Investing in Tomorrow's Scientific Leaders
Young Investigator Pilot Grant (YIPG)
The Movement Disorders Foundation is committed to accelerating breakthroughs in the understanding, treatment, and prevention of movement disorders by investing in the next generation of scientific leaders.
Seed Funding
Through the Young Investigator Pilot Grant (YIPG) program, MDF provides $50,000 in seed funding to support promising early-career investigators conducting innovative basic, translational, and clinical research.
Our Goal
Our goal is to help researchers generate the preliminary data and proof of concept needed to compete successfully for larger grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), industry partners, and other major funding organizations.
Undiscovered Pioneers
MDF seeks to identify and support today's "undiscovered pioneers"—investigators pursuing bold, high-impact ideas that may otherwise struggle to secure traditional funding.
Research Priorities
MDF encourages multidisciplinary collaborations and innovative approaches that have the potential to improve the lives of people living with movement disorders.
The Young Investigator Pilot Grant supports research across the spectrum of movement disorders, including:
Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism
Huntington's disease
Dystonia
Essential tremor
Chorea
Ataxia
Other neurological movement disorders
Preference will be given to proposals that:
Advance disease-modifying therapies or transformative approaches
Investigate shared biological mechanisms across multiple movement disorders
Improve understanding of disease pathophysiology or etiology
Demonstrate strong potential for rapid clinical translation
Generate critical preliminary data for future large-scale funding
Award Information
Award Amount $50,000
Project Period January–December 2027
Funding Type One-year pilot grant
Research Focus Basic, translational, and clinical research
Successful projects should present:
- A clearly defined and testable hypothesis
- Specific research aims
- Appropriate study design and methodology
- A feasible statistical analysis plan
- Strong potential for future external funding
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements.
MDF reserves the right to contact an applicant's mentor to verify eligibility, institutional support, and project feasibility.
Eligible Applicants
- Postdoctoral fellows conducting movement disorders or neuroscience research
- Instructors, assistant professors, or equivalent faculty within five years of completing research fellowship training
Ineligible Applicants
- Predoctoral students
- Investigators who have previously served as Principal Investigator on an NIH R01 (or equivalent) grant
Applicants must also:
- Serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) for the proposed project.
- Intend to disseminate the study findings through publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and anticipate serving as the first or corresponding author, consistent with their contributions and accepted authorship guidelines.
- Have an established mentor or senior collaborator with expertise in movement disorders research.
- Be affiliated with an institution capable of receiving and administering grant funds.
Applications are evaluated through a rigorous two-stage peer-review process.
Review Process
Stage 1 – Letter of Intent
Eligible investigators submit an online Letter of Intent (LOI), which is reviewed by MDF's Scientific Review Committee.
Selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal.
Stage 2 – Full Proposal
Full applications undergo external scientific peer review by nationally recognized neurologists and research scientists using NIH review criteria, including:
- Overall scientific impact
- Significance
- Innovation
- Scientific approach
- Investigator qualifications
- Research environment
Funding decisions are based on scientific merit, program priorities, reviewer evaluations, and available funding. All applicants receive reviewer comments and scoring summaries.
2026 Grant Timeline
1
DATE: July 6, 2026
Letter of Intent Application Opens
2
DATE: August 16, 2026 (11:59 p.m. MDT)
LOI Submission Deadline
3
DATE: September 1, 2026
Invitations for Full Proposals
4
DATE: December 14, 2026
Funding Decisions Announced
5
DATE: January 2027
Project Period Begins
How to Apply
Step 1
Complete the online Eligibility Questionnaire.
Applicants must answer "Yes" to each eligibility question before proceeding.
Step 2
Eligible applicants will be prompted to create an account and complete the online Letter of Intent (LOI).
Step 3
The Scientific Review Committee evaluates all submitted LOIs.
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 4
External peer review is conducted.
Award recipients will be notified following final review.
Letter of Intent Requirements
Research Concept and Statement of Need
Describe (500 words):
- the movement disorder(s) being studied;
- the project's central hypothesis and specific aims;
- why the proposed research is innovative and "high-risk/high-reward";
- why MDF funding is needed at this stage;
- how the project will generate proof of concept or preliminary data;
- how the findings may advance understanding or treatment of multiple movement disorders.
Investigator Background and Research Capacity
Provide (250 words):
- a summary of your research experience;
- relevant publications, presentations, and prior accomplishments;
- institutional resources available to support the project;
- why you are well qualified to conduct the proposed research.
Lay Summary

Explain (250 words):
- the purpose of the project;
- why the research matters;
- how the findings could ultimately improve the lives of people living with movement disorders.
Use language understandable to patients, families, donors, and the general public.
Ready to Apply?
If you meet the eligibility requirements, click the Apply button below to begin the pre-qualification questionnaire.
Questions regarding applicant eligibility or the application process may be directed to MDF's Grants and Partnerships Officer at admin@movementdisordersfoundation.org.