CCDS Research Funding Opportunities

“Race for A Cure” RFP01: now accepting LOIs

RFP01: Open Request for Research Proposals

The Association for Creatine Deficiencies (ACD) is currently accepting research funding requests focused on Creatine Transporter Deficiency, GAMT Deficiency, and AGAT Deficiency. ACD will support 1-5 research studies, each with a two-year budget of $100k to $1 million. To apply for funding, please follow the process outlined below:

Submit a Letter of Interest (LOI):

  • Provide a one-page LOI summarizing your proposed research project.
  • Send the LOI to research@creatineinfo.org for initial review.

LOI Deadline: June 15th, 2025

Review Process:

  • Please allow 1-3 weeks for the review of your LOI.
  • If your project aligns with ACD’s research priorities, you may be invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Submission (if requested):

  • The full proposal should be 5-10 pages and include:
    • A detailed project description, including specific aims, methods, and anticipated impact.
    • Funding amount requested.
    • A budget breakdown.
    • Project timeline.
    • Additional sources of financial or staff support to ensure the project’s feasibility.
    • A current CV and 2-3 letters of support from collaborators or institutions.

For any questions regarding the application process, please contact us at research@creatineinfo.org.

Priority will be given to proposals that are focused on translational research. We look forward to supporting innovative research that advances the understanding and treatment of creatine deficiencies. 

ACD will begin accepting applications for 2026 fellowship funding on October 1, 2025 with a deadline of November 30, 2025. Funding will begin February 1, 2026. Fellowship awards carry a letter of recognition and funding of $15,000-$30,000 for one year with the option to re-apply. All topics will be considered but preference will be given to proposals that facilitate progress to the clinic, e.g. method/assay development for biomarkers, model/reagent development, drug screening, etc.

Application Format:
To apply for an ACD fellowship, please provide the following:

  1. Proposal with specific aims, methods and impact statement (recommended length of 5 pages)
  2. Biosketch/CV
  3. Letter of support

An application template can be downloaded here.

Applications can be submitted to research@creatineinfo.org.

Eligibility for Fellowship Application:

  • Early career researchers (e.g., graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research associate/fellows) are eligible for this award application.
  • Principal investigators who are setting up their lab are also eligible for this award for themselves or a staff resource in their lab.
  • If you do not meet this criteria but are interested in the fellowship application award for a collaborator, member of your lab or yourself, we encourage you to reach out to us for further inquiry.

Dates of application:
October 1st, 2025 – November 30th, 2025

Each proposal will be evaluated by a steering committee, followed by final decisions by the ACD board. A decision will be conveyed in January 2026 and funding will commence in February 2026. 

As part of this opportunity, ACD fellows will present their work at the 2026 CCDS Virtual Conference and attend monthly fellowship update calls. 

For more information, please contact research@creatineinfo.org

CTD 

  • Association between mutation and function of SLC6A8. 
  • Discovery and validation of SLC6A8 antibody for use in western blot, IHC
  • Impact of glycine, arginine and betaine supplementation in CTD mouse
  • Relationship between cellular lack of creatine and global clinical manifestation 
  • Mechanistic underpinnings of delayed onset of seizures in patients and guidance on drugs best suited to target seizures in CTD patients
  • Amount of cerebral creatine restoration necessary and sufficient to correct the symptoms of CTD- implications for gene therapy and small molecule therapies
  • Association of specific domain mutations with clinical manifestation
  • A study on females with CTD brain creatine levels and phenotypes- carriers and patients. 

GAMT

  • Impact of mutations on GAMT enzyme function
  • Development of GAMT enzyme capable of crossing blood-brain barrier
  • Are single alleles bearing point mutations amenable to rescue of function
  • Mechanism of GAA toxicity in cellular and animal model systems
  • Metabolomic profile of GAMT mouse models
  • Impact and time course of benzoate, ornithine and other supplementation on GAA in GAMT mouse models
  • Natural history study on GAMT patients
  • Association of specific domain mutations with clinical manifestation

AGAT

  • Variety of mutations associated with AGAT deficiency
  • Link between potential neonatal lethality and deleterious AGAT mutations
  • Likelihood of residual function associated with AGAT mutations
  • Correlation between clinical manifestation of AGAT deficiency in humans and AGAT animal model phenotypes
  • Development of AGAT enzyme capable of crossing blood-brain barrier
  • Levels of creatine in treated and untreated AGAT patients and its impact on clinical manifestation