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
2026 Dates and Deadlines
Letter of Intent due: May, 2026
Full proposals due: July, 2026 (by invitation only)
Scientific Advisory Board review: September 2026
Notification of award: October 2026
Fellowship start date: No later than December 1, 2026
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)
2025 RECIPIENTS
Shota Shibata, MD, PhD
Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital
Mentor: Dr. Ricardo Mouro Pinto
Project Title: Clinically accessible biomarker for CAG somatic instability in Huntington’s disease Learn More
Kimberly Kegel-Gleason, PhD
Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital
Mentor:
Project Title: Plasma lipids as novel markers of Huntington’s disease progression Learn More
Eva Woods, BSc (Hons)
Researcher, Trinity College Dublin
Mentor: Dr. Roisin McMackin
Project Title: ElectroHD: A Multimodal Electrophysiological Approach to Decipher Neural Network Alterations in premanifest HD Learn More
