The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has opened a Request for Applications (RFA) to fund research aimed at identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier in the disease process. Despite advances in treatment, many people face substantial delays between the first signs of MS and a definitive diagnosis. An accelerated path to diagnosis could shorten the time to treatment and improve long-term outcomes for individuals living with the disease.
Focus on Innovative Screening Technologies
The RFA seeks to support the development and validation of scalable, clinically practical, and economical screening approaches that can be used across a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as primary care, specialty care, or community-based settings. The goal is to improve the ability to identify individuals who should undergo a comprehensive neurological evaluation for MS, ultimately accelerating the time to diagnosis.
Interdisciplinary Research Encouraged
Experience in MS research is not required, and the National MS Society encourages investigators from a broad range of disciplines to apply. This includes experts in neurology, neuroimmunology, autoimmune disease, imaging, ophthalmology, artificial intelligence, digital health, biomarker discovery, diagnostics development, and data science. Applications are open to academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and commercial organizations.
Applicants Must Submit Concept Notes by December 16, 2026
The program includes a 3-stage process. A short concept note is due on December 16, 2026. Select applicants will then receive 3-month Planning Grants before submitting a full proposal, which is due on June 2, 2027. Award notification is anticipated around August 31, 2027, with an anticipated award start date in November 2027. This opportunity is part of the FIRST-MS (Faster Identification, Recognition, and Screening for Timely MS Diagnosis) initiative, with a second complementary funding opportunity expected to be announced in January or February of 2027.
