Rare Disorders Grants

Travel Grants for 2nd Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases

All candidates must register before they can submit a travel award application.

Travel awards up to $750 are available on a competitive basis for trainees, fellows, and junior faculty. All requests for travel awards are judged by a committee from the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network.

Instructions to apply for a travel award:

Register for the Conference
Submit abstract
Submit NIH biosketch.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS FOR TRAVEL AWARDS IS: August 1, 2010.

For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact the Conference Organizers at the following E-mail address: RDCRNconference@epi.usf.edu

American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders 2011 APFED Junior Faculty HOPE Research Grant

Objective: To support the development of an academic research career in the specialties of
pediatric and internal medicine, gastroenterology, allergy/ immunology and pathology. The funding is to support eosinophil related research projects.

Sponsor: American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders - a non-profit advocacy organization
for those living with eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, eosinophilic colitis, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and other eosinophilic disorders.

Amount: $50,000 one time annual grant.

Funding: The grant may be used for the purchase of supplies and services directly related to the approved research endeavors. Funds may also be directed to the salaries of technical personnel and other direct expenses as necessary for the completion of the research project. Funds may not be used for institutional indirect costs or to acquire administrative or clerical support.

Funds will be distributed in two equal $25,000 payments.

This grant will include a travel grant of up to $1000 which must be used to attend a professional meeting to present research results.

Eligibility: Applicants must be all of the following to be eligible for Grant:
-- MD, DO, Nursing Doctorate, PhD, or MD/PhD
-- Faculty members with faculty appointments in aggregate not to exceed five years (at the time the application is due)
-- Full-time faculty as an instructor or assistant professor at a medical school in the US or abroad.

Deadline: Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file by November 1, 2010. Applicants will be notified regarding status of application by January, 2011.

American Partnership For Eosinophilic Disorders
PO Box 29545
Atlanta, GA 30359

Phone: (713)493-7749
8am-4pm Central Monday-Friday

Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Foundation Research Grant

Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) is a multi-system autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic dysfunction, and varying degrees of marrow dysfunction with cytopenias. Many associated clinical problems have also been described, including skeletal anomalies, metaphyseal dysostosis, rib abnormalities, cleft palate, dental abnormalities and others. Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation (SDSF) is a nonprofit support organization actively helping the victims of this disease. SDSF is accepting grant requests for research relevant to this disease. Any high quality, innovative research proposal deemed relevant to SDS will be considered. The following are areas of particular interest:

Investigate or evaluate potential therapies or therapeutic strategies
Evaluate predictors of bone marrow abnormalities to determine their correlation with the disease
Determine the causes of bone marrow failure and leukemia
Further delineate the pathogenesis of pancreatic disease
Determine if differences in disease complications occur dependent on persistent vs. cylic neutropenia
Investigations related to adult patient presentation, management, and care including transition from pediatric-centered to adult care

Eligibility
Persons applying for these grants must be in a faculty position with authority to hold an independent research grant (not a training position).

Letter of Intent
The potential applicant should write a one-page letter of intent to the SDSF, indicating the applicant’s position and affiliation, describing their planned project, and explaining its relevance to Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. These letters are reviewed by SDSF’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB) grant review process.

Purpose
This letter will be used to identify applicants who will be asked to provide a full application.

Dates
The letter is due no later than March 12th. All those who have submitted a letter of intent will receive a reply by April 5th. All Grant Applications must be submitted by May 15th. The final grant decision will be announced by July 31st with a November 1st start date.

Terms of Support
Support may be provided for up to two (2) years in an amount not to exceed $65,000 per year. The second year funding will not be released until a Progress Report has been reviewed and approved by the MSAB. The date for the Progress Report is October 1st. Applicants may submit only one grant application at a time, and may hold only one grant at a time.

If you would like us to send you a grant application, have any questions regarding the grant process or have an interest in the disease, please contact SDSF at the address indicated on our home page, call toll free 1-888-825-SDSF (7373) or via email at info@shwachman-diamond.org.

Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation
127 Western Avenue
Sherborn, MA 01770
U.S.A.

By Phone Toll Free 888-825-SDSF (7373)
Fax: Same

By Email info@shwachman-diamond.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Grants Programs

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies.

RESEARCH GRANT

To be eligible to apply for an MDA research grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original research within their own laboratory;
4. Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project.

Proposals from applicants outside the United States will be considered for projects of highest priority to MDA and when, in addition to the applicant's having met the requirements noted above the applicant's country of residence may not have adequate sources of financial support for biomedical research.

NOTE: To apply for a Research Grant, you must be an independent investigator, i.e., not a trainee, not a post-doctoral fellow, not a research assistant, not a research associate and not under the supervision of another person (Principal Investigator/Independent Investigator) who is directing the research.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT

MDA will consider an application for a research grant from a candidate who may be a member of a research team in the laboratory of an independent investigator (Principal Investigator) under whose guidance the applicant will be given flexibility to conduct a neuromuscular disease research project.

To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator;
4. Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's program;
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
6. Have eighteen (18) months of post-doctoral research laboratory training at the time of application, but no more than 5 years (60 months).

TENURE

Awards are for either one, two or three years for all grant types.

AWARDS

Funding levels for primary Research Grants are unlimited. Development grants are a maximum of $60,000 per year. Overhead is limited to a maximum of 10% percent of direct costs to be included in the total amount of the grant request.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A pre-proposal form must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL® to formally request an application for an MDA research grant. Requests for applications can be submitted anytime prior to the applicable deadline date.

Applications are not open to institutions for general distribution.

Only two grant review rounds are held each year.
Only one "letter of intent" is permitted per grant review round.

Deadline dates

Spring Review Letter of Intent: December 15

Fall Review Letter of Intent: June 15

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Grants Manager - Research Department
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 529-2000
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
grants@mdausa.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Grants Programs

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies.

RESEARCH GRANT

To be eligible to apply for an MDA research grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original research within their own laboratory;
4. Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project.

Proposals from applicants outside the United States will be considered for projects of highest priority to MDA and when, in addition to the applicant's having met the requirements noted above the applicant's country of residence may not have adequate sources of financial support for biomedical research.

NOTE: To apply for a Research Grant, you must be an independent investigator, i.e., not a trainee, not a post-doctoral fellow, not a research assistant, not a research associate and not under the supervision of another person (Principal Investigator/Independent Investigator) who is directing the research.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT

MDA will consider an application for a research grant from a candidate who may be a member of a research team in the laboratory of an independent investigator (Principal Investigator) under whose guidance the applicant will be given flexibility to conduct a neuromuscular disease research project.

To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator;
4. Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's program;
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
6. Have eighteen (18) months of post-doctoral research laboratory training at the time of application, but no more than 5 years (60 months).

TENURE

Awards are for either one, two or three years for all grant types.

AWARDS

Funding levels for primary Research Grants are unlimited. Development grants are a maximum of $60,000 per year. Overhead is limited to a maximum of 10% percent of direct costs to be included in the total amount of the grant request.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A pre-proposal form must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL® to formally request an application for an MDA research grant. Requests for applications can be submitted anytime prior to the applicable deadline date.

Applications are not open to institutions for general distribution.

Only two grant review rounds are held each year.
Only one "letter of intent" is permitted per grant review round.

Deadline dates

Spring Review Letter of Intent: December 15

Fall Review Letter of Intent: June 15

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Grants Manager - Research Department
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 529-2000
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
grants@mdausa.org

ECD Global Alliance Request for Proposals for Research Projects Focused on the Pathophysiology or Treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease

The purpose of the ECD Global Alliance is to help those affected by Erdheim-Chester Disease. As such, the Alliance’s mission is to provide support, promote research, raise awareness and share educational material related to ECD. The organization is currently soliciting grant applications for funding of research projects focused on the pathophysiology or treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease.

Maximum Amount of Grant to be Awarded: Up to $50,000 USD

Duration of Grant: 1 Year

Application Deadline: August 11, 2010

Date to be Awarded: October 2010

Eligibility Requirements: Open to all qualified researchers regardless of location.

Erdheim-Chester Disease is an extremely rare disease about which little is known and few studies have focused upon. For this reason, those proposals that include consideration of the following will be emphasized:

* Collaboration among institutions to increase knowledge and interest in the disease
* Proposed pathway to transition knowledge into the clinical setting
* Studies focused on larger numbers of patients

More information can be found at:

http://www.erdheim-chester.org/DataFiles/2010_ECD_Grant_Process.pdf

Contact:

Kathy Brewer
ECD Global Alliance, President
13065 Hwy 1146
DeRidder, LA 70634

1-337-515-6987
support@erdheim-chester.org

Barth Syndrome Foundation 2010 Request for Research Proposals

The Barth Syndrome Foundation, Inc. (BSF) and its international affiliates are pleased to announce the availability of funding for basic science and clinical research on the natural history, biochemical basis, and treatment of Barth syndrome. There are no geographical limitations of this funding.

Background
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a serious X-linked genetic condition associated with cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, skeletal muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, growth delay, and diverse biochemical abnormalities (including defects in mitochondrial metabolism and phospholipid biosynthesis). Because many clinical and biochemical abnormalities of Barth syndrome remain poorly understood, we are seeking proposals for both basic science and clinical research that may shed light on any aspect of the syndrome. We are determined to find improved treatments—and ultimately a cure—for this rare and under-diagnosed disorder.

Types of Proposals Sought
We are interested in providing “seed grant funding” to young investigators as well as attracting experienced investigators new to the field of BTHS basic science or clinical research. We anticipate that these funds will be used for the testing of initial hypotheses and the collection of preliminary data leading to successful long-term funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other major granting institutions around the world.

Funding
We anticipate awarding several one– or two–year grants of up to $40,000 each. Funds will be available soon after the successful grant applicants have been notified in early March, 2011.

Process
We have a competitive grant process. Applications should be of 10–15 pages in length and must follow the instructions listed on the BSF website. In general terms, detailed information about the specific aims, significance, research design and methods, personnel, facilities, and budget will be required, along with evidence of application to the relevant Institutional Review Board for any work involving human subjects or to the Animal Use and Protection Committee for any work involving animal subjects.

Completed proposals will be forwarded to the BSF Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (as well as to expert outside reviewers) for evaluation. Based on the recommendations of the BSF Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, the BSF Board of Directors will make the final funding decisions for the grant applications. Once the final funding decisions have been made, BSF affiliates will decide which, if any, of the approved grants they would like to fund.

Deadline
The deadline for submission of completed research grant applications from interested researchers is October 31, 2010. Grants will be awarded in early March, 2011.

Contact Information:
Matthew J. Toth, Ph.D.
Science Director
Barth Syndrome Foundation, Inc.
mtoth[at]barthsyndrome.org
mtothbsf@comcast.net

Conference Student Scholarships: Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Molecular and Cellular Basis for Neurodegeneration

Scholarship Deadline: October 20, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic age-dependent progressive disorders that are substantial and growing health problems, which exert a tremendous toll on the patient, family, health system and society as a whole. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to identify therapies that slow and/or reverse the progression of these disorders. Research in neurodegenerative disorders is providing tremendous advances in the molecular understanding of these disorders. New insights in cell biology, biochemistry, genomics and proteomics into these illnesses are leading to mechanism based therapies and new tools and biomarkers to study disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. In this meeting an emphasis will be placed on understanding new molecular and common mechanisms of disease in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), triple repeat diseases, frontotemporal lobar dementia and others.

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: Functional Consequences of Structural Variation in the Genome

Scholarship Deadline: September 14, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

Sequencing of genomes has led to the discovery of a spectrum of both small-scale and large-scale genetic variation among individuals. Changes in copy-number and genome structural variation are common in most mammalian species and affect a wide range of phenotypic traits. The goal of this symposium will be to explore the relative impact of structural variation to common and rare human genetic diseases; discuss our understanding of ‘normal’ patterns of structural variation and its origin based on examining additional human genomes using new sequencing technologies; explore the extent of intraspecific variation in other organisms and their importance in phenotypic traits; and discuss the adaptive importance of this form of variation during the evolution of mammalian species.

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

Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation Research Grants

The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation strives to foster research that will have the greatest potential impact on Sjögren’s syndrome patients, ensuring new therapeutics are developed and a cure found.

To accomplish this goal, the Foundation focuses on encouraging and funding the best and most innovative research grants and student fellowships and advocates for increased research from U.S. government sources and medical centers around the world.

A high priority is placed on both clinical and basic scientific research into the cause, prevention, detection, treatment, and cure of Sjögren’s syndrome, with support provided to investigators at every career level from student to junior investigator to senior-level leader.

SSF Research Funding Opportunities

The SSF offers research grants in the amount of $35,000 annually and an Innovative Concept Grant in the amount of $50,000 annually. Grants in both categories are awarded for two years, the second year being dependent on satisfactory grant progress. All applicants submit the same application with a budget of $35,000, and the Innovative Concept Grant winner is selected from those applicants.

SSF research grants are open to basic and clinical scientists holding an advanced degree (MD, DDS, DMD, or PhD) at any U.S. university or research institution. Both junior and senior investigators may apply. For physicians, advanced clinical training in a specialty related to Sjögren’s syndrome, such as rheumatology or ophthalmology, is desirable.

The application receipt deadline is February 1 each year. The grant funding period is July 1 through June 30.

SSF Research Grant Funding Priorities

* Relevant to Sjögren’s
* High quality science
* Innovative, novel, and creative
* Preliminary data; probability of SSF seed money leading to an NIH grant
* Potential practical importance
* Outcome could define new therapeutic target in SS
* Collaborative aspects of project
* Focused and achievable in the time lines
* Author on peer-reviewed articles
* A young investigator who has already displayed a productive commitment to SS research and a potential career in the field
* Letters of recommendation (if required) praise commitment, focus, high standards, and excellence
* Financial support important for the salary support and execution of the research

For questions or additional information, please contact the Foundation at:

Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation
Attn: Research Grants
6707 Democracy Blvd
Suite 325
Bethesda, MD 20817

Telephone: 1-800-475-6473, extension 215

research@sjogrens.org