Brain Grants

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Frontotemporal Dementia Drug Discovery Program
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias (AFTD) seek to accelerate and support drug discovery for FTD and related dementias through this Request for Proposals (RFP.
Research investigating the pathologic mechanisms of neurodegeneration in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and related disorders has advanced recently, creating new potential targets for drug discovery.
Examples of programs appropriate for this RFP include, but are not limited to:
• Identification and in vitro testing of potentially disease modifying lead compounds
• Development and testing of novel high throughput screening assays
• Medicinal chemistry on lead compounds
• Testing of lead compounds in a relevant animal model for preclinical proof of concept
• ADME, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics on lead compounds
• Development and testing of targeted gene delivery strategies
• Development of biomarkers to accelerate drug development and early diagnosis
PLEASE NOTE: THIS FUNDING WILL NOT SUPPORT APPLICATIONS FOR BASIC RESEARCH
MECHANISM(S) OF SUPPORT
ADDF/AFTD will provide individual grants for one year duration with the possibility of follow on funding. Applications may be submitted by non-profit academic institutions and for-profit biotechnology companies, both public and private, worldwide. Collaborative teams of neuroscientists and researchers in drug discovery disciplines such as medicinal chemistry and drug delivery are also encouraged to apply.
REVIEW PROCESS
The deadline date for applications is September 22nd, 2008. Applications will be confidentially reviewed by ADDF and an external Scientific Review Committee, including AFTD scientific advisors. Applications from biotechnology companies will also be reviewed by ADDF’s external Business Advisory Board. Award-winners will be publicly announced in April 2009.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
All applications must be submitted electronically at www.AlzDiscovery.org.

NOVEL APPROACHES TO DRUG DISCOVERY FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Scope of the Program
The objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) from the biotechnology industry and academia is to catalyze and accelerate the discovery and development of innovative and effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The program will fund high throughput screening of novel targets to identify hits and leads, lead validation and optimization through medicinal chemistry, and pre-clinical in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation, including pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, formulation chemistry and the conduct of pre-clinical “proof of concept” studies.
A KEY FUNDING PRIORITY IS THE SUPPORT OF AD DRUG DISCOVERY IN EMERGING BIOTECH COMPANIES
The total number of grants awarded will be dependent upon the numbers, quality and costs of applications received. Proposals covering two years may be submitted, although the second year of funding will be contingent upon progress of the completed work, the investigator’s second-year work-plan, and the numbers and quality of competing proposals. Only one year of funding will be guaranteed. Former recipients of ADDF and ISOA funding are eligible to apply.
Funding Mechanism
If the award recipient is a biotechnology company, ADDF shall provide the grant funding in the form of a convertible note, an equity investment or a recoverable grant based on mutually agreed and negotiated terms.
If the award recipient is an academic institution, then ADDF shall provide funding in the form of an academic grant with terms that provide the Foundation with a return on its investment in the event of commercial success as a result of the research program funded by the Award as negotiated and mutually agreed.
Reporting Requirements
Scientific and financial progress reports are due every six months after the start of the award. A final report of research activities and expenditures is due at the termination of the funding period.
Eligibility Criteria
The proposed research may be conducted at a registered public or private biotechnology company or at any type of not-for-profit academic setting and the Principal Investigator must hold an MD or PhD degree.
Application Guidelines and Selection Criteria
All applications and supporting materials must be received by October 1, 2008. Applications will be reviewed by a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and a final decision will be made by December 31, 2008.
The following criteria will be used to determine the merit of an application:
• Merit and feasibility of the proposed research and its relevance to drug discovery and development for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Qualifications of the scientific staff conducting the studies.
• Excellence of the research environment, including the availability of a multidisciplinary research team comprised of neuroscientists, medicinal chemists, pharmaceutical scientists, and the necessary animal models, facilities and equipment required for drug discovery and drug development. Research can be outsourced and consultants employed where appropriate and adequately justified.
• Likelihood that the project will lead to advancement in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Application Procedures
Application forms are available at www.AlzDiscovery.org.

The Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Foundation (PLGA), a national non-profit organization, was founded in 2007 by a group of dedicated parents, physicians and friends to improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for children with PLGA through research, support, education, and advocacy.

The number one priority of PLGA Foundation is to act as a catalyst for researchers world-wide to turn their attention to the area of PLGA brain tumors and to award research grants for the most promising programs and studies which will lead to a better understanding of the causes of PLGA as well as the creation of more effective treatments and a cure for pediatric low grade astrocytoma tumors.

Proposals related to basic and translational* projects that can advance understanding of the underlying biology of the development and treatment of PLGA tumors will be considered. Investigators in the early years of their careers are encouraged to apply.

PLGA Foundation will also consider funding start-up, dedicated PLGA research programs at specific medical institutions. (See PLGA Research Program at Dana Farber Cancer Institute for an example of such program.)

Award Description**

Award funding is based on size, impact and complexity of project.
Funding can be awarded over one, two or three year peiod.
Previous PLGA Foundation grant recipients are eligible to apply.
Timing and Criteria

The grant cycle is an on-going process throughout the year. Investigators from all over the world are invited to submit a 'Letter of Intent', at anytime throughout the year to PLGA Foundation. This 'Letter of Intent' should contain a brief synopsis, parameters, high-level budget and potential outcomes of the proposed study. This document will be reviewed by an expert panel and based on this feedback, a selected group of applicants will then invited to submit a full proposal.
Each proposal is peer reviewed by at least two leading experts in the specific area of research being studied. Only those proposals with the highest scores demonstrating the most potential to have a significant impact on the future of children with pediatric low grade astrocytoma tumors will be awarded.

The guidelines, forms and requirements for the grant proposal will be provided when pre-applicants are notified of PLGA Foundation solicitation.

The PLGA Foundation also collaborates with the Brain Tumor Society (BTS) and Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation for grant allocations. In these instances, grant applications would be subject to the terms and conditions of the respective foundation.

Conditions

Grant recipients are required to submit progress reports to the Foundation on an interim basis.
Grantees must acknowledge the Foundation's support in all publications about the research.
No grants will be made to private individuals.
All grants are awarded with the understanding of 0% overhead.
PLGA grant awards do not cover debt reduction, capital improvements, or travel expenses.
Grant recipients must be willing to collaborate with other PLGA Foundation grant reciepients when appropriate.
Please email us at contact@fightplga.org or call 914-762-3494 with any questions.

*NIH definition of translational research: “the process of applying ideas, insights, and discoveries generated through basic scientific inquiry to the treatment or prevention of human disease.”

**The PLGA Foundation takes no financial interest in the outcome of the research.

Advocacy Skills for Family Caregivers

Do you provide a moderate or high level of care for an adult family member with brain injury?

The Oregon Center for Applied Sciences (ORCAS) is developing a new program to teach family members providing moderate or high levels of care for an adult family member with brain injury how to advocate for their loved one with a brain injury.

You can receive up to $100 to help develop and evaluate the program. This project takes place through June of 2009 and is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of America. There are no sales or mailing lists involved. All information is confidential. To see if you qualify:

Sign-up online: http://study.braininjurypartners.com or
Sign-up by calling toll-free: 1-866-730-3211

For questions about the study you can also email ORCAS at: braininjurypartners@orcasinc.com

Andrew's Buddies Corporation (also known as "FightSMA") was created to accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number-one inherited cause of infant death. The organization pursues this objective by raising awareness and funding for SMA research.

The next submission deadline will be Friday, August 1, 2008.

Robert Katzman, MD, Clinical Research Training Fellowship in Alzheimer's Research
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Foundation and the Alzheimer's Association are pleased to announce the Robert Katzman, MD, Clinical Research Training Fellowship in Alzheimer's disease research, a two-year fellowship. The fellowship is supported by the AAN Foundation and the Alzheimer's Association.

Mailing Address
Mail application materials to:
AAN Foundation
Attn: Terry Heinz
Grants Administrator
1080 Montreal Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55116

 

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Foundation is pleased to announce five two-year fellowships to support clinical research training in the neurosciences. The fellowships are supported by the AAN, the AAN Foundation, and the AAN Foundation Corporate Roundtable.

Mailing Address
Mail application materials to:
AAN Foundation
Attn: Terry Heinz
Grants Administrator
1080 Montreal Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55116

The Marian Kies Memorial Award is presented to a junior scientist for outstanding research conducted during graduate training. The award is named in memory of Marian Kies who devoted much of her energy and enthusiasm to fostering the development of young scientists. The award consists of a $1,500 cash prize and the opportunity to organize a symposium at the American Society for Neurochemistry Annual Meeting being held the year following presentation of the award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Ph.D. or thesis awarded during the 2 years prior to nomination

Ph.D. dissertation research of exceptional quality in the field of neuroscience

Nominee must submit an abstract to the Annual Meeting for the year of their nomination

Nominee must have performed dissertation work in the Western Hemisphere
NOMINATION MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED:

Letter of recommendation from nominee's Ph.D. advisor and one other appropriate senior scientist familiar with the nominee's research.
A summary of the nominee's doctoral research (maximum length of 1 single-spaced page.)
Curriculum vitae of the nominee, including honors, awards, involvement and activities in scientific societies and a list of all publications.
Two peer-reviewed manuscripts, manuscripts in press or manuscripts submitted for publication.
Copy of text of the abstract submitted to the ASN Annual Meeting. (Please note that you must submit your abstract for presentation using the ASN website according to the instructions for the specific meeting.)
SUBMISSION PROCESS:

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE EMAILED TO BOTH CO-CHAIRS. You will receive an email response confirming receipt.
The applicant should send to both co-chairs a single PDF file containing the research summary, CV, manuscripts, and ASN abstract (i.e. parts 2 - 5 from above).
The letters of recommendation should be as PDF files sent directly from each referee to both co-chairs.
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATION MATERIALS - Oct 15th, 2008

Dr. Regina C. Armstrong Dr. Jean Harry
rarmstrong@usuhs.mil harry@niehs.nih.gov
Dept of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics

School of Medicine

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

4301 Jones Bridge Rd

Bethesda, MD 20814-4799

voice (301) 295-3205

Fax (301) 295-1715
Natl Inst Environmental Health Sciences
Lab Neurobiology
PO Box 12233
MD C1-04
Research Triangle Pk
NC 27709
Voice:: 919-541-0927
Fax: 919-541-0870

Shih-Chun Wang Young Investigator Award

The Shih-Chun Wang Memorial Fund was established in 1998 in memory of Shih-Chun Wang, the Pfeiffer Professor of Pharmacology at Columbia University and a long-standing APS member. Wang was internationally recognized for his research contributions in the areas of neurophysiology and neuropharmacology with an emphasis on brain stem control mechanisms. The Shih-Chun Wang Young Investigator Award is given annually to an individual demonstrating outstanding promise based on his/her research program in the physiological sciences. Applications are accepted from members of APS working within the U.S. and holding an academic rank no higher than assistant professor. The award of $7,000 is designated for use in the awardee's research program. The award does not include any indirect cost reimbursement. The recipient receives complimentary registration to attend the meeting and a plaque presented at the APS Business Meeting held at the Experimental Biology meeting.

Applications will now only be accepted via online submission. Please go to http://www.the-aps.org/awardapps to apply.

American Physiological Society (APS)

For applications, contact the appropriate APS office as listed at 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3991. Phone: 301-634-7118; fax: 301-634-7242; e-mail: awards@the-aps.org

OVERVIEW OF THE CUREPSP RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (CurePSP) Research Program supports and
promotes research that can advance the understanding and treatment of progressive
supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). CurePSP’s Research Program
has three components:
INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH
CurePSP promotes research that helps generate an integrated picture of PSP and CBD at the
molecular, cellular, and clinical levels. CurePSP may offer grants of up to $100,000 per year for
three years, the award maximum and duration varying per submission cycle.
CLINICAL TRIALS
In an effort to encourage investigators to plan and execute PSP/CBD clinical trials, CurePSP
earmarks money for investigator-initiated clinical trials.
CUREPSP- INITIATED RESEARCH
CurePSP may encourage independent investigators to submit applications for its internally
initiated research funding mechanism by issuing a request for applications (RFA).
CurePSP is particularly interested in research that will help us:
1. Understand the role of the tau gene and other genes in PSP and CBD.
2. Understand the role of tau protein processing in PSP and CBD.
3. Understand cellular energy metabolism and oxidative stress perturbations in PSP and CBD.
4. Understand environmental factors that influence the development or course of PSP and CBD.
5. Understand the series of changes brain cells pass through in PSP and CBD as they progress
from healthy neurons to dysfunctional neurons.
6. Characterize the natural history of PSP and CBD in order to develop outcome measures for
clinical trials.
7. Develop animal models of PSP and CBD.
8. Develop tools and disease markers for early diagnosis of PSP and CBD and for assessment
of treatment.
9. Develop treatments that improve the symptoms of persons with PSP and CBD.
10. Develop interventions to arrest the progression of PSP and CBD and restore lost function.

Application deadlines for the Spring Cycle are usually April 1st. For the Fall Cycle the deadline
is usually October 1st. When these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be
accepted through the next business day.

CUREPSP
SOCIETY FOR PROGRESSIVE SUPRANUCLEAR PALSY
Executive Plaza III
11350 McCormick Road, Suite 906
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
Telephone: 410.785.7004
Toll Free: 800.457.4777
Website: www.curepsp.org