Applications Now Open for ALD Connect’s 2025 Emerging Investigator Program

ALD Connect is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Emerging Investigator Program—an initiative designed to support and elevate the next generation of researchers in the field of adrenoleukodystrophy.

This competitive program provides graduate students, medical students, and post-doctoral fellows with a unique opportunity to secure funding and mentorship for ALD-focused research. Successful applicants will receive up to $6,000 in research funding, along with guidance from leading experts in the field. Awardees will also be invited to present their work at the 2026 ALD Connect Annual Meeting and Patient Learning Academy, gaining valuable exposure and experience within the rare disease research community.

Projects can explore any aspect of ALD-related research, from basic science to clinical applications. Whether you’re investigating biomarkers, exploring new treatment strategies, or deepening our understanding of the disease’s molecular pathways, this program is designed to help bring your ideas to life—and position you to apply for future funding and publications.

Spotlight on the 2024 Emerging Investigators

Last year’s awardees were selected for their promising contributions to the scientific understanding of ALD and its treatment. Their projects reflect the diversity, innovation, and impact that the program aims to support:

• Nicki F. Coveña (PI: Kemp) is exploring how ALD-affected microglia—immune cells in the brain—impact neural communication networks over time. Using cutting-edge lab techniques with stem cells derived from ALD patients, this work may deepen our understanding of ALD pathology and improve outcomes for stem cell transplants.
• Maria L.G.A. Seixas (PI: Musolino) is studying plasma and MRI-based biomarkers that could detect early signs of cerebral ALD before symptoms appear. Her work at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School could lead to more timely diagnoses and help identify which patients may benefit most from gene therapy or stem cell transplant.
• Andrea Villoria-González (PI: Weinhofer) is developing stem cell models to better understand how the loss of the ABCD1 gene affects brain cells in X-ALD. Her research focuses on neuroinflammation and could lay the foundation for new targeted therapies.

These projects represent exactly what the Emerging Investigators Program is designed to achieve: equipping early-career researchers to ask bold questions, explore new ideas, and advance our collective understanding of ALD.

The deadline to apply is July 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM Eastern.

If you’re  ready to make an impact, we encourage you to submit your proposal and be part of the movement to advance understanding and treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy.

Apply Now