Huntington's Disease Foundation Commits $2 Million for its 2026 Transformative Research Awards

Two innovative research projects will pursue distinct strategies to advance potential treatments for Huntington's disease.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Huntington's Disease Foundation (HDF) has awarded $2 million for its 2026 Transformative Research Awards (TRAs) to support two exceptional research collaborations with the potential to advance treatments for Huntington's disease (HD).

Made possible by the support of new major donors, this year's awards reflect HDF's commitment to investing in groundbreaking science.

"HDF typically funds one TRA annually, but the extraordinary potential of these two proposals warranted an investment in both," said Meghan Donaldson, CEO. "When promising science offers a path toward disease-modifying treatments and, ultimately, a cure for Huntington's disease, we are committed to making that research possible."

The 2026 recipients are collaborative teams led by Dr. Rachel Harding of the Structural Genomics Consortium and the University of Toronto, and Dr. Ai Yamamoto of Columbia University. Each will receive $1 million to pursue a distinct strategy targeting the toxic huntingtin protein associated with HD.

Two Approaches, One Shared Goal
Both projects explore innovative ways to address the underlying biology of Huntington's disease - a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects movement, cognition, and behavior.

Dr. Harding's project, "Structure-Guided Development of Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting the Huntingtin Protein," builds on the discovery of a small molecule that binds directly and selectively to huntingtin. Her team aims to develop compounds that recruit the cell's natural disposal machinery to remove the toxic protein, potentially opening a path toward treatments that could be delivered orally.

Dr. Yamamoto's project, "Augmenting Alfy Expression to Treat HD and Other Proteinopathies," focuses on strengthening the brain's cellular cleanup systems. Her team will investigate ways to increase Alfy, a protein involved in clearing harmful protein aggregates, and advance antisense molecules designed to increase its expression, with the goal of delaying HD symptom onset.

Together, these complementary approaches reflect HDF's commitment to funding bold, innovative science toward future treatments for HD.

Investing in Transformative Science
HDF's Transformative Research Awards are its largest research grants. Since 2023, HDF has awarded six TRAs, each designed to catalyze promising new directions in Huntington's disease research. Funding these two awards in 2026 underscores HDF's commitment to investing in exceptional scientific opportunities with the potential to change the course of the disease. 

Learn more about the 2026 award recipients and their research at HDFoundation.org.

About the Huntington's Disease Foundation
The Huntington's Disease Foundation advances research toward treatments for Huntington's disease through strategic funding, scientific collaboration and initiatives that accelerate discovery.

SOURCE Huntington's Disease Foundation