The Orphan Disease Center (ODC) is offering 42 distinct research opportunities focusing on 34 different rare diseases through the 2024 Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR) Pilot Grant Program. These one-year grants aim to support research related to the rare diseases represented by the 2024 MDBR teams. The number of awards and dollar amounts for each disease will vary based on the fundraising totals of each individual disease team.
Key Deadlines and Application Process
The application process begins with the submission of a Letter of Interest (LOI). Researchers must submit their LOI applications no later than Friday, September 20th, 2024, at 8 PM ET/2 AM CEST. All applicants should thoroughly review the Request for Applications (RFA) and submit their completed application form through Submittable.
The grants are open to the international research community, including individuals holding a faculty-level appointment at an academic institution or a senior scientific position at a non-profit organization or foundation. Prior MDBR grant recipients are eligible for selection if they have current and updated project reporting.
Research Areas Covered by the 2024 MDBR Grant Program
The 2024 MDBR Pilot Grant Program covers a wide range of rare diseases, with opportunities for research in the following areas:
- Adult Polyglucosan Body Disease (APBD)
- Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T)
- BPAN – a Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Disorder
- CACNA1A-Related Disorders
- CADASIL
- Castleman Disease
- CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder
- Choroideremia (CHM)
- Complex Lymphatic Anomalies (CLA)
- Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI)
- Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD)
- Cohen Syndrome (COH)
- CRB1
- CSNK2A1
- CTNNB1
- Dup15q
- Dyskeratosis Congenita & Telomere Biology Disorders
- Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune Albright Syndrome
- Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome
- KCNT1
- Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome (LNS)
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
- MPS Gene Spotlight: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS I)
- Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia of Infancy (NEHI)
- Pitt Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS)
- RASopathies
- Ring 14
- SCN2A
- Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome (SGS)
- SETBP1 Haploinsufficiency Disorder
- STXBP1 Encephalopathy
- SynGAP1
- TBC1D24
- ZC4H2
These research areas represent a wide spectrum of genetic, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Many of the diseases listed are considered ultra-rare, with little existing research, making the funding provided by this program essential to advancing knowledge and potential treatments.
Submit your Letter of Interest here.
For further information on the Million Dollar Bike Ride program and the 2024 grants, visit the ODC website.