Moebius Syndrome Foundation

Apply for a Research Grant

The Moebius Syndrome Foundation is committed to funding research into the cause of Moebius syndrome and its associated conditions, per the Foundation’s mission statement. As of 2021, the Foundation has provided $1,336,243.02 in research funding for numerous research grants and eight research symposiums (2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022).

Funding Priorities of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation

  1. To advance the diagnosis, treatment, and/or quality of life of people with Moebius syndrome and its associated conditions.
  2. To promote sustainable and comprehensive programs of research focused on Moebius syndrome by providing “seed funds” for larger research programs and grant submissions to larger funding organizations.

Research Grants

To propose a research study or learn more about applying for a research grant, please email research@moebiussyndrome.org.

OPEN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The Moebius Syndrome Foundation Grant Program is pleased to provide seed-money grants to qualified investigators for scientific and/or clinical research on Moebius syndrome. This year, the Moebius Syndrome Foundation is actively seeking applications from new investigators who are passionate about advancing the understanding of Moebius syndrome. To qualify, the investigator must be a medical, graduate, or post-doctoral student or be within three years of obtaining his or her first faculty appointment. For medical, graduate, and post-doctoral students, a faculty mentor is required, but this mentor should not have extensive experience studying Moebius syndrome as the aim is to develop an independent research project by the applicant. The MSF is looking to fund 1 proposal. Applications should include a 5-page study proposal, a budget, and an NIH biosketch for the principal investigator and co-investigators, if any. For medical, graduate, or post-doctoral students there should also be a letter of recommendation supplied by the faculty mentor. We review grants on a rolling basis and therefore encourage applicants to submit their proposals as early as possible. The maximum funding request is set to $100k to be awarded over 2 years ($50k/year). Please send completed applications to: bdwebb@wisc.edu.

Scientific Research Grants Awarded by the Moebius Syndrome Foundation

2021

Jessica Dietch,PhD, Oregon State University: $30,000

Sleep Health of Children and Adults With Moebius Syndrome

2020

Kathleen Bogart, PhD, Oregon State University: $24,344

Disclosing Moebius Syndrome and Other Facial Differences

Gregory Borschel, M.D. Riley Hospital for Children: $210,000

Surgical Treatment To Enhance Dynamic Eyelid Closure in Patients With Moebius Syndrome

2019

Zhongyang Thomas Zhang, PhD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine: $160,000

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Moebius Syndrome and Related Disorders

2018

Bryn Webb, MD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine: $160,000

Determining Genetic Etiologies of Facial Nerve Maldevelopment

2016

Irini Manoli, Ph.D., M.D., National Institutes of Health: $150,000

Multidisciplinary Phenotyping of Moebius Syndrome and Other Congenital Facial Weakness Disorders

Alan Tenney, Ph.D., Boston Children’s Hospital, Engle Lab: $100,000

Facial Motor Neuron and Axon Development

2015

G. Borschel, M.D. & R. Zuker, M.D., Hospital for Sick Children: $124,000

Examining the Long-term Outcomes of Facial Reanimation in Young Adults with Moebius

2012

Roxana Wexberg, M.D.; Hospital for Sick Children: $16,265

Genome-Wide Epigenetic Profiling in Moebius Syndrome

Wendy Roberts, MD; Hospital for Sick Children: $49,400

Pilot Service Delivery Model for Early Detection and Intervention for Risk Markers of Social Communication Disorders in Very Young Children With Moebius Syndrome

Elizabeth Engle, M.D., Boston Children’s Hospital: $27,000

Diagnostic Distinctions and Genetic Analysis of Patients Diagnosed With Moebius Syndrome

2011

Ethylin Wang Jabs, M.D.; Mt. Sinai School of Medicine: $40,000

Genetics of Moebius Syndrome

2008

Ethylin Wang Jabs, M.D.; Mt. Sinai School of Medicine: $26,500

Genetics of Moebius Syndrome

2005

Wendy Roberts, M.D.; Hospital for Sick Children: $34,000

A Genetic and Phenotypic Understanding of Moebius Syndrome

Sara Rosenfeld Johnson, Talk Tools, LLC: $55,030

Effectiveness of Oral-Motor Therapy for Children With Moebius Syndrome

Ethylin Wang Jabs, M.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine: $26,500

Genetics of Moebius Syndrome