Call supports preclinical assessment of candidates expected to reach clinical testing within three years.

The ALS Association, an American non-profit organisation founded in 1985, has opened submissions to its Lawrence and Isabel Barnett Drug Development Programme. The call is aimed at industry and academic investigators developing novel approaches or repositioning existing therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND).

The programme is seeking proposals focused on preclinical assessment of ALS therapeutics with a high probability of reaching the clinic within three years. Areas of interest include in vivo efficacy testing of therapeutic candidates in ALS models, covering pharmacological treatments, biological therapies or gene therapy. The Association also welcomes studies on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, preclinical toxicology and safety (ADME/Tox), dose-range finding and target engagement, as well as other Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies.

Applications are accepted from organisations worldwide. Eligible applicants include public entities such as academic institutions, hospitals, laboratories and units of state and local governments, as well as private entities including biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Collaborative proposals between institutions are permitted and must identify a lead organisation.

Awards offer up to $500,000 in total costs over a period of two years, with indirect costs permitted up to 10%.