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About this program

The Batten Disease Clinical Research Consortium (BDCRC) offers the Early Career Investigator Grant (ECIG) to support early-career post‑graduate clinician‑investigators conducting clinical or translational research on neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), providing specialized rare‑disease research training, mentorship, and career development toward independent clinician‑scientist roles. Up to two awards are sought (one awarded per year/budget cycle); funded projects must be human‑focused (animal studies excluded) and recipients must participate in BDCRC mentorship, webinars and meetings, present at NCL conferences, prepare at least one manuscript, and submit a follow‑on research application within 12 months of grant completion. Applicants must be within five years of completing terminal clinically oriented training, hold a clinical doctoral degree or be a clinically licensed professional (examples include MD, clinical PhD/PsyD, DNP, genetic counselor, OT/PT, or SLP), be affiliated with a U.S. academic health care institution, have a local primary mentor, and may not hold an active individual K‑award (non‑K awards permitted). Direct costs are limited to $65,000 per year (indirect ≤ institutional negotiated rate or 78%), with a recommended minimum effort of three calendar months and preference for candidates from institutions without prior ECIG funding or those supported by a BDCRC site advisor.