APFED Announces Recipient for 2022 HOPE Pilot Grant Award

APFED is proud to announce that, thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are offering the 2022 HOPE Pilot Grant to Michael Rosenblum, MD, PhD from the University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Rosenblum will receive $100,000 in funding over a two-year period for his promising research study titled “Biology of Th2-interacting fascial fibroblasts in eosinophilic fasciitis.”

The goal of Dr. Rosenblum’s research is to examine the cellular and molecular interaction of skin fibroblasts (cells that are part of the skin’s structure) with eosinophils to determine the causes of disease and its relapse. The findings of this research can be applied to other eosinophil-associated diseases in the future, which can lead to new therapies.

Recipients of APFED’s HOPE Pilot Grant award are chosen through a competitive peer-review process, which is how premier scientific funding agencies like the National Institutes of Health ensure top-level research in the field is funded. The grant was established to support researchers as they initiate new, innovative projects relevant to eosinophil-associated diseases that are likely to be impactful.

An ad-hoc committee of volunteer peer reviewers, experts in the field of eosinophil-associated disease research, review and score each proposal APFED receives for funding consideration. This rigorous process helps us to identify the best research that will have the biggest impact to best to direct donor dollars.

This was an incredibly competitive year for applicants. Dr. Rosenblum’s research proposal was one of 16 projects submitted for funding consideration. It is also the first grant APFED has funded for eosinophilic fasciitis. Eosinophilic fasciitis is a subset of eosinophil-associated disease. It occurs when eosinophils cause thickening and inflammation of the connective tissue beneath the skin.

We are grateful for donors and community fundraisers that have supported the HOPE on the Horizon Research Grant Program. The advances toward a better understanding of eosinophil-associated diseases, non-invasive and accurate diagnostics, and therapeutic targets are not possible without the generosity of donations to our program.

On behalf of people around the globe who live with eosinophil-associated diseases, thank you!