2026 Tauopathy Challenge WorkshopTM
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About the Workshop
Established in 2023 by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop is a funding program that convenes interdisciplinary experts around a single topic to address unmet needs in the primary tauopathies. Tauopathies, a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal accumulation of pathologic forms of the tau protein, represent a significant health challenge. While the pathological role of tau protein aggregates in neurodegeneration is well-established, the precise molecular mechanisms driving their formation and neurotoxicity remain elusive.
You can learn more about our 2024 winners and the 2025 workshop here.
2026 Topic
Each year a new topic is selected as the focus for the workshop. The 2026 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop will focus on employing advanced biophysical and bioanalytical approaches to probe the structural and thermodynamic properties of tau protein, its modifications, and interactions with other pathologies.
By gaining a deeper understanding of these molecular characteristics with the most current technology, the workshop aims to identify potential therapeutic approaches and biomarker targets for development. Below is a non-exhaustive list of research topics. Note: broad screening approaches-alone without mechanism connection are not encouraged to apply.
• The molecular architecture and dynamics of misfolded tau with and without copathologies;
• The impact of protein-membrane interactions on tauopathies;
• Validating computational approaches that model protein aggregation;
• Novel approaches for studying post-translational modifications of tau;
• Determining which physiologically relevant cofactors and modifications drive tau pathology;
• How do changes in tau pathology inform the status of disease progression.
Process
The RCF uses a letter of interest (LOI) process to solicit novel proposals from the research community. Through the LOI process, up to 12 participants are selected to move forward and invited to attend the 2-day in person workshop and then to apply for research grants providing up to $500,000 in direct costs over two years; up to four awards will be funded, pending budget availability.
Important Dates
| Letter of Intent Submission Dates | July 15 – September 2, 2025 |
| Letter of Intent Notification Date | October 15, 2025 |
| Workshop Date / Location | January 26-28, 2026 / Dallas, TX |
| Post-workshop Grant Notification Date | July 15, 2026 |
| Start of Post-workshop Grant Term | September / October 2026 |
Funding Partners
We are grateful for the generous support of our funding partners, whose collaboration helps make the 2026 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop possible
