Deadline: 07-Nov-2025
Applicants are now invited to submit applications for its TANGO2 Research Foundation Research Grants Program to support innovative research initiatives aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of TANGO2 deficiency disorder (TDD).
The foundation has identified these priority topics for proposals: Understanding cellular response to therapeutics (e.g. drug, nutrition, and gene therapies); Optimizing nutrition in those affected by TDD (e.g. optimization of B vitamins); Understanding, managing and avoiding the life-threatening symptoms of TDD (e.g. metabolic crises, rhabdomyolysis); Improving affected patients’ function, quality of life, and independence (e.g. language, behavior, movement and neurological symptoms of TDD); Development and Validation of Process Outcome Measures.
Suitable research topics may focus on the following. Examples include but are not limited to: Cellular and molecular mechanisms disrupted in TDD; Development and characterization of novel animal (vertebrate or invertebrate), cellular, and computational models; Biomarker discovery or development; Therapeutic target identification and validation (e.g. B5, other vitamins quantity/rate); Bioinformatics, machine learning, and other computational biology approaches applied to existing TANGO2 clinical, imaging, or -omics datasets; Development of novel diagnostics or clinical outcome measures, including digital tools for passive or active data collection.
T2RF funds two types of research grants. The single-institution grant provides up to $25,000 USD for research initiatives within one institution and may include multiple investigators or departments. The multi-institution grant provides up to $50,000 USD for collaborative initiatives across institutions or with researchers not affiliated with the principal investigator’s home institution, with joint proposals within and outside the U.S. encouraged. Both grants have a one-year duration from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with the opportunity for a competitive one-year renewal. Indirect costs are not allowable, though no-cost extensions may be requested with foundation approval.
Eligibility is open to clinical, basic, or community researchers with a terminal degree such as MD, DO, Ph.D., NP, or international equivalent, working in an academic medical or nonprofit research institution. Postdoctoral researchers may apply only if they can provide verification that they will begin a faculty-level position by the start of the funding period in Fall 2026. Applicants should ideally have at least three years of experience leading rare disease research, and only one grant per cycle can be held as a principal investigator. The foundation particularly encourages applications from underrepresented researchers, those outside the U.S., individuals not previously funded by T2RF, and early-stage investigators as defined by the NIH.
Letters of intent (LOIs) are required for all applications and will be accepted between September 30, 2025, and November 7, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST. Proposals will be reviewed by both scientific and family stakeholders to ensure alignment with patient-centered priorities. Funding restrictions apply, and grant funds cannot be used for expenses such as tuition, travel, fundraising, or facilities and administrative costs.
The TANGO2 Research Foundation emphasizes its mission to empower investigators by funding seed or pilot projects that test feasibility, refine methodologies, and set the stage for larger studies, ultimately driving progress toward meaningful therapeutic and patient-centered advances.
For more information, visit T2RF.