HD Human Biology Project Overview
Despite the identification of the gene responsible for Huntington’s disease (HD) over 30 years ago, no treatments yet exist to slow or halt its progression. While animal models have been essential to understanding HD, the most meaningful biological insights—and ultimately, therapeutic breakthroughs—must come from studies in humans. To meet this challenge, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) has adopted a patient-centered research strategy that places human biology at the core of HD research.
The HD Human Biology Project is the cornerstone of this strategy. Since launching in 2013, HDSA has committed more than $9 million dollars to support this unique and impactful program.
This initiative supports research that advances our understanding of HD as it occurs in people—through the use of patient samples, clinical data, and collaborations with HD clinics. HDSA encourages researchers to collaborate with one of its Centers of Excellence, but applicants may work with any HD clinic or research site worldwide.
Project Details
- 1–2 years of funding to support research directly focused on human HD biology
- Awards up to $90,000 per year
- Up to $72,000 for salary and fringe
- Up to $30,000 for research costs and travel (max $5,000 for travel annually)
- 50% minimum effort required from the applicant
- Open to researchers worldwide regardless of title or institutional affiliation
- Preference given to early-career postdoctoral and clinical investigators (PhD and/or MD)
- Applications from nontraditional researchers (e.g., engineers, data scientists, rehab specialists) and for-profit organizations are welcome
- Projects must involve human samples or data; iPSC-only studies should clearly link to clinical relevance
2025 Dates and Deadlines
- Letter of Intent due: June 13, 2025
- Full proposals due: August 15, 2025 (by invitation only)
- Scientific Advisory Board review: September 2025
- Notification of award: October 2025
- Fellowship start date: No later than December 1, 2025
Request for Proposals
The RFP outlines complete award details, eligibility, review criteria, and financial policies.
Letter of Intent
All interested applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through our online system, ProposalCentral.
- Returning users can log in at proposalcentral.com, search for “Huntington’s Disease Society of America,” and select the Human Biology Project.
- New users must create an account before submitting.
The LOI (max 2 pages) should include:
- A summary that outlines the intended research and specifically states how the results will help us better understand the biology of HD as it occurs in humans. You may include background figures or preliminary data but it is not required.
- Specific Aims
- Brief Experimental Plan, including the time required to complete the studies
- Your qualifications as an applicant
Applicants whose LOIs are accepted will be notified by email and invited to submit a full proposal.
Application
Invited applicants will be required to submit:
- Administrative details and institutional signature
- Applicant and mentor biosketches and other support (NIH-style acceptable)
- Scientific abstract and lay summary
- Full research proposal with milestones and statistical justification (if involving human subjects)
- Letters of reference (1–3)
- IRB/IACUC or equivalent approvals (not required at submission but must be provided before award)
2024 RECIPIENTS
Zachariah McLean, PhD
Research Fellow in Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Mentor: Dr. James Gusella
Project Title: Unraveling Huntington's Disease pathogenesis: Investigating Repeat Expansion and Genetic Modifiers Using Advanced Cell Models Learn More
Dipika Gupta, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Eli Rothenberg
Project Title: Huntington’s disease etiology and associated mechanisms of repeat expansion Learn More
Nicholas Caron, PhD
Research Associate, University of British Columbia
Mentor: Dr. Michael Hayden
Project Title: Multi-omic biomarker discovery for Huntington disease Learn More
