Spina Bifida Association/Spina Bifida Foundation Young Investigator Awards 2010 Request for Proposals
Deadline: 9:00 pm eastern daylight time on Monday, May 10, 2010
The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) and the Spina Bifida Foundation (SBF) are pleased to announce a Request for Proposals to support basic or clinical Spina Bifida research by promising young investigators. SBA will award up to three (3) fellowships in 2010. The purpose of the awards will be to provide either initial or continuing financial support to a newly-independent investigator in an established research program. One fellowship, providing up to $50,000 in support, is named the Ashley Rose Advancement in Research Award. The Ashley Rose Foundation was established by Raymond and Linda Pitek in 1997 for their baby, Ashley Rose. Another fellowship will offer $25,000 and was established in 2008 by the Schneider Charitable Trust, established by Hollister Incorporated. Up to $40,000 is available for a third fellowship, in its second year, for research relating to tethered cord syndrome.
Eligibility
The investigator must be a citizen of the United States of America and possess an MD, PhD, DSW, DScN, or equivalent terminal degree prior to beginning the research under the award, but may not have held a faculty title of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) or higher for more than 24 months at the time the fellowship is to begin. The individual may be contemplating a fellowship or may already have begun one, but must be conducting the proposed research in preparation for a research or research and clinical career. The research program in which the fellow is to be appointed must be located in the United States of America and may be at an academic medical institution, hospital, research institute, university, or similar institution. It must be sufficiently established to provide strong support for the fellow, but need not have involved Spina Bifida research previously. The research to be conducted by the fellow may be basic or clinical research, but must be relevant to Spina Bifida. Areas of particular interest are:
•Ashley Rose Research Advancement Award – Epidemiology and causes of miscarriage related to neural tube defects preferred; other related research will be considered
•Schneider Charitable Trust Research Fellowship – Continence and related clinical and scientific areas
•Tethered Cord Syndrome Research Fellowship – Tethered Cord Syndrome and related clinical and scientific areas
Award Mechanism
The institution at which the established research program is located will be the awardee and will be expected to administer the award on behalf of the faculty or fellow, who will be the principal investigator. The award mechanism will be a grant, payable in a single installment within 30 days following written acceptance of the grant by the institution and the fellow. The grant will begin at the awardee institution’s discretion between August 1 and December 1, 2010, and will be for a one-year period unless prior written approval for a no-cost extension is requested by the institution and approved by SBA.
Criteria for Selection
A committee of scientists, clinicians familiar with Spina Bifida research and those affected by Spina Bifida will conduct a peer review of all eligible proposals received. Based on recommendations of the peer review committee, awards will be made by SBA. The peer review committee will consider all of the following criteria in making its recommendations:
•Strength of the science of the research proposal
•Educational preparation and demonstrated potential for research of the fellow
•Degree of intellectual and resource support committed by the established research program hosting the fellow apparent long-term interest in Spina Bifida expressed by the fellow
SBA does not anticipate issuing comments on individual proposals by the peer review committee.
Spina Bifida Association
4590 MacArthur Boulevard, NW Suite 250
Washington , DC 20007
Phone: 202-944-3285
Toll Free: 800-621-3141
Fax: 202-944-3295
General inquiries: sbaa@sbaa.org
