MSA Trust Small Research Grant

Small grants for pilot and proof of concept research projects and exploratory studies to improve clinical care and management for people living with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

The MSA (Multiple System Atrophy) Trust provides support for people with MSA and funding for research to further understanding of the causes of MSA and work towards developing treatments and a potential cure.

MSA is an incurable, rapidly progressing, neuro-degenerative condition with no known cause and poor clinical understanding. Diagnosis of MSA is challenging due to symptoms overlapping with other neuro-degenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s and ataxia, and the lack of definitive diagnostics and understanding of clinical progression. Current treatments are ineffective and treatment and management pathways are undefined.

The MSA Trust Research Strategy aims to address the current barriers to providing effective care for people with MSA by:

• Finding the cause of MSA.
• Understanding clinical progression of MSA.
• Developing an evidence base to inform and improve clinical care for people with MSA.
• Disease modification.
• Biomarker identification.
• Symptom management.
• Mental health and quality of life.

The MSA Trust Small Research Grant supports innovative research projects that aim to advance understanding of MSA and contribute to improving clinical care and management for people living with MSA. Projects should align with the ‘symptom management’, ‘mental health and quality of life’, ‘developing an evidence base’ or ‘understanding clinical progression of MSA’ points of the MSA Trust Research Strategy.

Proposals should demonstrate originality, relevance, and potential for real-world impact. Projects may include exploratory studies, pilot initiatives, or proof-of-concept research that could lay the groundwork for future, larger-scale investigations.