Drug Discovery/ Drug Development Grants

Gary Neil Prize for Innovation in Drug Development

The Gary Neil Prize for Innovation in Drug Development was established in 2004 to honor the memory of Gary Neil, Ph.D. Dr. Neil, a former leader of worldwide Research and Development at Wyeth-Ayerst, was a pioneer in the field of drug development. Dr. Neil was instrumental in creating a highly effective drug development and strategic decision-making structure at Alza through his roles as CEO and President of Therapeutic Discovery Corporation and Crescendo Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Dr. Neil had a significant role as a member of the boards of directors of Pharsight Corporation, Geron Corporation, Calydon and several other biotech companies.

The goal of the Gary Neil Prize for Innovation in Drug Development is to stimulate the application of innovative science to clinical drug development by recognizing outstanding individuals or teams who have been leaders in this area.

Eligibility
Individuals as well as teams who have demonstrated leadership in the application of significant, innovative science to clinical drug development. The award is open to individuals from all clinical pharmacology employment sectors.

Prize and Presentation
The Gary Neil Prize for Innovation in Drug Development will be presented at the ASCPT Annual Meeting. The recipient will receive a plaque and a $2,500 honorarium. Travel expenses, hotel expenses and meeting registration will be reimbursed by the Society.

Each year, the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Scientific Awards Program seeks to recognize outstanding science in clinical pharmacology. ASCPT Awards span the continuum of clinical pharmacology and recognize every turning point in the career path from young investigator to seasoned scientist.

The deadline to submit a nomination is September 24, 2010 at 4:00pm ET.

We encourage all members to participate in this important process. If you have any questions about any of the awards or nomination procedures, please contact meetings@ascpt.org.

ASCPT
528 N Washington St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Ph: 703.836.6981
info@ascpt.org

Sheiner-Beal Pharmacometrics Award

Each year, the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Scientific Awards Program seeks to recognize outstanding science in clinical pharmacology. ASCPT Awards span the continuum of clinical pharmacology and recognize every turning point in the career path from young investigator to seasoned scientist.

The deadline to submit a nomination is September 24, 2010 at 4:00pm ET.

The Sheiner-Beal Pharmacometrics Award has been established as an ASCPT Award by the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to acknowledge the pioneering contributions of Drs. Lewis B. Sheiner and Stuart Beal to the scientific discipline of pharmacometrics.

Definition
Pharmacometrics is defined as the science that quantifies drug, disease and clinical trial information to aid efficient drug development, regulatory decisions and rational therapeutic decision making in patients. It uses models that are generally based on pharmacology, physiology, genetic constitution and/or disease for quantitative analysis of interactions between drugs and patients. The domain of pharmacometrics includes the application of techniques that address the interactions between pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics and disease progression with a focus on populations and variability in the exposure-response relationship.

Goal
The goal of the Sheiner-Beal Pharmacometrics Award is to recognize outstanding achievements at the forefront of research or leadership in pharmacometrics and/or application of pharmacometric concepts and techniques to enhance research, development, regulatory evaluation and/or utilization of therapeutic products.

Eligibility
The candidate must be an investigator or leader who is actively advancing the scientific discipline of pharmacometrics and/or its impact on research, development, regulatory evaluation, or utilization of therapeutic products, and is capable of delivering an engaging and comprehensive lecture on pharmacometrics. The award is intended to recognize clinical pharmacologists, clinician scientists, computational scientists, statisticians and others in academia, industry, government agencies or consulting whose work falls within the scope of the definition of pharmacometrics.

Prize and Presentation
The Sheiner-Beal Pharmacometrics Award will be presented bi-annually at the ASCPT Annual Meeting. The recipient will present a lecture summarizing the works that form the basis of the award. In addition, the recipient will receive a $1,500 honorarium and a plaque. Travel expenses, hotel expenses and meeting registration will be reimbursed by the Society.

For more information about the Sheiner-Beal Pharmacometrics Award, please contact ASCPT at (703) 836-6981 or meetings@ascpt.org.

American Association for Cancer Research Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research

AACR and its Chemistry in Cancer Research Working Group established this Award in 2007 to recognize the importance of chemistry to advancements in cancer research. The Award will be given for outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research, which has led to important contributions to the fields of basic cancer research; translational cancer research; cancer diagnosis; the prevention of cancer; or the treatment of patients with cancer. Such research may include, but is not limited to, drug discovery and design; structural biology; proteomics, metabolomics and biological mass spectrometry; chemical aspects of carcinogenesis; imaging agents and radiotherapeutics; and chemical biology.

The winner of the Fifth Annual AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research will give a 50-minute lecture during the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011 in Orlando, FL, USA (April 2-6, 2011), will receive a commemorative plaque and a $10,000 honorarium, and receive support for the winner and a guest to attend the Annual Meeting.

Eligibility Criteria

* Candidacy is open to all researchers who are affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science anywhere in the world. Such institutions include those in academia, industry, or government.
* The Award will be presented to an individual investigator. Two or more individuals may be selected to share the Award when their investigations are closely related in subject matter and have resulted in work worthy of an award.
* Institutions or organizations are not eligible for the Award.
* Selection of the Award winner will be made on the outstanding quality, novelty, and significance of the candidates' chemistry research and its important contributions to cancer research. No regard will be given to race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.
* Prior recipients of the AACR-Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award are not eligible to be nominated for research previously recognized by the Cain Award.

Nomination Process

Nominations may be made via letter from any scientist, whether an AACR member or nonmember, who is now or has been affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science. Candidates may not nominate themselves.

Nomination letters must be sent electronically to awards@aacr.org by Friday, October 15, 2010, at 4:00 p.m., United States Eastern Time. Preferred file formats are *.doc, *.pdf. Your nomination is not considered fully submitted until you receive a confirmation e-mail from the AACR; confirmations will be sent within two business days.

The following materials must be submitted:

* The nomination letter must be addressed to the Selection Committee; be written in English; and not exceed 1,000 words. The content should include the following:
o the name of the AACR Award for which the candidate is being nominated;
o a brief statement of no more than 50 words summarizing the candidate's cancer research accomplishment(s) for which he or she is being nominated;
o a concise description of the candidate's outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research, which has led to important contributions to the fields of basic cancer research; translational cancer research; cancer diagnosis; the prevention of cancer; or the treatment of patients with cancer, with the publications supporting these accomplishments directly referenced within the letter; and
o a concise description of the impact of these accomplishments on the field.
* The candidate's curriculum vitae in English, including a complete list of the candidate's publications; and
* A summary statement, no more than 50 words, summarizing the candidate's research accomplishments for which he or she is being nominated.

Nominators are asked to maintain the confidentiality of the nomination process and to refrain from informing the candidate about the nomination.

There is no restriction on the number of candidates who may be nominated by any individual scientist. There is no restriction on the number of nominators who may write nomination letters or who may sign a single nomination letter on behalf of a candidate.

If two or more candidates are nominated to share the award, a curriculum vitae and full publication history for all candidates must be submitted along with a combined letter of recommendation that fulfills the above criteria and clearly outlines how the work of the individuals is related and is worthy of the Award.

Selection

Candidates will be considered by a Selection Committee of international cancer leaders appointed by the President of the AACR. The Committee will consider all nominations as they have been submitted; the Committee may not combine submitted nominations, add a new candidate to a submitted nomination, or otherwise make alterations to the submitted nominations. After careful deliberations by the Committee, its recommendations will be forwarded to the Executive Committee of the AACR for final consideration and decision. Selection of the Award winner will be made on the basis of the candidate's outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research related to cancer. No regard will be given to age, race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.

The winner of the Fifth Annual AACR-CICR Award will be announced in January 2011.
Supporter

Generously supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

Questions?

Lauren Medvetz, Program Coordinator
+1 (267) 646-0689; lauren.medvetz@aacr.org

American Association for Cancer Research
17th Floor, 615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404

American College of Cardiology Foundation/Merck Research Fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiometabolic Disorders

In selecting applicants, proposals addressing diabetes or the metabolic syndrome as they relate to cardiovascular disease are encouraged. This consideration should not, however, be considered limiting and all meritorious applications will be reviewed.

Description:
Four one-year fellowships will be awarded to support research in adult cardiology. Preference is given to individuals who have had no more than two years of prior full-time experience either in clinical or basic research. Recipients will be expected to pursue a full-time project in clinical research during their year of supported training.

Research Focus:
In selecting applications, proposals addressing CVD and Cardiometabolic disorders are encouraged. Included are proposals that address pathophysiology, molecular genetics, metabolic abnormalities leading to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, inflammatory mechanisms and new pathways for drug discovery. Proposals focusing on clinically relevant outcomes as a result of the metabolic syndrome, diabetes or obesity are also encouraged. Outcomes studies should focus on clinical/and or systems of care (e.g., quality improvement) interventions, and use outcomes measures of importance to both patients and society, including mortality, significant morbidity or quality of life changes, or economic effects.

Eligibility:
Anyone currently in an adult cardiology fellowship training program recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association and who has the recommendation and agreement of his/her training program director and institution.

Selection:
Judging will be by the ACCF/Research Fellowship Awards Committee. Criteria for selection will include:
• Scientific quality of the project;
• Relevance to the research focus as described above
• Qualifications and commitment of the applicant, and
• The quality of the training environment.

Successful applicants may pursue this protected year of research either within or following their three years of required training. Preference will be given to individuals who:
• Will pursue clinical research training and experience directly involving patients or human subjects.
• Have had no more than two years of prior full-time research experience either in clinical or basic research.
• Will not hold another major external fellowship or salary award, (e.g., from NIH or AHA) during the ACCF/Merck funded year.

The Award:
Four fellowships in the amount of $60,000 each for the funding of July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012.

How to Apply: Please go to http://acc.gsubmit.net/cgi-bin/main.plex to submit an application.

Application Deadline: September 17, 2010

For More Information:

Contact Kelli Bohannon at 800-253-4636, ext. 6635 or kbohanno@acc.org for more information.

American College of Cardiology
Heart House
2400 N Street NW
Washington DC, 20037
Phone: (202) 375-6000
Fax: (202) 375-7000

 

Conference Student Scholarships: Evolving Approaches to Early Stage Drug Discovery

Scholarship Deadline: December 2, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

This meeting will cover multiple aspects of the challenges and opportunities facing drug discovery scientists. These challenges include: 1) diverse approaches to early stage discovery in a resource constrained environment, 2) evolution of preclinical drug discovery in academia, 3) evolution of drug leads/target validation from the NIH (MLPCN), 4) funding early stage/risky programs, 5) external licensing of programs and 6) advances in biomarkers/imaging to enable target selection and rapid go/no go decisions. The meeting goals are to bring together experts in all of these areas, present findings/opinions and initiate dialog on these topics. This would be the first meeting to bring together drug discovery scientists form big Pharma, biotech, academia, the MLPCN and Foundations – each with unique missions and approaches and share their respective experiences.

Keystone Symposia is offering scholarships to students and post-docs this conference season. These scholarships, of up to $1000 each, are to be used to help defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including air (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation and lodging costs. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Abstracts submitted for poster presentation will be used as the basis for awarding the scholarships. Conference organizers will select the scholarship recipients based on the quality of science of the abstract and the relevance of the abstract to the conference topic. Only one application per abstract is accepted.

Keystone Symposia
221 Summit Place #272
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498
www.keystonesymposia.org

Financial Assistance / Student Scholarships
Phone: +1 (800) 253-0685 or
Ksenia Shambarger - +1 (970) 262-1230 extension 140
Fax: +1 (970) 262-0311

Conference Student Scholarships: Drugs from Bugs: The Anti-Inflammatory Drugs of Tomorrow

Scholarship Deadline: December 2, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

A recent global trend is that less novel therapeutics are progressing from the biopharmaceutical pipeline to the clinic. This has prompted the drug research and development sector to adopt less conventional approaches in broadening the search for new drugs. In this meeting we will examine the growing opportunities for discovery of novel drugs from pathogens, or the “drugs from bugs” approach. The genome of man is the product of the evolution of humans adapting to environmental factors, with infectious pathogens exerting potent selective pressure. Some of the major immune-mediated diseases of today are associated with genes that evolved to respond to pathogens. Novel therapeutic strategies and new drugs can be developed by both understanding how pathogens modulate and usurp the immune system, and also by identifying the functional molecules from pathogens. Indeed, a new generation of pathogen-derived immune modulating molecules is now in clinical trials. In this meeting leading experts will present the current status of the use of pathogens as a depository for new therapeutics. This forum will be an opportunity for industry to engage with academics for the development of novel strategies for drug discovery. This meeting will bring together cross-disciplinary scientists to exchange and share ideas, and thereby foster collaborations on the generation of new drug strategies for the future.

Keystone Symposia is offering scholarships to students and post-docs this conference season. These scholarships, of up to $1000 each, are to be used to help defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including air (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation and lodging costs. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Abstracts submitted for poster presentation will be used as the basis for awarding the scholarships. Conference organizers will select the scholarship recipients based on the quality of science of the abstract and the relevance of the abstract to the conference topic. Only one application per abstract is accepted.

Keystone Symposia
221 Summit Place #272
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498
www.keystonesymposia.org

Financial Assistance / Student Scholarships
Phone: +1 (800) 253-0685 or
Ksenia Shambarger - +1 (970) 262-1230 extension 140
Fax: +1 (970) 262-0311

Conference Student Scholarships: Antibodies as Drugs

Scholarship Deadline: October 6, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

The therapeutic antibody field has matured to the point where antibody based drugs have become commonly prescribed for many indication, particularly in cancer and rheumatology. This conference will bring together basic scientists, clinicians, and pharmaceutical industry scientists engaged in antibody drug discovery and development to provide a view of the current state of the art and areas for future progress.

Keystone Symposia is offering scholarships to students and post-docs this conference season. These scholarships, of up to $1000 each, are to be used to help defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including air (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation and lodging costs. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Abstracts submitted for poster presentation will be used as the basis for awarding the scholarships. Conference organizers will select the scholarship recipients based on the quality of science of the abstract and the relevance of the abstract to the conference topic. Only one application per abstract is accepted.

Keystone Symposia
221 Summit Place #272
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498
www.keystonesymposia.org

Financial Assistance / Student Scholarships
Phone: +1 (800) 253-0685 or
Ksenia Shambarger - +1 (970) 262-1230 extension 140
Fax: +1 (970) 262-0311

American Academy of Neurology Foundation/ALS Association Clinician-Scientist Development Three-Year Award

The ALS Association and the American Academy of Neurology Foundation are pleased to announce a three-year Clinician-Scientist Development Award to support research into drug discovery and development of therapies that will effectively treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Application Deadline is October 1, 2010

Developed as part of The ALS Association's research program TREAT ALS (Translational Research Advancing Therapy for ALS), the award aims to recognize the importance of good clinical research and encourage young investigators in clinical studies. The three year award will consist of an annual salary of $75,000 plus a $5,000 institutional award. Only direct costs will be funded by this award.

For More Information
Terry Heinz
Grants Administrator
theinz@aan.com
(651) 695-2746

Cure Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Research Grants

Cure CMD Research Grant Goals

Cure CMD research goals reflect our mission to bring research, treatments and in the future, a cure for the congenital muscular dystrophies.

1. Identify new therapeutic targets in the CMDs
2. Identify small molecule compounds that work at these therapeutic target sites with priority towards drugs with existing pediatric FDA approval
3. Facilitate the drug development process to ensure that each positive drug identification with promising preliminary data can be brought rapidly to preclinical trials and subsequent treatment trials
4. Support and endorse clinical research, infrastructure and biomarker discovery required to launch effective and efficient clinical trials in rare disease
5. Advance drug discovery with a diverse treatment pipeline
6. Support new scientific investigators with innovative ideas and a commitment to CMD research

Struggle Against Muscular Dystrophy (S.A.M) CMD Translational Research Grant: Annual Deadline, Sept 15th.

S.A.M is a unique CMD advocacy group launched by two parents whose son has CMD. SAM’s focus is to support and foster CMD research through successful fundraising initiatives. The SAM Translational Research Award delivers upon its promise to target research focused on CMD treatment. The grant is made possible through Cure CMD and SAM collaboration and the Cure CMD research grant funding mechanism.

Cure CMD and SAM invite proposals to award a 1-2 year grant focusing on pre-clinical and clinical investigations that will advance treatment for congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). The total award is limited to $100,000 (direct costs only). Annual RFA deadline Sept 15th. Grant application above. On the First Page of the Cure CMD grant application, please specify S.A.M. CMD Translational Research Grant

Cure CMD General Research Grants: Annual Deadline Sept 15th.

Elisabeth Giauque Short Term CMD Research Grant: Cure CMD provides a short-range or “seed” grant (usually $25,000- $50,000 per year for 1-2 years, direct costs only) to attract new investigators to the CMD field and assist existing investigators to support early phases of their research. The short-range grant focus is to collect preliminary data and test initial hypotheses. The short-range grant goal is to translate successful preliminary research to either second tier Cure CMD midrange grants (R-21 type) or third tier, long range (R-01 grants, 2-5 years) from outside funding sources, such as the National Institutes of Health. Annual RFA deadline, Sept 15th. Grant application above. On the first page of the Cure CMD grant application, please specify Elisabeth Giauque Short Term CMD Research Grant.

info@curecmd.com

Cure CMD
P.O. Box 701
Olathe, KS 66051
Ph. 1-866-400-3626

Request for Proposals: Novel Approaches to Drug Discovery for Alzheimer’s Disease

ADDF funds drug discovery research programs from domestic and international investigators in academia and biotechnology companies. In addition, ADDF initiates, sponsors, and co-sponsors conferences to stimulate new ideas and approaches in areas of interest to the Foundation, bringing together physicians, scientists, and policy makers worldwide.

As a biomedical venture philanthropy, ADDF seeks to fill the critical translational funding gap between basic research and later stage drug development. We fund high risk, early stage drug discovery and development projects and catalyze scientists to enter the drug discovery field. We have adapted the operating model and principles of venture capital investing to our philanthropic mission in biomedical research. We help to create new biotechnology companies, and to fund early stage biotechnology companies, with programs dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease drug discovery. We seek a return on investment for all of our grants based on the achievement of scientific milestones. When these milestones are met, funds return to the Foundation to increase our ability to support more research.

ADDF FUNDING PROGRAMS
• ADDF Academic Drug Discovery and Development Program seeks to create and support innovative translational programs for Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and cognitive aging in academic medical centers and universities. Biomarker development studies and innovative proof of concept pilot clinical trials of new approaches to treatment, prevention and early detection are also supported.

• ADDF Biotechnology Development Program supports qualified scientific projects in existing, private, early-stage biotechnology companies. ADDF will provide support for qualified projects in more advanced companies if a clear need for non-profit funding to support the project can be demonstrated and justified.

• ADDF Biotechnology Founders Technology Transfer Program supports academic programs that are eligible for technology transfer and the start-up of new biotechnology companies. Up to 35% of funds from these awards may be employed for expenses related to company formation, such as administrative, legal, patent and third-party vendor costs.

RESEARCH FUNDING PRIORITIES
• Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging: ADDF supports drug discovery and drug development efforts towards novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and cognitive decline associated with aging. These may include disease modifying agents for preventing or delaying progression as well as cognitive enhancers. ADDF provides funding for target validation and proof-of-concept studies, high throughput screening of chemical libraries, lead discovery and optimization, rational medicinal chemistry, and pre-clinical drug development. ADDF also supports small proof-of principle clinical research studies.

• Early detection and prevention: ADDF supports the development of biomarkers, such as advanced brain imaging technologies, CSF and blood tests for the early detection of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ADDF also supports clinical research projects to improve early detection of cognitive impairment through population-based approaches that can impact large numbers of individuals at risk.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Grant applications are usually solicited by private invitation. Unsolicited proposals are also accepted, but inquiries with ADDF staff are encouraged to determine the Foundation’s interest prior to application. ADDF provides support for 1 year of research with potential for future follow-on funding. We seek successful long-term partnerships with investigators and research organizations.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Full application guidelines and further information can be found on our website (www.alzdiscovery.org). All applicants are required to complete an electronic "Letter of Intent" (LOI) available on our website. After review of the LOI, we may invite a full application via email with a link to the electronic application form. ADDF will attempt to make a determination of interest within 90 days of receipt of the application.

ADDF accepts grant applications for the “General Request for Proposals” research award programs throughout the year (2010 deadlines for full proposals are January 7, April 1, July 1, and October 1).

If you would like to contact the Foundation, please call (212) 935-2402, or contact us by regular mail at the following address:

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
1414 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1502
New York, NY 10019