Grant Application for Researchers

2024 APFED HOPE Pilot Grant

Summary
The APFED HOPE Pilot Grant was established to allow investigators from a variety of disciplines to initiate new projects relevant to eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs). Successful applications will focus on the development of new ideas which are likely to lead to future external 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, or investigator salary.

Objective
The 2024 APFED HOPE Pilot Grant has been established to foster the development of new projects relevant to eosinophil-associated disease, excluding nasal polyposis. Investigators from a variety of disciplines are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will focus on the development of new ideas which are likely to lead to future external funding and align with APFED’s research priorities of improved diagnostics or therapeutics for eosinophil-associated diseases, excluding nasal polyposis.

Sponsor
American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED), a non-profit advocacy organization for those living with eosinophil-associated diseases, including eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic colitis), eosinophilic cystitis, eosinophilic fasciitis, hypereosinophilic syndromes, and eosinophilic asthma.

Grant Term
Two years

Award Amount
$50,000 per year (a total of $100,000 over the two-year grant term)

Funding
Funds will be distributed in two equal $50,000 payments. Grant funds may not be used for salary support for applicant. 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. This grant will include an additional travel grant of up to $1,000 which must be used to attend a professional meeting to present results of the funded research.

Eligibility
Eligible applicants must have received doctoral degree (e.g., MD, DO, Nursing Doctorate, PhD, MD/PhD).

At the time of the grant award and for the duration of the grant, applicant must hold a full-time faculty position (instructor or higher) at a medical school/academic institution in the US.
At the time of application and for the duration of the grant, candidates must be United States citizens or foreign nationals holding one of the following visa immigration statuses:
– Green Card – permanent resident
– J-1 – exchange visitor
– H-1, H-1B – temporary worker in a specialty occupation
– TN – professional business worker admitted under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
– O-1 – temporary worker in the sciences
Non-citizens must submit a notarized copy of proof of possession of a Green Card or J-1, H-1, H-1B, TN, or O-1 visas. At the time of application and for the duration of the grant, an applicant/recipient must be employed by a U.S. institution.

Deadlines
Full proposals are due on April 26, 2024
Award notices will be generated by July 1, 2024.

Selection
Members of APFED’s Grant Review Committee and the APFED Board of Directors will review and score applications to guide the funding decision. The APFED Grant Committee will be formed for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and will be comprised of members of the APFED Board of Directors, Health Sciences Advisory Council, and other certified members of the medical community as deemed necessary by the APFED Board of Directors.

Funding will be awarded at APFED’s discretion. Responding to this RFP, submitting an LOI and/or submitting a full proposal does not entitle any individual or institution to receive funding from APFED. Funding, if any, would be provided at APFED’s sole discretion pursuant to the terms of a written grant agreement executed by APFED and the selected grantee organization, the terms of which APFED may require to be acknowledged by the PI.

Terms

  • The APFED HOPE Pilot Grant is designed to support the initiation of research that will be the basis of a larger research project within this subspecialty. Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrable interest and/or achievement in clinical care, education or research in eosinophil-associated diseases.
  • Recipient must provide APFED with research project progress reports at the end of the first 6 months of the grant term and at the end of the first year. Each report will be two pages: a one-page summary of what has been completed, what is currently underway and work yet to be completed, and a one-page financial update.  Recipient will also submit a final report at the end of the grant period outlining project results, financial report, and anticipated next steps.  Preference in awarding grant will also be given to research projects that are most likely to generate results or data to report at the end of one year.
  • Recipient may be asked to provide APFED with 1-page, lay-friendly summaries of the research project/results for APFED communications/publications.
  • Receipt of the APFED HOPE Pilot Grant does not preclude the applicant from obtaining grant support from other sources.
  • Other existing support cannot conflict with the requirements of the APFED HOPE Pilot Grant.
  • Support from the APFED HOPE Pilot Grant is to be acknowledged in all presentations and publications resulting from the APFED HOPE Pilot Grant sponsored research.
    The APFED HOPE Pilot Grant is non-transferable.


Pilot Grant Application Requirements
The proposal should contain the following components and be assembled in this order:

  • Project Title
  • Lay summary: a summary of the research proposal written in plain English.
  • An abstract of the proposed project (maximum 30 lines of text), including its public health significance, impact and relevance to the mission of APFED.
  • Applicant’s Statement of Purpose:  current and future eosinophil-associated disease-related research objectives, including planned future grant application based on the pilot project, and training plans as appropriate to current career status (1-page maximum).
  • NIH-format bio-sketch for the PI and all co-investigators and key scientific personnel. Include a full disclosure of all currently active grants or grants pending review or funding decisions, addressing overlap, if any, with the APFED Pilot Grant application.
  • Three (3) page description of project, including background and significance, innovation and impact, long-term objectives, specific aims, and research strategy/experimental approach.  Also include a description of the facilities for research and training needed by the applicant (1-page maximum, not included in the 3-page limit).
  • Detailed Budget and Justification. Purchase of equipment may be proposed, if adequate justification is provided.
  • For grants involving human subjects, include a letter showing IRB approval of the study protocol, or indication that the protocol has been submitted and is in review. Please indicate if IRB approval will be needed and issued only in the event of funding. For grants involving vertebrate animals, provide a letter showing protocol approval by the institution’s Animal Care Committee (ACC).
  • Officially signed letter from the applicant institution’s Office of Sponsored Research (or equivalent) approving the submission and willingness to comply with APFED grant management and reporting requirements.


Submission
Submit Full Proposal by April 26, 2024 through the online form.