American Society of Hematology Research Training Award for Fellows
Goals of this program are: To encourage and enable fellowship programs to provide time for research (clinical, basic science, or translational). To promote mentorship of hematology trainees by outstanding faculty members. To produce, on a yearly basis, clinician scientist candidates for academic track positions. To provide bridging funds for trainees who need more time to generate sufficient expertise to be competitive when applying for K award funding. Support The ASH Research Training Award for Fellows will, on a three-year pilot basis, grant $50,000 for a one-year period to third- and fourth-year trainees (at time of the award) in training who are not yet eligible for the ASH Scholar Awards (fellow category). This award is intended to be used primarily for salary support for the applicant. However, up to $5,000 may be allocated for research supplies and reagents, and up to $1,000 may be allocated for travel to the ASH annual meeting (no other meetings are eligible for this allocation). Each of the non-salary support portions of the budget must be accompanied by a clear justification. Awards will be activated on July 1 and conclude on June 30 of the year following activation. Monies cannot be used toward salary/benefits for the mentor or toward an institution's overhead or indirect costs. Payments will be made to the appropriate financial officer of the institution. Eligibility Criteria The ASH Research Training Award for Fellows is intended for upper-level fellows who meet the following criteria. At the time of application (January 5, 2009): The applicant must either be an ASH Associate member or submit a membership application.
The applicant must not have any other career-development funding.
The applicant must have completed at least six months, but less then 18 months of post-doctoral research training. The proposed research must be in hematology, hematology/oncology, or a hematology-related area. The applicant should be planning to pursue an investigative career in hematology research. The applicant must have clear and documented support of a funded mentor (funding may be NIH, federal, foundation, or private) and documented support from the program director for dedicated research time. The applicant must have a mentor who is an ASH member. If the mentor is not an active ASH member, a letter of support from an ASH member must be included. At least 75 percent of the applicant's full-time professional efforts must be devoted to research during the funded period. No more then one awardee per fellowship program per year, and no more than one award per medical school per year. For this purpose, ASH defines medical school so that it encompasses all sub-institutions. Requirements at the time of the award (July 1, 2009). The applicant must: Be an MD, DO, DO/PhD, or MD/PhD Have completed one year of clinical training within a hematology, hematology/oncology, or hematology-related training program in the United States or Canada Be a third- or fourth-year trainee in a hematology, hematology/oncology, or hematology-related training program in the United States or Canada The ASH Research Training Award for Fellows supports the same categories of research as the ASH Scholar Awards – basic research and clinical/translational research. Letter-of-Intent Requirements Applicants must submit a letter of intent by November 3, 2008, that includes the following: A completed letter-of-intent form Applicant's curriculum vitae to confirm eligibility An abstract of proposed research study and a description if its relevance of the study to hematology Application Requirements Eligible candidates will be asked to complete an application which must include a: Detailed description of the proposed research study,including information on the significance, originality, hypothesis, feasibility, and methodology Letter confirming the availability of project specific institutional resources to support the proposed project Co-authored, detailed career-development plan describing the applicant's current and future academic and research career plans, and the mentor's vision for mentor-applicant interaction Letter of support from an ASH member (if the identified mentor is not an ASH member) Biosketch for the mentor and the applicant including other support (active and pending); there is a four-page limit for each biosketch Budget Letter of support from the program director which must include statements: indicating that a minimum of 75 percent of the recipient's time will be dedicated to research defining the recipient's anticipated clinical responsibilities during the award period describing the training program's financial need for this award describing the salary support resources for all of the program's trainees (to include institutional funding, NIH training grants, etc.) identifying the source(s) of the applicant's other salary support if he/she is a recipient of this award Selection The selection of award winners will be made by a study section appointed by members of the Award Study Section. Criteria for selection are: The qualifications and experiences of the applicant. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to the potential for future independent investigation and commitment to a career in hematology research Quality of the mentor and the plan for mentor/applicant interaction and career development The significance, feasibility, and originality of the proposed hypothesis, research, and methodology A focus on hematology research Availability of institutional resources to support the proposed project Ten finalists will be selected to be interviewed by the Award Study Section. All finalists for the award must be available for face-to-face interviews with the Study Section in March. The interviews will focus on determining the applicants' commitment to hematology and potential for success. Timeline Letter of intent due November 3, 2008 Application due January 5, 2009 Finalist interviews March 2009 Notification of awards April 2009 Activation of award July 1, 2009
American Society of Hematology 1900 M St., NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-776-0544 Fax: 202-776-0545 E-Mail: ash@hematology.org
American Society of Hematology Alternative Training Pathway Grant
Purpose The need for clinicians and clinical/translational researchers in hematology-related disciplines is strong. In recognition of the changing role of the hematologist and of current and future anticipated workforce needs, training opportunities for physicians interested in hematology-related careers must be expanded. The American Society of Hematology invites Training Program Directors and other educators to submit proposals for novel training initiatives that will augment existing training programs. The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is intended to address the needs of trainees with primary interest in various aspects of hematology and to encourage competency-based training in established and emerging areas of hematology. Additionally, the grant is intended to produce clinicians and clinician-scientists with the skills to apply the full array of technologies made available through advancing medical sciences for the management of complex hematologic problems. Description of Need The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is intended to foster the development and implementation of creative new curricula for trainees in clinical and clinical/translational hematology and related fields. A growing number of trainees are expressing an interest in pursuing hybrid careers (e.g., medicine/pediatrics) and/or a desire to become trained in both clinical care and laboratory medicine (e.g., transfusion medicine or directing hemostasis laboratories). The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is designed to allow training program directors to develop a curriculum that meets these new demands. Support Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to support the development and implementation of novel hematology-related training programs as an alternative to traditional training programs. The award may be expended over a one- to two-year period of time. No institutional overhead (i.e., indirect) costs will be supported by this grant. Eligibility Applicants must be Active Members of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) at institutions with an accredited training program(s) in adult or pediatric hematology or hematology/medical oncology, or in other hematology-related disciplines (e.g., pathology specialties) in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Awards are limited to only one application per institution. Awardees must commit to providing progress reports and final reports as defined in the terms of the grant. Letter of Intent To be considered for this award, prospective applicants must submit a completed letter of intent (LOI) via e-mail no later then 5:00 p.m. EST, on Monday, February 2, 2009. The LOI must include (1) descriptive title of the proposed alternative training pathway; (2) contact information for the principal investigator; (3) names of other key personnel; (4) participating institution(s); and; (5) an abstract of the proposed alternative training pathway.
Key Dates: Letter of Intent Due: February 2, 2009 Application Due: March 27, 2009 Peer Review: April-May 2009 Committee Review: May 2009 Award Notification Date: June 2, 2009 Funds Activated: July 1, 2009 Questions regarding this application and the ASH Alternative Training Pathway Grant should be directed to Joe Basso, Training Manager, at jbasso@hematology.org or 202-552-4910.
The National Blood Foundation (NBF), established in 1983, has a history of supporting research and education that advances transfusion medicine and blood banking to benefit both patients and donors.NBF is pleased to announce the availability of funding in 2009 for scientific research projectsrelated to transfusion medicine, to include aspects of immunology, hematology, tissue andtransplantation medicine, cellular therapies, emerging infectious disease, immunohematology,donor health and recruitment and retention, and implementation of technological advances.Priority is given to new investigators and innovative new projects with the potential to have apractical impact on patients and donors in transfusion medicine. Grant terms may be for one ortwo years, with a maximum total award per grant of $65,000 whether it is a one-year or two-yeargrant. Awards will be announced by June 2009 and funds will be dispersed in July 2009.Note that all applicants will be charged an application fee of $150 except for principalinvestigators who are individual members of AABB. AABB institutional membership does notqualify. To become an AABB member, please contact AABB Membership Services at+1.301.215.6489 or membership@aabb.org.
When you have completed the five-part application, please email as five separate pdf file attachments in a single email to nbf@aabb.org by Monday, December 15, 2008. No applications will be accepted after that date. You will receive an email that your application has been received. If you do not receive an email, please contact us.Notification of proposals selected for funding will be communicated in early June 2009 and funds will be disbursed in July 2009.If you have any questions on this application process, please contact the NBF at nbf@aabb.org or at +1.301.215.6552.National Blood Foundation8101 Glenbrook RoadBethesda, MD 20814-2749Phone +1.301.215.6552Fax +1.301.907.6895Email: nbf@aabb.org
Fanconi Anemia Research Fund Program Announcement: Head And Neck Carcinogenesis Key Dates Release Date: July 1, 2008 Application Submission Date: Ongoing Peer Review Dates: Ongoing Earliest Anticipated Start Date: Ongoing Summary Fanconi anemia is a rare hereditary disease characterized by bone marrow failure, developmental anomalies, a high incidence of myelodysplasia (MDS) and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (AML), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and cellular hypersensitivity to cross linking agents. The function of the proteins is largely unknown, but many of them form complexes with each other and in one canonical “pathway” seven or eight of the known Fanconi anemia (FA) proteins bind together in a nuclear complex, a complex apparently required for the monoubiquitination of two of the three proteins not found in the core complex, FANCD2 and FANCI. Once this occurs, FANCD2 and FANCI translocate to damage-induced nuclear foci containing BRCA1, BRCA2 and Rad51. The functions of FANCD2 and FANCI in these nuclear complexes are unclear. Although more than 90% of the research in this field focuses on mechanisms of genotoxicity, a goal of the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund is to encourage investigative approaches dealing with the tissuespecific issues of the FA phenotype. Some have argued that because hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress is a feature of all somatic cells in FA, tissue-specific outcomes (specific epithelial malignancies and bone marrow failure, for example) are less likely to be related simply to genetic instability than to other functions of the protein. In fact, multiple biochemical functions have been ascribed to some of the FA proteins and, in some cases, these functions are cytoplasmic and not nuclear. The role of the Fanconi anemia proteins in protecting normal individuals against sporadic head and neck cancers is entirely unknown. The natural course of the disease in FA patients is unique. The onset of head and neck cancers in patients with Fanconi anemia (age 18-40) is decades earlier than in non-FA patients with this type of cancer and, unlike non-FA patients, the majority of such patients are neither tobacco smokers nor alcohol drinkers. The management of FA patients with this malignancy is also challenging. For example, FA patients may experience potentially lethal toxic effects from radiation and chemotherapy doses conventionally prescribed to patients with head and neck cancers. Therefore, clinical management is limited to surgical approaches and less-than-fully tested pharmacologic modalities that do not lead to DNA damage. This funding opportunity will use the investigator-initiated award mechanism to support work focused on the molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in patients with FA. We expect that the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application. We expect that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the number, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received. Eligible Applications The goal of this initiative is to foster studies on the molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers in patients with Fanconi anemia. Applications focusing primarily on hematopoietic malignancies, bone marrow failure, developmental anomalies, endocrinopathies, or general functions of the FA proteins in DNA damage and repair responses will not be accepted for review under this RFA. Applications from the following will be considered: Eligible domestic and foreign institutions/organizations, including for-profit or nonprofit, public or private, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. Eligible principal investigators include any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. Applicants may submit only one application. Content and Form of Application Submission Applications must be prepared using the most current Fanconi Anemia Research Fund (Fund) research grant application instructions and forms.
Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Inc. 1801 Willamette Street, Suite 200 Eugene, OR 97401 Telephone: 541-687-4658 Family Support Toll-Free Line (in United States): 1-888-FANCONI (888-326-2664) Fax: 541-687-0548 E-mail: info@fanconi.org
Institute for Neuroacanthocytosis Research Grants We encourage applications for research grants for investigations into the genetics, diagnostics and epidemiology of the NA syndromes as well as the pathophysiology and the related red blood cell abnormalities. Neuroacanthocytosis syndromes are a group of rare diseases, characterised by misshaped erythrocytes and progressive neurodegeneration, causing movement disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The rarity and wide geographical spread of the NA diseases have contributed to a number of different researchers principally in Europe and Japan pursuing specific studies of the elements of the NA phenotypes including descriptive history of the development of the disease, the abnormalities of the erthrocytes and the function of the VPS 13A protein that is absent in chorea-acanthocytosis. Since acanthocytosis is part of the NA syndromes clinical manifestations, the study of acanthocytes may offer the possibility to progress in the disease’ knowledge, to identify new cell signalling pathways towards either membrane proteins or transport systems.
Our Objectives for Research To pursue the fundamental physiological questions raised by NA including the: role of the proteins affected by the mutated genes in each disease as well as their molecular and cellular function cause and significance of the spiky red blood cell membranes that are a defining characteristic of the diseases pathway that leads to neuronal apoptosis in each of the diseases To promote wide collaboration in the clinical study of the diseases. Because no country has more than an estimated 100 cases of NA and most countries in the world have fewer than 10 cases, it is vital that case histories of patients from around the world be available to those studying the clinical aspects of the diseases. To develop the tools and the skill of neurologists to diagnose and, in the future, to treat the diseases. To collaborate effectively with research into other similar conditions especially Huntington’s disease. To encourage new, promising projects with seed money and assist in approaching larger grantors.
Our Values Our funding seeks to: Promote basic, curiosity-driven, investigator–led research that relates to the phenotypes of the NA diseases. Bring together the wide research community around the world including haematology, cell biology, neuroscience and neuropsychiatry. Encourage the wide dissemination of and free access to the research we support. We will seek to support unrestricted access and the public benefit wherever possible by requiring electronic copies of any research papers that have been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and are supported by the Advocacy to be deposited into PubMed Central (PMC) to be made freely available as soon as possible and in any event within six months of the journal publisher’s official date of final publication. Do every thing possible to have strong communication with researchers receiving grants to assure that funds are used for the intended purpose. Promote good communications between those working on NA research and others concerned with other diseases of the basal ganglia.
Grant ApplicationsPrincipal investigators, post-doctoral fellows or grant coordinators may request a grant application packet. Grant proposals may be submitted at any time throughout the year.Contact the Fund at info@fanconi.org or by telephone at 1-541-687-4658 or by fax at 1-541-687-0548 to request an application packet. The packet contains application forms and guidelines, conditions of award, and criteria for peer review.Researchers should direct questions or concerns about the grant application process to Mary Ellen Eiler, Executive Director. All project proposals are subject to rigorous peer review. Final funding decisions are made by the Fund's Board of Directors.
Research PrioritiesResearch priorities are set jointly and reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and the Scientific Advisory Board. Our current research priorities are as follows: * To identify the FA genes and to understand their functions and their roles in producing the hematologic and non-hematologic manifestations of Fanconi anemia. * To facilitate clinical research studies to improve FA diagnosis, therapy, and disease prevention. * To determine the causes of bone marrow failure in Fanconi anemia, and to develop treatments to prevent, treat or cure bone marrow failure. * To define the molecular pathogenesis of clonal evolution, carcinogenesis, and leukemogenesis in Fanconi anemia, and to develop strategies for the early detection and prevention of leukemia and other cancers. * To support the creation of shared resources for the international Fanconi anemia research community.
Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Inc.1801 Willamette Street, Suite 200Eugene, OR 97401Telephone: 541-687-4658Family Support Toll-Free Line (in United States):1-888-FANCONI (888-326-2664)Fax: 541-687-0548E-mail: info@fanconi.org
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