Misophonia Research Fund
The Misophonia Research Fund (MRF) is a nonprofit organization based in Buffalo Grove, IL whose mission is to support research into the causes of misophonia and seek effective treatments.[1]. MRF was launched in 2019 as an initiative of The REAM Foundation, a private family foundation, and was founded to fill a void in dedicated misophonia research funding[2]. The MRF is guided by an Advisory Board to strategically allocate resources to high-impact projects, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving transformative science that will advance knowledge to improve the lives of all impacted by misophonia[3].
Misophonia Background
Misophonia is a disorder of decreased tolerance to certain sounds and other associated stimuli[4][5]. These stimuli, known as “triggers,” are experienced as unpleasant or distressing and tend to evoke strong negative emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses that are not seen in most other people[4][5]. The expression of misophonic symptoms varies, as does the severity, which ranges from mild to severe impairments. Some individuals with misophonia are aware that their reactions to misophonic trigger stimuli are disproportionate to the circumstances. Misophonia symptoms are typically first observed in childhood or early adolescence [4][6].
Strategic and Scientific Priorities
The MRF has identified four broad scientific areas where there is potential for high impact advances in the science and treatment development for misophonia:
1. A focus on interdisciplinary science and collaboration
2. Building a fundamental understanding of misophonia
3. Supporting the development and validation of diagnostic tools
4. Driving increased rigor in misophonia clinical studies
The MRF focuses on strategic priorities that include partnering with leading researchers, institutions, and advocacy groups to promote collaborative efforts, support impactful studies, and raise awareness of misophonia.
History
The MRF was founded by Diane and Steve Miller in response to their personal experiences and awareness of the critical need for increased research into understanding the causes of misophonia and potential treatments for the disorder [2][3]. Receiving a grant from the MRF for strategic development, the Milken Institute for Center Strategic Philanthropy played a pivotal role in the fund’s initial growth and development.
Guided by its partnership with the Milken Institute, the MRF initiated the Misophonia Consensus Definition Project, which through a collaborative effort of misophonia researchers, developed a foundational definition of misophonia[4][5].
Research and Grants
The MRF has committed more than $17,000,000 in grants to support outstanding research worldwide[7][8][9]. The MRF currently offers funding through three grant mechanisms: the Research Impact Award, Data Discovery Award, and Research Consortium Award[8][10][11].
The Research Impact Award provides up to $500,000 to independent Investigators at nonprofit/academic institutions, and certain qualified governmental agencies with active biomedical research programs. This award provides up to $200,000 to postdoctoral researchers at these institutions. This award spans 2-3 years. The goal of this award is to support high-impact large-scale research projects focused on MRF priority areas[8][10][11][12].
The Data Discovery Award provides up to $75,000 to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and independent investigators at nonprofit/academic institutions, and certain qualified governmental agencies with active biomedical research programs. This award spans 1-2 years. The goal of this award is to support the acquisition of key initial datasets that address clear gaps in the field and/or generate new knowledge about misophonia that is essential to the development of a large-scale research project[8][10][11][12].
The Research Consortium Award provides up to $1,500,000 to independent investigators at nonprofit/academic institutions, and certain qualified governmental agencies with active biomedical research programs. This award spans 2-3 years. The goal of this award is to to bring together two or more independent investigators to pursue ambitious, multi-domain studies that cannot be achieved through individual projects alone[8][10][11][12]
References
- ↑ "Misophonia Research Fund". www.misophoniaresearchfund.org.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ewing, Tia (18 September 2025). "Chicago hosts first-ever conference on misophonia — a little-known sound disorder". FOX 32 Chicago.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "About | MRF". www.misophoniaresearchfund.org.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Swedo, Susan E.; Baguley, David M.; Denys, Damiaan; Dixon, Laura J.; Erfanian, Mercede; Fioretti, Alessandra; Jastreboff, Pawel J.; Kumar, Sukhbinder; Rosenthal, M. Zachary; Rouw, Romke; Schiller, Daniela; Simner, Julia; Storch, Eric A.; Taylor, Steven; Werff, Kathy R. Vander; Altimus, Cara M.; Raver, Sylvina M. (17 March 2022). "Consensus Definition of Misophonia: A Delphi Study". Frontiers in Neuroscience. 16. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.841816. ISSN 1662-453X. PMC 8969743 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 35368272 Check|pmid=value (help). Unknown parameter|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Misophonia Awareness Day - July 9th". World Misophonia Awareness Day | July 9th.
- ↑ "Understanding Misophonia | MRF". www.misophoniaresearchfund.org.
- ↑ Eaton, Jake. "The Unbearable Loudness of Chewing—Asterisk". asteriskmag.com.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Fund, Misophonia Research (4 November 2025). "Fueling Discovery: Misophonia Research Fund Launches New Team Science Award, Expands 2026 Funding Opportunities, and Announces Latest Grantee Cohort". GlobeNewswire News Room.
- ↑ "Hate slurping or chewing sounds? You might have misophonia". Health. 13 November 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "For Researchers | MRF". www.misophoniaresearchfund.org.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "ANNOUNCEMENT: 2026 Request for Proposals Now Open". www.misophoniaresearchfund.org.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Misophonia Research Fund Announces Groundbreaking Research Investment of $12M+: Welcomes New Cohort of Grantees and Launches New Seed Data Grant" (Press release).
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