Request for Applications: American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Disease Targeted Research Grants
The American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation is soliciting applications for grants that address basic, translational and clinical aspects of rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of inflammatory arthritis as described below. Outcomes from these grants should lead to new insights into the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of RA and related autoinflammatory diseases. All applications must be relevant to the purpose and goals of the Within Our Reach campaign. For this round of grants, the REF plans to commit up to $6 million to fund innovative disease targeted research in this area.
For this next phase of the program, the research area will be expanded to include other conditions where inflammatory arthritis is the major pathology. These include the spondylarthropathies (psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and undifferentiated spondylarthropathy) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The following conditions, which can include arthritis as a feature, will not be supported by this program, and include but are not limited to:
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Systemic sclerosis
• Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis
• Behçet’s Disease
• Vasculitis
• Systemic Onset JIA/Adult-Onset Still’s Disease
• Autoinflammatory Disorders (Familial Mediterranean Fever, CINCA/NOMID, TRAPs, etc.)
In addition, studies that focus on predisposing conditions such as psoriasis, genitourinary infections, or inflammatory bowel disease will not be supported by this program. Please download the full RFP for further details. If you have questions about the relevance of your proposal, please contact REF staff before preparing an application.
Applications for two types of grants are being requested:
TYPE I: PILOT GRANTS
$75,000 for one year
These smaller pilot grants are intended to provide seed funds to scientists with novel ideas. The intent is to allow investigators to gather preliminary data to determine whether a greater investment is needed in their research idea, or if they should change direction in order to maximize outcomes. With the addition of these smaller pilot grants, investigators studying a wide array of arthritis and related inflammatory diseases will have the opportunity to explore extremely novel ideas within a low risk, high reward funding model.
TYPE II: INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED GRANTS
$200,000 per year for two years, not to exceed $400,000
It is anticipated that these projects will be carried out primarily by a single investigator/institution and must be completed within the two-year period. Projects may include biomarker development/validation using patient-derived material; studies to understand pathophysiology using patient-derived material; and studies to improve diagnosis, prognosis or treatment using human subjects or patient-derived materials. The Principal Investigator is required to devote a minimum of 20 percent full-time professional research effort to the project.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Please download the full Request for Proposals at http://www.rheumatology.org/ref/awards/WOR.asp for more information and details regarding eligibility, application requirements and review criteria. All applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2011.
Investigators may submit applications to both categories, however the applications must be for different projects, and only one project per PI will be funded per cycle. Previous recipients of Within Our Reach grants may apply, but must propose a new project. These grants are not meant to provide support for the compression of a longer—three to five year—research project into a shorter time period, for career development or for educational activities other than research.
IMPORTANT DATES
APPLICATION POSTMARK
December 1, 2011
NOTICE OF AWARD
May 1, 2012
AWARD TERMS BEGIN
July 1, 2012
ABOUT THE REF
The American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation was established in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) organization, with the mission of advancing research and training to improve the health of people with rheumatic diseases. The REF funds groundbreaking research resulting in better care and treatment for more than 50 million Americans affected by rheumatic diseases. As the largest private funding source of rheumatology research and training programs in the U.S., the REF has awarded over $50 million to more than 1,000 recipients in the past five years.
For more information about the REF and the Within Our Reach campaign, visit http://www.rheumatology.org/REF/
