Bow Foundation 2025 Grant Program - Letter of Interest
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The Bow Foundation will provide a 1-year grant to support research related to GNAO1
Neurodevelopmental Disorder. At least 2 awards will be granted at $100,000 each.
Background
GNAO1 (G Protein Subunit Alpha O1) is a protein coding gene. Most patients with a GNAO1
neurodevelopmental disorder are diagnosed as infants or young children. Many of the patients begin
experiencing seizures, abnormal movements and developmental delays in their infancy. The
seizures are often refractory, and the patients seem to cycle through numerous medications as they
try to find relief. The abnormal movements seem to worsen as the patients age. Several patients have
benefited from deep brain stimulation surgery, including the youngest patient in the world to receive
the procedure (a 2-year-old in the UK).
The Orphan Disease Center, in collaboration with the Bow Foundation, is seeking grant applications
that aim to further progress our understanding of the disease, the available therapeutic options, and
investigating strategies to establish outcome measurements. The RFA could focus on one, or several,
of the following aims, to further advance GNAO1 research and therapeutic approaches:
- Novel therapeutic approaches, including, but not limited to, techniques in genome editing,
RNA-based mechanisms, biologics, novel cell-based therapeutics, and development of novel
therapeutic compounds, including through small molecule repurposing or screening against
validated phenotypes in human cellular systems.
- Proposals that include collaboration across organizations or other rare diseases.
- Establishment of outcome measures for future clinical trials.
- Supporting pilot clinical trials, preclinical trials, or animal model trials that promote drug
repurposing strategies.
- Other aims are welcome and will be considered.
Eligibility
All individuals holding a faculty-level appointment at an academic institution or a senior position at a
non-profit institution or foundation are eligible to respond to this RFA.