Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Blog

RLS Foundation Partners with The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) to Fund Research

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) is pleased to join forces with the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation (RLS Foundation) to fund research leading to new treatments and a cure for restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Earlier this year, the AASM Foundation began an agreement with the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation to co-fund basic and clinical RLS research. The partnership for 2024 includes the following research priorities:

• Neurobiological interaction: Elucidate the points of interaction between RLS-relevant neurotransmitters, neuronal pathways, and iron deficiency.
• Pharmacologic treatments: Elucidate effects of novel pharmacological approaches on RLS.
• Clinical Practice: research based on innovations in patient care delivery including but not limited to population health programs, technology-enabled healthcare delivery (i.e. Telemedicine) and public health initiatives.

The recipient selected for this joint award is Shawn Hochman, PhD, from Emory University School of Medicine on the topic: Sensory Dysfunction in a Diet-Induced Deficiency Mouse Model of RLS: Characterization and Control by Dopamine-Sensitive Spinal Gating Circuitry.

We are excited to continue this partnership with a new grant cycle that will open later this year.

About the AASM Foundation:

The AASM Foundation is the official philanthropy of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Our values, programs, and purpose are focused on investing in people, research, and communities to improve the sleep health of all people. Learn more about the AASM Foundation by visiting foundation.aasm.org.

RLS Foundation and American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation Announce Research Grant Opportunity

The Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) today announced a new collaboration to co-fund a $50,000 grant for research on restless legs syndrome (RLS). The funding will be made available through the RLS Foundation’s Research Grant Program, which has awarded over $1.9 million in grants for medical research on RLS causes and treatments since 1997.

“The RLS Foundation’s partnership with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation signifies our shared commitment to expanding the availability of RLS research funding,” says RLS Foundation Executive Director Karla Dzienkowski.

RLS is a chronic neurological disease characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, especially at night. Many people with RLS endure unrelenting symptoms that severely disrupt sleep and can have a devastating impact on their well-being. “For people who live with the daily challenges of RLS, research offers hope for new, durable treatments leading to better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life,” says Dzienkowski. An estimated 7%–8% of adults in the US have RLS, and treatments are limited.

“The AASM Foundation is excited to collaborate with the RLS Foundation on funding a research grant opportunity that will contribute to our understanding of RLS and help optimize treatment options and care delivery for people with RLS,” says R. Nisha Aurora, MD, MHS, President of the AASM Foundation.

Funding priorities for the RLS Foundation’s 2024 grant cycle are:

• Neurobiological interaction that elucidates the points of interaction between RLS-relevant neurotransmitters, neuronal pathways and iron deficiency.
• Pharmacologic treatments elucidating effects of novel pharmacological approaches on RLS.
• Clinical practice that looks to innovations in patient care delivery including, but not limited to, population health programs, technology-enabled healthcare delivery and public health initiatives.
• Other research topics to advance the understanding and treatment of RLS.

To apply, researchers must submit a pre-application (letter of intent) by January 26 February 24. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

Note: Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline extended to Saturday, February 24 at 11:59 PM. All applicants informed by March 8, 2024 if their proposal will be invited for a full application.

More details and application instructions are available on the RLS Foundation website, www.rls.org.

Founded in 1998, the AASM Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable and scientific organization established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM Foundation has invested in the future of sleep medicine by supporting more than 300 grants totaling $25.7 million in funding. The AASM Foundation’s portfolio includes research grants for all career stages, community grants and awards and training programs. For more information, please visit foundation.aasm.org