New research grants open for narcolepsy and sleep disorders

Alkermes is now accepting research grant applications focused on narcolepsy and other neurological conditions.

The biopharmaceutical company announced that it will accept initial letters of intent for its annual Alkermes Pathways Research Awards program through Oct. 16. The initiative provides up to $100,000 per project to support early-career scientists in studying complex brain and sleep disorders.

In previous years, the awards focused solely on research for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and sleep issues linked to those psychiatric conditions. This year, Alkermes expanded the program to fund research into narcolepsy types 1 and 2 — chronic conditions that cause overwhelming daytime sleepiness — as well as idiopathic hypersomnia, a related sleep disorder that causes extreme sleepiness without a known cause.

“As the program enters its ninth year, we are pleased to expand its areas of interest to include narcolepsy type 1 and 2 and idiopathic hypersomnia,” said Craig Hopkinson, MD, chief medical officer and executive vice president of research and development at Alkermes, said in a company press release. He noted that the change reflects the company’s commitment to supporting innovative research across central disorders of hypersomnolence, or abnormal sleepiness, and addressing unmet needs in neuroscience.

“Great science starts with bold questions, and through the Alkermes Pathways Research Awards program, we are proud to support early-career investigators who are working to advance the understanding of complex neurological and psychiatric conditions,” Hopkinson said.

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Eligibility criteria and evaluation process

The Alkermes Pathways Research Awards program is open to early-career researchers who hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent). To be eligible, investigators must be current postdoctoral fellows or within five years of starting their initial academic appointment. Applicants must also be affiliated with a U.S. medical or research institution.

An independent review committee made up of specialists in neurobiology and sleep medicine will evaluate all submissions. After the committee reviews letters of intent, certain applicants will be invited to the full application phase, which runs from mid-November through early January.

Since the award program launched in 2018, Alkermes has provided approximately $2.9 million in funding to support 29 researchers across the U.S. Eligible projects range from preclinical studies and epidemiological research to patient-centered outcomes and healthcare economic studies.