Learning Disabilities Grants

Pilot Research Award for Learning Disabilities for a Junior Faculty or Child Psychiatry Resident, Supported by the Elaine Schlosser Lewis Fund

The availability of all awards is contingent upon the receipt of adequate funding.

Request for Applications
An Award of $15,000 for Pilot Research in the Area of Learning Disabilities and Psychiatric Disorders
Application Deadline: May 1, 2009

Selection Criteria

* Candidates must be board eligible, certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, or enrolled in a child psychiatry residency or fellowship program.
* Candidates must have a faculty appointment in an accredited medical school or be in a fully accredited child and adolescent psychiatry clinical research or training program.
* At the time of application, candidates may not have more than two years experience following graduation from residency/fellowship training.
* Candidates must not have any previous significant, individual research funding in the field of child and adolescent mental health. These include the following: NIMH/NIH Funding (Small Grants, R-01) or similar foundation or industry research funding. Candidates who have received or are currently receiving "T32" funding support are eligible to apply.
* The recipient must be an AACAP member at the time of application and agree to present his or her research at both the AACAP 57th Annual Meeting, October 26 - October 31, 2010, in New York, NY as well as the annual Elaine Schlosser Lewis Research Update Luncheon.

Application Guidelines
Applicants must submit six copies of the following:

* A letter of intent, no more than six pages, including four pages of research protocol, one page budget and justification, and one page addressing the inclusion or exclusion of women and minorities.
1. The research protocol should include the following sections: significance and specific aims, hypotheses, background and rationale, and a research plan (including data analysis plan). Research may be pre-clinical, epidemiological, or clinical.
2. The budget should contain sufficient detail so that each item can be separately judged. Computer related items (e.g., personal computers, printers, modems, etc.) are extremely unlikely to receive budget approval. No salary support for the principal investigator will be provided. No indirect costs for the institution will be provided. Typical budget items may include but are not limited to: subject honoraria and travel expenses, instrumentation costs, assay and lab test costs, and/or payment to research assistants.
3. If women or minorities will not be included, detailed justification of the rationale for their exclusion is mandatory. Such exclusion may lower enthusiasm for the proposal.
* A letter of support from section chief or department chair.
* A letter of support from the proposed mentor.
* Candidate's current curriculum vitae.
* Letter detailing any current research funding (role on project, title, type of project, and source of funds)

Application Deadline
Application materials must be postmarked by May 1, 2009.

Program Format
The award recipient is encouraged to work with a child and adolescent psychiatric investigator with expertise in his or her particular area of interest. Work must be completed within one year of receipt of the award. Please note that travel to both the Annual Meeting and the Research Update Luncheon is not included in the award and is the responsibility of the recipient. Submission of the pilot data is due on or before June 2010. Any unused funds must be returned to the AACAP.

Submit all applications and inquiries to:
Elaine Schlosser Lewis Pilot Research Award (Learning Disabilities)
c/o Department of Research, Training, and Education
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016

For more information contact the Department of Research, Training and Education at 202.966.7300 or adeyoung@aacap.org.

* The recipient must be an AACAP member at the time of application and agree to present his or her research at both the AACAP 57th Annual Meeting, October 26 - October 31, 2010, in New York, NY as well as the annual Elaine Schlosser Lewis Research Update Luncheon.

Grants--Learning Disabilities

The Learning Disabilities Foundation of America supports the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), whose goal is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults with learning disabilities.

GRANT APPLICATIONS

Applications for grants from the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America must be received in the Foundation office by March 15th for consideration at the May Board of Managers (BOM) meeting and September 15th for consideration at the November BOM meeting. Inquiries and applications should be sent in writing to:

Jean Petersen, Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Foundation of America
4156 Library Road.
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
(412) 563-1089

ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS

Funds will be awarded only to non-profit organizations and educational institutions which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) for programs within the United States and its possessions. Applications for Learning Disabilities Foundation of America grants from LDA committees must have a written letter of approval from LDA attached to the application.

GRANT PHILOSOPHY

Applications must be for projects which conform to the mission of the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America by responding to an unmet need in the field of learning disabilities. Funds are granted for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes or for the identification, ongoing evaluation and education of and services for children and adults with learning disabilities. With the exception of LDA committed funds, grants will not be made for routine organizational operations or for endowment funds.

Examples of project areas that fall within this philosophy:

Innovative research into the causes, the prevention and/or the alleviation of learning disabilities;
Distinctive public awareness programs to advance public understanding of the needs of persons with learning disabilities;
Innovative programs to advance the competence of persons with learning disabilities, and the support skills of their families, professional advisors, and employers.
APPLICATION CONTENTS

Project Title
Brief description (one paragraph) of goals of the project
Detailed budget
It is insufficient to indicate only the total amount of the request. This section should present a general picture of how funds would be spent. In budgets that include personnel costs, budget should indicate the proportion of time to be devoted to the project by specific personnel.
Budget justification
Narrative explanation of the major budget categories and explanation of how projected amounts were calculated.
Description of the project, including the project timetable and progress reports.
Relevance of the proposed project to unmet needs in the field of learning disabilities as a whole.
Outline procedures to evaluate the project.
Qualifications of the primary facilitator of the project and institution, agency, or organization to untake and complete the proposed project.
Copy of 501 (c) ruling from the IRS
Letters of support from recognized professionals in the field who can evaluate the need, worthiness, and potential outcomes of the project.
FOR APPLICATIONS FROM LDA COMMITTEES ONLY
A letter of approval from the LDA Executive Committee must be submitted with the grant application.
RECIPIENT OBLIGATIONS

Recipients of grants are expected to adhere closely to the stipulated terms of the grant and to the program described in the application. Full financial accounting of expenditures is required. Funds from a Learning Disabilities Foundation of America grant may not be directed to other purposes and unexpended funds must be returned to the Foundation.

Progress reports must be submitted in May and November.
A detailed written report outlining the results of the project and the use of the funds shall be sent to the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America within 3 months after the end of the project.

OTHER ITEMS AND INFORMATION

The Board of Managers of the Foundation may request an interview with the primary facilitator and/or site visit, in addition to the written grant application.
Projects of national impact are given preference.
All conditional grants in which the conditions have not been met by the end of the Foundation's fiscal year (March 31) shall expire at the end of the Foundation's fiscal year unless otherwise specified in the grant. All conditional grant recipients shall be advised of this policy provision.
A statement must be contained in any report or manuscript that the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America supported this project but the opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
The Foundation does not support overhead costs.

Medical Research Grants and Postdoctoral Fellowships Offered for Studies Aimed at Treatment of Fragile X

INTRODUCTION

The FRAXA Research Foundation offers a grants and fellowships program designed to encourage research aimed at finding a specific treatment for fragile X syndrome.

Fellowships of up to $40,000 per year will be offered to support postdoctoral fellows who want to pursue research in fragile X (salary plus fringe benefits and/or travel to meetings).
FRAXA also invites investigator-initiated research applications for innovative pilot studies aimed at developing and characterizing new therapeutic approaches for the treatment and ultimate cure of fragile X syndrome. There is no funding limit to this category of grant, but typical funding levels are $30K - 60K.
FRAXA is particularly interested in preclinical studies of potential pharmaceutical and genetic treatments and studies aimed at understanding the function of the FMR1 gene. New applications are accepted each year on February 1. If February 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be the following Monday.

Fellowships and grants are generally awarded for a period of one year. Based on reasonable progress during that year, awards may be renewable for a second year. Renewal applications are due on February 1, at least three months before the second year of funding is needed. If February 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be the following Monday.

PURPOSE OF GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS

The purpose of this grant program is to promote research aimed at finding a specific treatment for fragile X syndrome. FRAXA's goal is to bring practical treatment into current medical practice as quickly as possible; therefore, preference will be given to research projects that have a clear practical application and the results of which will be shared with other qualified researchers in a timely fashion.

ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS

Institutions receiving grants must be recognized as nonprofit. In the US, this means that institutions are exempt from federal income taxes. Preference is given to institutions within the United States.

Individuals nominated by applicant institutions for the postdoctoral fellowship should have training and experience at least equal to the Ph.D. or M.D. Level. Preference is given to United States citizens.

ACCEPTABLE COSTS

Acceptible costs covered by FRAXA postdoctoral fellowships and investigator-initiated awards are limited to:

Postdoctoral salary
Fringe benefits
A budget for consumable supplies
FRAXA reserves the right to cover any item if explicitly authorized by FRAXA's Board of Directors. However, FRAXA is unable to pay for indirect costs under any circumstances.

Fellowships and grants are awarded for the period of one year and may be renewed for a second year, based on satisfactory progress. A financial report and progress report are required at the end of each year.

AMENDMENT OF POLICIES

The FRAXA Research Foundation reserves the right to modify its policies governing grants at any time. The grantee agrees to abide by any changes or to terminate the grant at the time when such changes become effective. Failure to abide by the policies governing grants shall be considered sufficient grounds for cancellation of a grant or refusal to consider any pending application by the grantee.

PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION

No person shall be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of any program or activity receiving financial assistance from FRAXA because of race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL SUBJECTS

Human subjects studied in the course of research conducted under a grant are under no circumstances a responsibility of FRAXA. Human subjects in a program supported by FRAXA shall be volunteers in any survey, study or procedure. Research involving human subjects must have Institutional Review Board approval.

If animals are used in the proposed study, written certification must be provided to FRAXA indicating that proper treatment, care, and humane conditions have been provided. Research involving animal subjects must have Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE GRANTEE

In accepting a grant, the applying institution undertakes that at its conclusion it will

Submit promptly to FRAXA a complete final report on the work pursued.
On awards of more than one year duration, a yearly report will be expected.
Supply an accounting of funds received from FRAXA and expenditures made in such detail and in such manner as may meet Internal Revenue Service procedures.
Recognize the support of FRAXA in any published article resulting from the work pursued with a credit line reading "Supported in part by a grant from the FRAXA Research Foundation"
Recognize the support of FRAXA in any presentation of the at professional meetings and conferences.

PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

FRAXA's purpose in providing grants is to speed up progress towards treatment for fragile X. Therefore, in accepting an award, the Principal Investigator undertakes to publish the results of the work pursued in the primary literature, in a timely fashion. Once published, the reagents, methods, materials, and products of the work must be made available to other qualified researchers. FRAXA reserves the right to share in any proceeds from an invention or discovery developed under this grant, including licensing fees and patent rights.

PUBLICITY ON WORK UNDER GRANT

The grantee institution and Principal Investigator will cooperate fully with FRAXA in announcement through the news media of grants awarded and in materials prepared to publicize work under the grant. FRAXA will publish periodic descriptions and updates on funded projects in its quarterly members' newsletter.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a brief letter of inquiry describing the proposed project before writing a full application. No specific application format is required, but an NIH R01 proposal is acceptable.

Please provide the following information with your application:

Description of the proposed project (6-12 pages recommended)
Curriculum Vitae for the Principal Investigator
Curriculum Vitae for the Postdoctoral Fellow to be supported under the grant
Names of 3 references who are willing to be contacted to provide recommendations for candidate postdoctoral fellow (not necessary for principal investigators)
Financial accounting of how the funds will be spent, with dollar distribution into major component items
A full accounting of any other current and submitted sources of support for this project and other lab research
Requested start date of the project. The earliest possible start date is 3 months after receipt of the application; applicants will be notified of awards in 2 months.
Send one complete copy of the application by email to fraxa@comcast.net, as an attached file in Acrobat PDF format. Alternately, this electronic copy may be sent to the address below on a CD. Also please send one copy of the application to:

Michael Tranfaglia, MD
Medical Director
FRAXA Research Foundation
45 Pleasant St. Second Floor
Newburyport, MA 01950

Applications must be postmarked by the deadline date.

RENEWALS

FRAXA grants are awarded for a single year and are generally renewable, based on good progress being made the first year. We require a renewal application be submitted by FRAXA's regular deadline (February 1). The renewal application should consist of a detailed progress report for the first year and work plan for the second year, as well as a financial report of how first year funds were spent.

For further information contact Michael Tranfaglia at FRAXA
Phone (978) 462-1866
Fax: (978) 463-9985