Commercialization Grants
Letter of Intent due: AUGUST 1, 2008 If the LOI is accepted, APPLICATION is due: SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 The Epilepsy Therapy Project - Matching Grants Towards the Commercialization of Promising Therapies The Epilepsy Therapy Project offers 1:1 matching grants of up to $100,000 to academic and commercial entities to support the commercialization of novel approaches to the treatment of epilepsy. These matching funds seek to leverage other resources, and accelerate the pace of therapeutic advance. Proposals will be evaluated by our Scientific Advisory Board together with our Business Advisory Board. We seek to fund discrete steps along the commercial pathway that if successful will enable a project to gain further funding. We welcome a broad span of proposals. Examples of the kind of work we would hope to support include: pre-clinical evaluation and testing of compounds or devices with novel mechanisms of action; and early clinical proof-of-principal trials of compounds or devices. Below are some specific project areas identified by our SAB, which illustrate the scope of our interests: Directing a promising therapy towards epilepsy as a clinical pathway for regulatory approval. One example of this is work our founders have done with Cognetix, a Utah-based early stage drug development company utilizing conopeptides. While the company's compound had a number of potential therapeutic uses, the company chose to direct the initial clinical focus for its drug towards epilepsy. Proof-of-principle trials, where a potentially valuable therapy is introduced to selected patients at leading epilepsy centers, under the close watch of leading epileptologists. A case here would be the use of a magnetic stimulation device therapy, which is being carried out in select leading epilepsy centers. Helping to commercialize promising new epilepsy assays, which offer the ability to identify different targets using different mechanisms of action. An example here would be UCB Pharma's levetiracetam (Keppra), a new drug that failed earlier assays, but showed promise when screened with more recent assays. Related to the previous example, we are exploring other promising compounds that have failed earlier assays, but may nonetheless offer value if screened against newer, better assays. While we cannot provide the funds necessary to carry a drug through clinical trials, our funds can help reduce risks in the pre-clinical stage, making subsequent clinical development more feasible. Armed with appropriate pre-clinical data, we can then introduce promising compounds to other investment capital sources for further funding and development. Preference will be given to proposals that already have a commercial partner engaged to assist with development and to proposals that have committed or matched funding from the sponsoring institution, commercial partner or other third party source. Proposals for research originating from outside the United States are welcome. Address questions to grants@epilepsytherapyproject.org. Investigators must submit a Letter of Intent by August 1, 2008. The deadline for receipt of full Grant proposals is September 15, 2008. Full proposals will be accepted only from Investigators whose Letter of Intent was approved.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Clinical Research Training Grant (CRTG) Summary: The CRTG is designed to provide promising young clinicians the research training opportunities needed to become productive clinical investigators in neuromuscular disease research. This training opportunity is designed to be compatible with the requirements of a traditional clinical fellowship in neuromuscular disease and any forthcoming requirements for certification in neuromuscular disease. Trainees will be expected to design their own educational plans and to participate, under the supervision of a mentor, in the development and/or coordination of a clinical research project. At minimum, trainees should gain experience in the basic epidemiological methods of clinical research, ethical and legal issues, and the principles involved in monitoring patient-oriented research, including regulatory requirements and quality assurance. Recipients are also encouraged to acquire knowledge of and exposure to research technologies, large dataset management, bioinformatics and other research tools, as well as to develop the communication and collaboration skills necessary for successful investigator development. Clinical Research Training Grants will be awarded annually to no more than two qualified recipients for the amount of $90,000 per year for two years. Deadlines* *Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MDA staff before submitting a letter of intent for this grant. 2009: Letter of Intent: August 1, 2008 Grant Application: September 1, 2008 Start Date: July 1, 2009 FOR ONLINE SUBMISSION OF THE "REQUEST FOR GRANT APPLICATiON" go to: https://proposalcentral.altum.com Frequently Asked Questions What is the funding level and percent commitment for this grant? This Fellowship is funded at up to $90,000 per year, with a cap of $85,000 to be applied to salary and benefits, and a cap of $10,000 to be applied to coursework, travel and a laptop computer. Applicants are expected to commit 100% of their time to this Fellowship. Who can apply? To apply for the CRTG, you must hold a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree and be licensed to practice medicine in the state or province in which the grant will be given; be board eligible or board certified in neurology, child neurology or physical medicine and rehabilitation at the time of the award. Clinicians who have been in a practice focused on neuromuscular diseases for not more than 5 years are also eligible to submit an application. See the CRTG Policy Manual for further requirements. Do you need to be a U.S. citizen to apply? U.S. or Canadian citizens, resident aliens, or nonresident aliens with a valid employment authorization are eligible for this training opportunity. Strong preference will be given to applicants who intend to remain in the U.S. or Canada after completing training. How are applications reviewed? Applications are reviewed by members of MDA’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) at its October meeting. Review criteria include: quality of applicant; quality of mentor and training environment; and quality of educational plan. See the CRTG Policy Manual for more detail.
How many grants are awarded each year? No more than two grants will be awarded annually. How should the “classwork” requirement be met? Applicants are asked to design an “educational program” including formal classwork in clinical research. The classwork requirement can be satisfied through many different mechanisms including classes in relevant areas offered at the applicant’s own institution or classes offered by government or private organizations, or some combination of both. Both certificate and credit hour classes may be counted toward the educational requirement. Examples of appropriate topics for classwork include, but are not limited to epidemiology, ethics/responsible conduct of research, study design/clinical trials design, use of human subjects, scientific writing/grantsmanship, and good clinical practice. Your application will be reviewed, in part, on the breadth and depth of the educational plan that you develop. What is meant by "development or coordination of a clinical research project"? Your second-year project should allow you to apply information that you gained from the first-year coursework in a clinical research setting. Planning for this project should begin in year one. Appropriate projects might include, for example, participating in a clinical trial, conducting a restrospective chart review study, or designing and implementing a small epidemiological study. Your role in the design, execution, and/or data anaylsis for the research project should be clearly delineated. The project should not be a laboratory research project. It is expected that a publication or presentation at a scientific meeting will result from the research project. Is this program compatible with certification in neuromuscular disease? Certification requirements for neuromuscular training are currently under development. This fellowship is meant to be compatible with requirements for such certification. If you plan to seek certification in neuromuscular training, please indicate this in your applicant statement and educational plan, and include the requirements for certification in your educational plan. How will progress be judged? Progress reports will be required at six months, twelve months and eighteen months. Applicants who are not judged to be making satisfactory progress will be subject to cancellation. Contact: Elizabeth Habeeb-Louks MDA Research Department (520) 529-2000, ext. 6021 crtg@mdausa.org
The National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association is seeking research applications for new investigator startup grants or post doctoral study focused on research aimed at increasing understanding of Spasmodic Dysphonia, a focal dystonia with that affects speech.
Small seed money grants to new or established investigators for up to $20,000 (excluding indirect costs) per year will be awarded. These can be for startup grants enabling successful applicants to subsequently seek funding from the National Institutes of Health or may provide partial support for post doctoral research training relating to Spasmodic Dysphonia. We are interested in hypothesis-driven research related to new approaches aimed at increasing understanding of Spasmodic Dysphonia that focuses on the following areas: Endogenous and environmental risk factors for the development of Spasmodic Dysphonia Pathophysiology of central nervous system dysfunction in Spasmodic Dysphonia Animal models for Spasmodic Dysphonia Novel approaches to the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia Diagnostic tools for Spasmodic Dysphonia Controlled studies of treatment outcomes in Spasmodic Dysphonia The deadline to submit an application is January 15, 2009.
National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association 300 Park Boulevard, Suite 415, Itasca, IL 60143 Phone: 800-795-6732 Fax: 630-250-4505 Website: www.dysphonia.org
Grant requests For all grant requests other than the Brighter Tomorrow grant
The initial contact should be made by letter of inquiry stating the amount sought, purpose of the grant, and nature of the organization requesting the grant. Please include an e-mail address if available. The letter should be sent to: The Grant Committee c/o Managing Director Multiple Sclerosis Foundation 6350 North Andrews Avenue Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33309 If you are awarded a grant we do ask as a minimum that you provide us with semi-annual progress reports however additional criteria may apply depending on the amount and type of grant. FUNDING CYCLE All grant requests excluding the Brighter Tomorrow grant, must be received prior to November 1 of each year. If your request is funded, funding will occur prior to January 15 of the following year. LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, at its sole discretion, has the right to limit, refuse or cancel any grants made. The awarding of grants is at the determination of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Fondation Leducq has established a two-year Transatlantic Fellowship Award that will allow four outstanding young researchers per year--two from North America and two from Europe--to work internationally with one of the scientific teams already assembled under the Leducq Foundation Transatlantic Networks of Excellence program. The fellowship is designed to provide support to program fellows to work on the other side of the Atlantic from his or her country of origin with a member of a Leducq network. Fellows must commit to spending at least one of the two years abroad; they can work at other sites in the network as the needs of the research program dictate, including, for a maximum of one year, in their country of origin. The objectives of the Leducq Transatlantic Fellowship Program are to develop outstanding researchers capable of performing original and innovative cardiovascular or neurovascular research in an international and collaborative context; to train young investigators in translational research through interactive investigation with a Leducq network comprised of basic science and clinical researchers; to support the career development of these young investigators; and to reinforce the objectives of the Transatlantic Networks of Excellence Program. The deadline for application submission will be September 18, 2008. The start date will be in the autumn of 2009.
Candidates must apply through an eligible, continuing Fondation Leducq Transatlantic Network. Interested applicants can contact the investigators directly, or contact the Leducq Foundation (info@fondationleducq.org) for further information.
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