech

Springboard Fellowships

  • Support for senior lab fellows transitioning to independent academic tenure track positions
  • Cultivates next generation of ALS research leaders

Novel Modalities Consortia

  • Development of next-generation gene therapies for ALS
  • Focus on distinct therapeutic strategies addressing core drivers of ALS pathology

Basic Biology Consortia (Currently Open)

  • Primary active grant program for collaborative research teams

Priority Areas

Target ALS is particularly interested in:

  • Identification, validation, and development of new targets for ALS therapeutics
  • Novel biomarkers and tools to facilitate human proof-of-biology studies
  • Biomarker development for disease progression and patient stratification
  • FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) clinical contributions
  • Outcome measures development
  • Therapeutic target validation
  • Proof-of-biology tools
  • Innovative mechanisms of disease
  • Translational data generation
  • Next-generation treatment development

What They Don't Fund

  • Indirect costs (explicitly excluded from all grants)
  • Projects from Principal Investigators who already have two or more active competitively-awarded Target ALS grants
  • Multiple applications per investigator per funding opportunity (only one proposal allowed)
  • Single-investigator projects (collaborative consortia required for most programs)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dr. Manish Raisinghani, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. - Chief Executive Officer

  • Led Target ALS since founding in 2013
  • On collaboration: "Collaboration accelerates innovation and together with the ALS Network, we are proud to support these projects."
  • On the organization's mission: "At Target ALS, we fuel the best ideas in ALS research worldwide by providing support through funding and access to critical resources to accelerate the discovery of treatments that will change the trajectory of ALS."
  • Describes Target ALS as "the glue that binds" academic discoveries with biotech industry expertise

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors sets overall policy and provides guidance to the Foundation's executive leadership team. Members include pioneering academic leaders, pharmaceutical and biotech executives, patients and their family members, and visionary philanthropists:

  • Daniel L. Doctoroff - Founder; Former CEO, Sidewalk Labs; Former CEO, Bloomberg LP; Former Deputy Mayor of Economic Development and Rebuilding for the City of New York (diagnosed with ALS in 2021; his father and uncle also battled the condition)
  • John Dunlop, Ph.D.
  • Zach Hall, Ph.D.
  • Richard Hargreaves, Ph.D.
  • Chris Henderson, Ph.D.
  • Carole Ho, M.D.
  • Brad S. Karp
  • Story Landis, Ph.D. - Former Director, NIH NINDS; Board Liaison, Independent Review Committee

Conflict of Interest Policy

All board and committee members, as well as staff, abide by a comprehensive conflict of interest policy and are neither allowed to apply for, nor receive funding from, Target ALS.

Independent Review Committee (IRC)

The IRC makes all research funding decisions without involvement from the organization's staff or leadership, ensuring every application receives fair evaluation. Comprised of experts across scientific disciplines from both industry and academia, no IRC member can apply for or receive Target ALS funding for their own work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Target ALS uses a competitive, multi-stage review process:

  1. Monitor Funding Opportunities: Visit https://www.targetals.org/grants/ for current and upcoming opportunities
  2. Submit Letter of Intent (LOI): Required for some programs (e.g., Industry-Led Consortia)
    • 1-2 pages in length
    • Only submit LOIs for programs where your research aligns with strategic priorities
  3. LOI Review: Target ALS staff reviews submissions
  4. Invitation to Full Proposal: Only invited applicants may submit full research proposals
  5. Proposal Submission: Submit detailed research proposal with budget, collaborator agreements, and required documentation
  6. Independent Review: Proposals reviewed by conflict-free Independent Review Committee of experts from industry and academia
  7. Funding Decisions Announced: Notifications sent to all applicants
  8. Fund Release: Successful applicants receive funding

Decision Timeline

Neurology Resident Grants (2024 cycle):

  • Application deadline: March 19, 2024
  • Final decisions announced: May 2024
  • Funds released: June 2024
  • Timeline from submission to decision: Approximately 6-8 weeks

Success Rates

  • Biomarker Consortia Grant Program (recent cycle): Drew 139 scientists across 34 collaborative proposals from 17 countries, indicating highly competitive selection
  • Overall impact: 56% of funded consortia have led to drug discovery programs
  • Clinical advancement: 8 clinical trials have emerged from funded work
  • Commercial translation: 5 biotech companies have launched from funded research

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed, but the competitive nature is evident from the rigorous multi-stage review process and significant application volume.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in public materials. Applicants are advised to contact Target ALS directly regarding resubmission opportunities. However, the foundation does limit active grants: investigators with two or more active competitively-awarded Target ALS grants cannot apply to most funding opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements for Consortia Applications

1. Multi-Investigator Collaboration is Mandatory Target ALS exclusively funds collaborative projects. As stated in their guidance: "Only collaborative projects will be considered, comprising groups of 2-4 laboratories synergizing to develop the molecule of interest." Single-investigator projects are not eligible.

2. Industry Partnership Strengthens Applications For most programs, including at least one industry partner (pharma, biotech, or for some programs, CRO) is recommended or required. For Biomarker Consortia, at least one scientist must be based in a pharma/biotech company. The organization emphasizes that "Contract Research Organizations can participate but don't satisfy industry partner requirements."

3. Data and IP Sharing Agreements Required All collaborators must demonstrate commitment to open science. Applications must include "a copy of the executed agreement between their institutions on data/IP sharing, or confirm each Technology Transfer Office has been made aware of the collaborative project." A fully executed agreement is required within 60 days of award notification. This reflects the foundation's philosophy that "Target ALS Foundation does not seek ownership of any intellectual property or financial gains that result, directly or indirectly, from its funding."

4. Budget Discipline

  • Target ALS does not fund indirect costs
  • Up to 15% of awards can be allocated for research-associated direct costs (lab rent, fellow tuition, project-specific IT costs)
  • Salary caps align with NIH Executive Level II rates (updated annually)
  • For ILCs: Maximum $130,000 per lab/year; $500,000 total per year
  • For Drug Discovery Consortia: Maximum $200,000 per lab/year; $400,000 total per year

5. Strategic Alignment with Target Validation and Biomarkers The organization prioritizes "identification, validation and development of new targets for ALS therapeutics, or for novel biomarkers and other tools to facilitate human proof-of-biology studies." Applications demonstrating clear paths to therapeutic development or clinical translation are favored.

6. Novel Approaches and Innovation Successful consortia "unite academic scientists and industry partners to pursue innovative mechanisms of disease, generate translational data, and accelerate the development of next-generation treatments, with each consortium focusing on a distinct therapeutic strategy that addresses a core driver of ALS pathology."

Specific Program Considerations

Neurology Resident Grants:

  • Priority areas include biomarkers, FTD clinical contributions, outcome measures, therapeutic targets, and proof-of-biology tools
  • Awardees gain valuable networking: "speaker slot at Target ALS's annual meeting in Boston, providing networking opportunities with academic, pharmaceutical, and venture capital leaders"
  • Candidates can defer grant start by up to one year from approval date
  • Contact the organization with eligibility questions before applying

Eligibility Restrictions:

  • Principal Investigators must run an academic research lab or industry equivalent
  • Investigators cannot have more than two active competitively-awarded Target ALS grants
  • Only one application per investigator per funding opportunity
  • For Neurology Resident Grants: must have completed at least one year of residency or three years postgraduate from medical school

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on the foundation's track record and statements:

  • Clear translational potential: 56% of funded consortia advancing to drug discovery programs demonstrates the foundation's focus on translatable research
  • True collaboration, not coordination: The model seeks "synergizing" laboratories, not just coordinated efforts
  • Industry engagement: Applications demonstrating meaningful industry partnership beyond traditional academic collaboration
  • Open science commitment: Willingness to share data and tools without IP restrictions
  • Strategic fit: Alignment with annual strategic funding priorities (check current year's calls)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Collaboration is non-negotiable: Target ALS exclusively funds multi-investigator consortia (2-4 labs). Do not apply with single-investigator projects.

  • Industry partnership strengthens competitiveness: Most successful applications include pharma/biotech partners who bring bench-to-bedside expertise. Consider this essential for Drug Discovery and Biomarker Consortia.

  • Prepare IP/data sharing agreements early: You'll need executed agreements or Technology Transfer Office confirmation. This can be time-consuming, so start conversations with institutional offices well before the deadline.

  • Budget strategically without indirect costs: Since Target ALS doesn't fund indirects, ensure your 15% direct research-associated costs cover essential items like lab rent or facility access. Plan budgets that work within lab maximums ($130K-$200K per lab depending on program).

  • Check eligibility carefully: If you already have two active Target ALS grants, you're ineligible for most opportunities. One application per person per cycle is allowed.

  • Align with annual strategic priorities: Target ALS designs funding opportunities strategically each year. Review their current calls carefully and ensure your project addresses their stated priorities, particularly around target validation, biomarkers, and proof-of-biology tools.

  • Emphasize translational pathway: With 56% of funded consortia leading to drug discovery programs and 8 clinical trials emerging, demonstrate how your project will advance toward clinical application, not just basic discovery.

  • International applicants welcome: Target ALS operates 14 international research sites and actively solicits proposals from researchers worldwide. Geographic location is not a barrier.

References

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