Grant Opportunities
Accelerating Research Toward Clinical Impact
The Lilly and Blair Foundation Grant Program supports high-impact research to accelerate treatments and clinical readiness for childhood-onset SPG4.
Applications should be submitted via email to info@lillyandblair.org
Program Overview
The Lilly and Blair Foundation offers two targeted grant programs designed to accelerate research toward treatment and clinical trial readiness for childhood-onset de novo SPG4. These programs are built to move promising work forward quickly, close critical funding gaps, and support high-impact, translational research.
Strategic Research Grants
Designed to fund major projects that advance therapeutic development toward clinical trial.
Up to $75,000/year
1–2 year funding
Annual deadline: May 1
Decisions: Late June
Rapid Response Grants
Designed to support urgent, time-sensitive opportunities and bridge critical funding gaps.
Up to $25,000
6-month projects
Rolling applications
~4-week decision timeline
Research Priorities
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Highest Priority: Therapeutic Development
AAV9 gene therapy
ASO development
Drug repurposing with clear clinical pathways
Combination therapies
Preclinical safety and efficacy studies -
High Priority: Clinical Trial Enablers
Biomarker development (e.g., NULISA)
Natural history expansion
Outcome measure validation
Patient-derived models for drug screening
Tools accelerating therapeutic development -
Foundational Research (When Translationally Relevant)
Mechanism studies tied to therapeutic development
Identification of druggable targets
Work informing gene therapy or ASO design
Studies supporting regulatory readiness
Eligibility and Requirements
Each Principal Investigator may submit only one proposal per program per cycle, though previous awardees are eligible to apply for continuation funding. Postdoctoral researchers may be included as key personnel but may not serve as Principal Investigators.
Who Can Apply
Principal Investigators at academic or nonprofit research institutions
Research hospitals and international institutions
For-profit entities (if research is non-proprietary and publishable
Core Requirements
Research must address SPG4
No overlap with existing funding
Institutional approval required
All prior reporting obligations must be complete
Application Process
All applications must be submitted as a single PDF and follow a standardized structure.
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Cover Page
Project Narrative (Lay Summary)
Mutation Relevance Statement
Research Strategy (Specific Aims, Approach, Timeline)
References
Budget and Justification
Biosketches (PI + Key Personnel
Facilities and Resources
Current and Pending Support
IRB/IACUC Documentation (if applicable)
Letters of Support (optional)
Co-Funding Documentation (if applicable)
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8.5” x 11”
Minimum 11-point font
Single PDF (≤20MB)
Page limits strictly enforced
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Email: info@lillyandblair.org
Subject Line Format:Rapid Response – [PI Last Name] – [Institution]
Strategic Research – [PI Last Name] – [Institution]
Review and Timeline
Review Process
Rapid Response Grants
Internal review by Foundation leadership
Evaluated on urgency, feasibility, and impact
~4-week turnaround
Strategic Research Grants
Reviewed by Grant Review Board
Evaluated on:
Translational potential
Scientific merit
Strategic alignment
Final decisions by Foundation Board
Timeline
Rapid Response Grants
Rolling submissions
Decisions: ~4 weeks
Flexible start dates
Strategic Research Grants
Deadline: May 1
Decisions: Late June
Project Start: August
Budget Guidelines
Grant funds are intended to support direct research costs. Indirect costs may be included only if required by the submitting institution and are capped at 10% of total direct costs. Equipment purchases over $5,000 require prior approval.
Together We Can
Time is not on our side, but we hope you will be.