NEW YORK – October 29, 2026 -- The Huntington's Disease Foundation (HDF) has awarded $2 million across two 2026 Transformative Research Awards (TRAs), giving $1 million each to teams targeting the toxic huntingtin protein behind Huntington's disease (HD).
HDF typically funds one TRA a year. CEO Meghan Donaldson said the "extraordinary potential" of both proposals warranted funding each. The foundation attributes the expanded round to new major donors.
Harding team pursues small molecules to clear huntingtin
Dr. Rachel Harding of the Structural Genomics Consortium and the University of Toronto leads one funded collaboration. Her project, "Structure-Guided Development of Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting the Huntingtin Protein," builds on a small molecule that binds directly and selectively to huntingtin.
The team aims to develop compounds that recruit the cell's natural disposal machinery to remove the toxic protein. This could open a path toward orally delivered treatments.
Yamamoto team targets Alfy expression with antisense molecules
Dr. Ai Yamamoto of Columbia University leads the second collaboration. Her project, "Augmenting Alfy Expression to Treat HD and Other Proteinopathies," focuses on strengthening the brain's cellular cleanup systems.
The team will investigate ways to increase Alfy, a protein involved in clearing harmful protein aggregates. It will also advance antisense molecules designed to raise Alfy expression, with the goal of delaying HD symptom onset.
TRAs remain HDF's largest research grants
HDF has awarded six TRAs since 2023. HD is a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects movement, cognition and behavior.