Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Blog

Call for RLS Research Grant Proposals

The RLS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and aspires to achieve universal awareness of the disease, to support the identification of effective treatments, and to find a cure for the millions of men, women, and children who suffer from RLS.

The RLS Foundation calls for grant proposals of a one year-duration, with funding levels of up to $50,000 (including 8% for F&A costs), based on the number of funded applications. A renewal or extension of a previously funded proposed project may be considered, but any extension would be subject to the regular competitive approval process for year two.

The number of total awards will depend on the number and quality of the applications submitted. Currently, the Foundation is expecting to support up to 2-3 proposals for the 2025 – 2026 grant cycle.

Spring 2025 Priorities

For this round of funding, the primary research priorities are:

• Augmentation: Identifying who is at risk for developing augmentation (e.g. through genetic markers, iron status, or other at-risk clinical phenotypes) and who is lower risk, to understand if there is a subset of RLS patients who can be more safely treated with dopamine agonists long-term.
• Therapeutics: Elucidate the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic and unwanted side effects, (e.g., augmentation) of RLS drugs, novel therapeutics (i.e. medical cannabis) and advance knowledge toward development of more durable treatments.
• Disease risk and expression: Elucidate genetic, epigenetic, biologic factors associations with disease risk or with different RLS phenotypes.
• Other topics: Other research areas related to RLS may also be accepted for funding consideration.

Requirements

• Eligibility: All institutions within the United States, Canada, and other countries where supervision of grant administration is possible are eligible.
• Human Subject Protection: Approval by the institution’s human investigation committee is necessary for all projects that involve human subjects.
• Recombinant DNA Research and Animal Welfare: The RLS Foundation has adopted the regulations pertaining to these areas, as established by the US Public Health Service.
• Multiple Awards: Individual investigators may receive a maximum of one RLSF grant award of any kind in a given year.

Application process

• Submission is a two-step process requiring both preapplication (letter of intent) due no later than January 24, 2025 and full application as indicated below. Both preapplication and, if invited, full application, will be submitted via a specific link.
• The application title and all information for the Principal Investigator (PI), Business Official(s), Performing Organization, and Contracting Organization must be consistent throughout the entire preapplication and full application submission process.
• If a joint submission by multiple PIs (Partnering PI Option): The Initiating PI must complete the preapplication submission process and submit the contact information for the partnering PI. The Partnering PI(s) will then be notified of the preapplication submission separately by email.
• Fund disbursement for successful applications will be contingent upon documentation of approved institutional review or animal user protocols, as appropriate.

Preapplication (Letter of Intent) Submission Components

The Letter of Intent (LOI) should consist of preproposal narrative with:

• Rationale: State the hypothesis and reasoning on which the proposed research project is based. Briefly describe how preliminary data, scientific rationale, and referenced literature support the research hypothesis. Clearly demonstrate that there is sufficient rationale for the project. (Limit: 500 words)
• Focus Area: State the Research Priority that the proposed study seeks to address. Select one or more from the current research priority list.
• Specific Aims and Study Design: Clearly describe the type of research study being proposed. Concisely state the project’s objectives, specific aims, and ultimate endpoints. As applicable, briefly describe the proposed recruitment strategies and methods, how they will accomplish the project’s aims, as well as the outcome measures that will be used. (Limit: 500 words)
• Research Team: Provide a description of the research team that clearly demonstrates the appropriate background and experience to accomplish the proposed work. (Limit: 250 words)
• Impact and Relevance to RLS: Describe how the proposed work will impact healthcare and quality-of-life needs for patients and/or family members or beneficiaries living with RLS. (Limit: 250 words)

In addition, applicants should provide a reference list (one-page limit), list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols, and key personnel biographical sketches (NIH format). All attachments need to be uploaded in PDF format.

Letter of intent (see attached sample application) to be submitted starting December 4, 2024 online here by no later than January 24, 2025 (CST).

Applicants will be informed in late February if their proposal is invited for a full application.

Full Application Submission Components

If selected, the full online application consists of a cover page that must be signed by the university or organizational representative(s) and the principal investigator, an abstract with a clearly stated hypothesis, and the proposal that includes:

Project Narrative (no more than 5 pages), with background, hypothesis / objective, specific aim(s) and research strategy. Within the research strategy section, describe the study design, methods, models, and analyses in sufficient detail for assessment of the application. Explain how the research strategy will meet the project’s goals and milestones within the proposed period of performance. Address potential pitfalls and problem areas and present alternative methods and approaches. For studies performing prospective human subject recruitment or observation: Describe the population(s) of interest. Describe how data will be reported.

Budget and budget justification

Biographic sketches of each investigator (NIH format)

Disclosure of previous RLS Foundation support and other sources of funding.

Full Applications will need to be submitted online, with the link provided in LOI acceptance notification, and the deadline for the full proposal submission is April 11, 2025. All attachments need to be uploaded in PDF format.

Award Process

Schedule: The RLS Foundation Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) and external reviewers strive to review all applications in a timely manner. The goal is to provide the results to the LOI applicants within two months of the respective grant deadline and four months after submission of the full proposals.

Review: The SMAB will evaluate and rank the full proposals based on scientific merit. Overall impact, significance, approach, innovation (conceptual, technical) and individual criteria will be taken into account for funding consideration.

Award: The RLS Foundation Board of Directors will make final award decisions in accordance with available funds, based on the evaluation provided by the SMAB and other prioritization factors as determined by the Board of Directors.

Recipient Requirements: In order to receive an RLS Foundation research grant, the recipient must:

1. Within one month of the grant award, provide a photo of the grantee and a one-page article for publication in NightWalkers (the Foundation’s quarterly news magazine), describing in layman’s language the importance of the research to the RLS community and the recipient’s intention for future research.
2. Use the terminology restless legs syndrome in all grant-related publications and correspondence.
3. For 1-year awards, agree to submit a progress report after 6 months and 12 months from the starting date of the grant.
4. Acknowledge the RLS Foundation’s support in any published work or audiovisual productions resulting from research that the Foundation has supported. (Provide PDF copies of any reprints to the Executive Director of the RLS Foundation.)
5. Agree, if RLS Foundation funded research is commercialized or generates revenues, to devote a portion of the revenues to repaying the entire amount of the grant received, plus interest at the-prevailing prime rate, to the Foundation. Interest will be calculated semi-annually on the unpaid portion of the amount to be repaid.

Lastly, the intent of the RLS Foundation Research Grant Program is to provide seed monies to support researchers in their research endeavors and help them obtain the data to successfully request large scale funding elsewhere.

Thus, while an application may be also submitted to other organizations or agencies for funding, the applicant may not receive funding from the RLS Foundation, if any of those other projects are awarded or funded prior to the award being granted by the RLS Foundation.

The applicant will notify the RLS Foundation in writing of award funding for the same proposal from another organization and withdraw the application from consideration.

Costs Not Permitted

The following costs are not allowable under the RLS Foundation’s grant programs:

• New construction, alterations, or renovations of existing facilities
• Consultant fees, unless specified in the original grant application
• Travel and healthcare costs

RLS Research Grant Program

The RLS Grant Program started in 1997 and has funded over 50 grants totaling over $2 million. Membership support is the primary funding support of the RLS Foundation Research Grant Program. Help us to continue to fund promising new RLS research and end RLS for future generations.

Call for RLS Research Grant Proposals

The RLS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, aspires to achieve universal awareness of the disease, to support identification of effective treatments, and to find the cure for the millions of men, women, and children who suffer from RLS.

The RLS Foundation calls for grant proposals of a 1 year-duration, with funding levels of up to $50,000 (including 8% for F&A costs), based on the number of funded applications. A renewal or extension of a proposed project may be considered, but this extension would be subject to the regular competitive approval process for year 2.

Spring 2024 Priorities

For this round of funding, the primary research priorities are:

• 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.
• Other topics: Other research areas accepted for funding consideration.

Requirements

• Eligibility: All institutions within the United States, Canada, and other countries where supervision of grant administration is possible are eligible.
• Human Subject Protection: Approval by the institution’s human investigation committee is necessary for all projects that involve human subjects.
• Recombinant DNA Research and Animal Welfare: The RLS Foundation has adopted the regulations pertaining to these areas, as established by the US Public Health Service.
• Multiple Awards: Individual investigators may receive a maximum of one RLSF grant award of any kind in a given year.

Application process

• Submission is a two-step process requiring both preapplication (letter of intent) due no later than January 26, 2024 and full application as indicated below.
• The application title and all information for the Principal Investigator (PI), Business Official(s), Performing Organization, and Contracting Organization must be consistent throughout the entire preapplication and full application submission process.
• If a joint submission by multiple PIs (Partnering PI Option): The Initiating PI must complete the preapplication submission process and submit the contact information for the partnering PI. The Partnering PI(s) will then be notified of the preapplication submission separately by email.
• Fund disbursement for successful applications will be contingent upon documentation of approved institutional review or animal user protocols, as appropriate.

Preapplication (Letter of Intent) Submission Components

The Letter of Intent (LOI) should consist of preproposal narrative with:

• Rationale: State the hypothesis and reasoning on which the proposed research project is based. Briefly describe how preliminary data, scientific rationale, and referenced literature support the research hypothesis. Clearly demonstrate that there is sufficient rationale for the project (Limit: 500 words).
• Focus Area: State the Research Priority that the proposed study seeks to address. Select one or more from the current research priority list.
• Specific Aims and Study Design: Clearly describe the type of research study being proposed. Concisely state the project’s objectives, specific aims, and ultimate endpoints. As applicable, briefly describe the proposed recruitment strategies and methods, how they will accomplish the project’s aims, as well as the outcome measures that will be used. (Limit: 500 words)
• Research Team: Provide a description of the research team that clearly demonstrates the appropriate background and experience to accomplish the proposed work. (Limit: 250 words)
• Impact and Relevance to RLS: Describe how the proposed work will impact healthcare and quality-of-life needs for patients and/or family members or beneficiaries living with RLS. (Limit: 250 words)

In addition, applicants should provide a reference list (one-page limit), list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols, and key personnel biographical sketches (NIH format).

Letter of intent (see attached sample application) to be submitted starting December 8, 2023 online here by no later than January 26, 2024.

Applicants will be informed the second week of February if their proposal will be invited for a full application.

Full Application Submission Components

If selected, the full online application consists of a cover page that must be signed by the university or organizational representative(s) and the principal investigator, an abstract with a clearly stated hypothesis, and the proposal that includes:

Project Narrative (no more than 5 pages), with background, hypothesis / objective, specific aim(s) and research strategy. Within the research strategy section, describe the study design, methods, models, and analyses in sufficient detail for assessment of the application. Explain how the research strategy will meet the project’s goals and milestones within the proposed period of performance. Address potential pitfalls and problem areas and present alternative methods and approaches. For studies performing prospective human subject recruitment or observation: Describe the population(s) of interest. Describe how data will be reported.

Budget and budget justification

Biographic sketches of each investigator (NIH format)

Disclosure of previous RLS Foundation support and other sources of funding.

Full Applications to be submitted online, link to be provided in LOI acceptance notification, and the deadline for the full proposal submission is April 5, 2024.

Award Process

Schedule: The RLS Foundation Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) and external reviewers strives to review all applications in a timely manner. The goal is to provide the results to the LOI applicants within 2 months of the respective grant deadline and 4 months after submission of the full proposals.

Review: The SMAB will evaluate and rank the full proposals based on scientific merit. Overall impact, significance, approach, innovation (conceptual, technical) and individual criteria will be taken into account for funding consideration.

Award: The RLS Foundation Board of Directors will make final award decisions in accordance with available funds, based on the evaluation provided by the SMAB and other prioritization factors as determined by the Board of Directors.

Recipient Requirements: In order to receive an RLS Foundation research grant, the recipient must:

1. Within one month of the grant award, provide a photo of the grantee and a one-page article for publication in NightWalkers (the Foundation’s quarterly news magazine), describing in layman’s language the importance of the research to the RLS community and the recipient’s intention for future research.
2. Use the terminology restless legs syndrome in all grant-related publications and correspondence.
3. For 1-year awards, agree to submit a progress report after 6 months and 12 months from the starting date of the grant.
4. Acknowledge the RLS Foundation’s support in any published work or audiovisual productions resulting from research that the Foundation has supported. (Provide pdf copies of any reprints to the Executive Director of the RLS Foundation.)
5. Agree, if RLS Foundation funded research is commercialized or generates revenues, to devote a portion of the revenues to repaying the entire amount of the grant received, plus interest at the-prevailing prime rate, to the Foundation. Interest will be calculated semi-annually on the unpaid portion of the amount to be repaid.

Lastly, the intent of the RLS Foundation Research Grant Program is to provide seed monies to support researchers in their research endeavors and help them obtain the data to successfully request large scale funding elsewhere.

Thus, while an application may be also submitted to other organizations or agencies for funding, the applicant may not receive funding from the RLS Foundation, if any of those other projects are awarded or funded prior to the award being granted by the RLS Foundation.

The applicant will notify the RLS Foundation in writing of award funding for the same proposal from another organization and withdraw the application from consideration.

Costs Not Permitted

The following costs are not allowable under the RLS Foundation’s grant programs:

• New construction, alterations, or renovations of existing facilities
• Consultant fees, unless specified in the original grant application
• Travel costs

RLS Research Grant Program

The RLS Grant Program started in 1997 and has funded 50 grants totaling nearly $2 million. Membership giving is the primary funding support of the RLS Foundation Research Grant Program. Help us to continue to fund promising new RLS research and end RLS for future generations.

Peter Kendall Brooks — May 17, 1944 - January 21, 2023

The RLS community has lost a powerful friend and advocate. Peter K. Brook's steadfast support for the Foundation’s Research Grant Program has advanced knowledge in the field of RLS as we search together for better treatments and a cure. For at least four decades before his death, Peter suffered from an exceptionally severe case of restless legs syndrome. Despite the ongoing challenges of sleep deprivation and other effects of the disease, he never let it slow him down or reduce his commitment. His willingness to persevere was an inspiration to all who worked closely with him on the RLS Board and elsewhere.

Peter served on the Foundation's Board of Directors from 2000 to 2005. He brought a wide range of skills to his work on the Board. His career in investment banking with J.P. Morgan (now part of Chase Bank) equipped him with both financial knowledge and relationships to lead the Board’s development efforts. He was instrumental in creating structures that continue to support our work in finding and working with donors. His passion was discovering connections with others who shared his commitment to research. He was a believer in efforts to improve the lives of those living with the disease and strongly supported the Foundation’s three-part focus to raise awareness, develop better treatments, and find a cure for RLS.

After his retirement from the financial world in 1995, Peter developed a second career as an artist, recognized for his talent in two realms: abstract painting and music. His artworks now hang in permanent collections of prominent institutions including the Monterey Art Museum and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. His songwriting and guitar performances took him around the nation, and, thanks to YouTube, around the world. More about his life and artistic pursuits can be learned at https://www.pkbrooksart.com.

Peter generously shared his RLS journey on film to raise awareness and to educate members of the public and those in the medical community. In a widely viewed RLS and Augmentation Video Peter stressed the importance of knowledge: finding a knowledgeable provider and becoming a knowledgeable patient. He urges those with RLS to work with a provider willing to have a two-way dialogue about addressing the challenges of the disease.

With Peter’s passing, the Foundation loses not only a dedicated advocate for the work we share in dealing with this disease, but we also lose a warm and talented friend. RLS Foundation Executive Director Karla Dzienkowski recalls the time that Peter detoured from one of his national musical performance tours to visit with Foundation staff. “We had a great afternoon at the South Austin Café, and we even helped to pick out some western wear for his upcoming shows,” she remembers.

As the RLS Foundation celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Research Grant Program, we are reminded of Peter’s commitment to research. We are on the verge of funding our 50th grant proposal for groundbreaking scientific, medical research -- a program that has poured nearly $2 million into the field. We invite all to honor Peter Brooks as a leader, a tireless worker, and an inspiration for addressing the challenges that lie ahead through a memorial gift to research in his name.

Call for RLS Grant Proposals

The RLS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, aspires to achieve universal awareness of the disease, to support identification of effective treatments, and to find the cure for the millions of men, women, and children who suffer from RLS.

The RLS Foundation calls for grant proposals of a 1 year-duration, with funding levels of up to $50,000 (including 8% for F&A costs), based on the number of funded applications. Additionally, grant applications may be supported for a total of 2 years, including a 1-time competitive renewal, for a total of up to $100,000 (including 8% for F&A costs). However, funding for the 2nd year will be contingent on progress reports that must be submitted 6 months and 12 months from the grant starting date, together with a funding request and an application for the 2nd year.

Spring 2022 Priorities

For this round of funding, the primary research priorities are:

• Neurobiological interaction: Elucidate the points of interaction between RLS-relevant neuro-transmitters and neuropathways and iron deficiency
• Therapeutic responsiveness: Elucidate genetic, epigenetic, biologic, phenotypic and other predictors of responders to pharmacologic and IV iron therapeutics; including predictors of augmentation;
• 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.

Requirements

• Eligibility: All institutions within the United States, Canada, and other countries where supervision of grant administration is possible are eligible.
• Human Subject Protection: Approval by the institution’s human investigation committee is necessary for all projects that involve human subjects.
• Recombinant DNA Research and Animal Welfare: The RLS Foundation has adopted the regulations pertaining to these areas, as established by the US Public Health Service.
• Multiple Awards: Individual investigators may receive a maximum of one RLSF grant award of any kind in a given year.

Application process

• Submission is a two-step process requiring both preapplication (letter of intent) due no later than March 4, 2022 and full application as indicated below.
• The application title and all information for the Principal Investigator (PI), Business Official(s), Performing Organization, and Contracting Organization must be consistent throughout the entire preapplication and full application submission process.
• If a joint submission by multiple PIs (Partnering PI Option): The Initiating PI must complete the preapplication submission process and submit the contact information for the partnering PI. The Partnering PI(s) will then be notified of the preapplication submission separately by email.
• Fund disbursement for successful applications will be contingent upon documentation of approved institutional review or animal user protocols, as appropriate.

Preapplication (Letter of Intent) Submission Components

The Letter of Intent (LOI) should consist of preproposal narrative with:

• Rationale: State the hypothesis and reasoning on which the proposed research project is based. Briefly describe how preliminary data, scientific rationale, and referenced literature support the research hypothesis. Clearly demonstrate that there is sufficient rationale for the project (Limit: 500 words).
• Focus Area: State the Research Priority that the proposed study seeks to address. Select one or more from the current research priority list.
• Specific Aims and Study Design: Clearly describe the type of research study being proposed. Concisely state the project’s objectives, specific aims, and ultimate endpoints. As applicable, briefly describe the proposed recruitment strategies and methods, how they will accomplish the project’s aims, as well as the outcome measures that will be used. (Limit: 500 words)
• Research Team: Provide a description of the research team that clearly demonstrates the appropriate background and experience to accomplish the proposed work. (Limit: 250 words)
• Impact and Relevance to RLS: Describe how the proposed work will impact healthcare and quality-of-life needs for patients and/or family members or beneficiaries living with RLS. (Limit: 250 words)

In addition, applicants should provide a reference list (one-page limit), list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols, and key personnel biographical sketches (NIH format).

Letter of intent to be submitted online here no later than March 4, 2022.

Applicants will be informed within 6 weeks of the deadline if their proposal will be invited for a full application.

Full Application Submission Components

If selected, the full online application consists of a cover page that must be signed by the university or organizational representative(s) and the principal investigator, an abstract with a clearly stated hypothesis, and the proposal that includes:

Project Narrative (no more than 5 pages), with background, hypothesis / objective, specific aim(s) and research strategy. Within the research strategy section, describe the study design, methods, models, and analyses in sufficient detail for assessment of the application. Explain how the research strategy will meet the project’s goals and milestones within the proposed period of performance. Address potential pitfalls and problem areas and present alternative methods and approaches. For studies performing prospective human subject recruitment or observation: Describe the population(s) of interest. Describe how data will be reported.

Budget and budget justification

Biographic sketches of each investigator (NIH format)

Disclosure of previous RLS Foundation support and other sources of funding.

Full Applications to be submitted online, link to be provided in LOI acceptance notification.

Award Process

Schedule: The RLS Foundation Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) and external reviewers strives to review all applications in a timely manner. The goal is to provide the results to the LOI applicants within 2 months of the respective grant deadline and 4 months after submission of the full proposals.

Review: The SMAB will evaluate and rank the full proposals based on scientific merit. Overall impact, significance, approach, innovation (conceptual, technical) and individual criteria will be taken into account for funding consideration.

Award: The RLS Foundation Board of Directors will make final award decisions in accordance with available funds, based on the evaluation provided by the SMAB and other prioritization factors as determined by the Board of Directors.

Recipient Requirements: In order to receive an RLS Foundation research grant, the recipient must:

1. Within one month of the grant award, provide a photo of the grantee and a one-page article for publication in NightWalkers (the Foundation’s quarterly news magazine), describing in layman’s language the importance of the research to the RLS community and the recipient’s intention for future research.
2. Use the terminology restless legs syndrome in all grant-related publications and correspondence.
3. For 1-year awards, agree to submit a progress report after 6 months and 12 months from the starting date of the grant.
4. Acknowledge the RLS Foundation’s support in any published work or audiovisual productions resulting from research that the Foundation has supported. (Provide pdf copies of any reprints to the Executive Director of the RLS Foundation.)
5. Agree, if RLS Foundation funded research is commercialized or generates revenues, to devote a portion of the revenues to repaying the entire amount of the grant received, plus interest at the-prevailing prime rate, to the Foundation. Interest will be calculated semi-annually on the unpaid portion of the amount to be repaid.

Lastly, the intent of the RLS Foundation Research Grant Program is to provide seed monies to support researchers in their research endeavors and help them obtain the data to successfully request large scale funding elsewhere.

Thus, while an application may be also submitted to other organizations or agencies for funding, the applicant may not receive funding from the RLS Foundation, if any of those other projects are awarded or funded prior to the award being granted by the RLS Foundation.

The applicant will notify the RLS Foundation in writing of award funding for the same proposal from another organization and withdraw the application from consideration.

Costs Not Permitted

The following costs are not allowable under the RLS Foundation’s grant programs:

• New construction, alterations, or renovations of existing facilities
• Consultant fees, unless specified in the original grant application
• Travel costs

RLS Research Grant Program

The RLS Grant Program started in 1997 and has funded 48 grants totalling nearly $2 million. Funding is provided by generous individual donors. We thank all of the donors this month giving in memory of Robert H. (Bob) Waterman, Jr. who was responsible for spearheading the RLS Research Grant Program in 1997. Help us to continue to fund promising new RLS research.