ELA International represents national ELA associations from different countries that contribute together to the financing of research on leukodystrophies Accordingly, ELA International intends to launch a one-time funding opportunity for a program dedicated to clinical developments and clinical trials involving patients with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), or preclinical studies focused on PMD.

The goal of the program is to support the clinical development of a therapy in PMD, the clinical development of products for use in PMD where no current therapy exists or where the product being developed will be superior to the existing therapy. ELA will provide a grant for a single clinical trial on safety and effectiveness that will either result in, or substantially contribute to, the validation of a therapy in PMD or market approval of these products. Applicants must include in the application an explanation of how the proposed study will either help support product approval or provide essential data needed for product development.

The purpose of this call for proposals is to encourage applications for investigator-initiated exploratory clinical trial to ELA International. The trials must address questions within the mission and research interests of ELA International and may evaluate drugs, biologics, and devices, as well as surgical, behavioral and rehabilitation therapies in PMD patients.

The preclinical studies must focus on a treatment or intervention specifically targeting PMD. Projects should be at an advanced stage of development, nearing clinical application.

The scientific merit of applications is determined by peer review. A Review Committee will recommend applications for funding based on the scientific merit, together with their judgment of the degree to which proposals are responsive to ELA’s mission and research priorities and have potential for high impact.

Submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required to apply for the 2025 ELA clinical trial FOA. To apply, simply:

• Download the LOI application form with the button below
• Return the completed form by e-mail to a.boyer@elainternational.eu no later than midnight (CET) on Tuesday, July 15^th 2025.

Eligible projects, according to scientific merit scores, will then receive a detailed application form to be completed. Projects selected by the Review Committee will be notified by November 2025 and invited to submit a full application by February 2026.

NB: All clinical trial applications must obtain regulatory agency authorizations by January 1^st 2026.

It is critical that applicants read and follow all application instructions in the 2025 ELA clinical trial FOA Instructions and Policies (available in the button below). Conformance to all requirements is required and strictly enforced. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Letter of Intent submission deadline: July 15^th 2025

Themes proposed in the 2025 ELA International clinical trial call for proposals will focus on a clinical trial in the field of PMD or preclinical studies focused on PMD.

• Clinical trial / clinical trial readiness to evaluate treatment for PMD.
• Preclinical study focused on a treatment or intervention specifically targeting PMD, at an advanced stage of development and approaching clinical application.

It is important to note that applications involving clinical trials will be given priority over preclinical studies, in line with ELA International’s commitment to accelerating patient access to effective therapies.

Direct costs requested to ELA International cannot exceed:

• €750,000 in total, with a three years-limit for clinical trials,
• €500,000 in total, with a two years-limit for preclinical studies in funding period.

Joint funding initiatives are encouraged.