Firyal Ramzan Presented with a $20,000 VCP Research Grant from Uplifting Athletes and Cure VCP Disease

Cure VCP Disease, Inc.
Jan 5
3 min read

Firyal Ramzan from the University of Waterloo is among 10 rare disease researchers to

be awarded a grant at Uplifting Athletes’ Young Investigator Draft on Jan. 31 at Lincoln

Financial Field.

Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the rare disease community, and Cure VCP Disease, a nonprofit committed to research and advocacy initiatives that help VCP disease patients and their families, have announced that they are awarding University of Waterloo’s Firyal Ramzan, PhD, a $20,000 research grant as a member of Uplifting Athletes’ 2026 Young Investigator Draft Class. The Research Program will advance understanding of a novel allele-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) approach for VCP-MSP and will be carried out in the lab of Dale Martin, PhD.

Dr. Ramzan is among a group of 10 researchers who will each receive a grant at the Uplifting Athletes’ Young Investigator Draft on January 31, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

About Firyal Ramzan’s Research

Dr. Ramzan is developing a precision RNA therapeutic approach for VCP-associated multisystem proteinopathy, a devastating rare disease that causes muscle degeneration, ALS, and dementia. The innovative treatment uses specially designed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively silence mutant gene transcripts from multiple mutations while preserving healthy gene function. It is delivered to the brain through a novel nanodisc system that eliminates the need for invasive spinal injections.

About the Program

The Young Investigator Draft is inspired by the NFL Draft but shifts the focus from selecting

potential talent on the football field to recognizing the next generation of promising young medical researchers in rare diseases. It is one of several signature initiatives created by

Uplifting Athletes to raise awareness and research funding for rare diseases, which affect

approximately 30 million individuals in the United States.

“Research funding is critical to advancing discovery of critical treatments and improving outcomes for people impacted by rare diseases who need it most. We are thrilled to partner with 10 patient advocacy organizations, and we are overjoyed to celebrate the 2026 Draft class,” said Brett Brackett, President of Uplifting Athletes. “These world-class researchers represent so much promise for tomorrow, and we are honored to have them on our team.”

"We are thrilled to participate in the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft for the third time with our $20,000 matched grant. At Cure VCP Disease, we believe strongly in the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft program and its mission to support emerging researchers. In today's challenging grant funding environment, it's more critical than ever that we step up to support young investigators who represent the next generation of rare disease research. We're proud to be part of this initiative and excited to see the innovative work these talented researchers will bring to our community." - Nathan Peck CEO, Cure VCP Disease, Inc.

Grant submissions for the Young Investigator Draft are evaluated by an expert panel of scientific advisors prior to the selection of each year’s Draft Class. Every researcher is nominated by a patient advocacy organization (PAO) recognized by Uplifting Athletes as a priority partner, with grants equally co-funded by Uplifting Athletes and the nominating PAO. Firyal Ramzan was nominated by Cure VCP Disease.

About the Funding Organizations

Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization that impacts the rare disease community through connections to sports and engages athletes to generate awareness, inspire hope, and raise funds to support the approximately 1 in 10 Americans impacted by rare diseases. Over $1.2 million in grants have been awarded throughout the program's history.

Cure VCP Disease, Inc., is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to unite and fund research while building collaborations and supporting patients within the VCP global community.

Event Details

The 2026 Young Investigator Draft audience will include student-athlete leaders from Uplifting Athletes’ collegiate chapters across the country, notable professional athletes,

biopharmaceutical representatives, healthcare professionals, and those directly impacted by

rare diseases and their families. The Young Investigator Draft is family-friendly, and VIP tickets include a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Eagles’ stadium.