Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Centers (MDSRC) (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)

Background
The Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Centers (MDSRC) is a program developed in honor of Senator Paul D. Wellstone, aiming to promote collaborative basic, translational, and clinical research in muscular dystrophy. The program also provides resources for the national muscular dystrophy research community and supports the training of new researchers in this field.

Grant Details
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for MDSRCs, which should include projects focused on collaborative basic, translational, and clinical research in muscular dystrophy. The research projects should address problems that require substantial collaborative research efforts to solve and involve synergistic teams of researchers with complementary expertise. The NOFO emphasizes the importance of clinical research involving human subjects and encourages epidemiological, behavioral, and health outcomes research studies for the muscular dystrophies.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain other entities as detailed in the NOFO. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply directly but may participate as foreign components.

Period of Performance
Applications may request up to five years of support with a total award budget of up to $1,000,000 direct costs per year. The earliest start date for the project is July 3, 2024.

Grant Value
NIH intends to fund up to three awards totaling $4,800,000 for fiscal year 2025. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations.