MDA Translational Research Program

Translational Research Infrastructure Grant (TRIG)

Summary: The TRIG is designed to fund the development of infrastructure — tools, techniques or services — that will be of use to the neuromuscular disease research community for the purpose of therapy development. Although the need for the proposed infrastructure can be presented in the context of a specific research project or projects, the grant will ultimately be evaluated on the need for the infrastructure by the community at large, and on the applicant’s specific plan for making this resource available to the community. Infrastructure projects must be consistent with the goals of the Strategic Research Plan. Examples of acceptable infrastructure projects include, but are not limited to, development of databases and registries, core facilities (e.g., vector production, muscle imaging, drug screening), microarray chips, animal model resources, tissue repositories, and components of clinical research networks.
Deadlines / Frequently Asked Questions / Policy Manual / Contact /

Deadlines*

*Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MDA staff before submitting a letter of intent for this grant.

For Review at the August 2006 TRAC Meeting:
Letter of Intent: May 1, 2006
Grant Application: June 1, 2006
Start Date: October 1, 2006

For Review at the February 2007 TRAC Meeting:
Letter of Intent: November 1, 2006
Grant Application: December 1, 2006
Start Date: April 1, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions:
Infrastructure Grant

Who can apply?
The applicant should be a professional or faculty member at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution who is qualified to conduct and supervise a program of original research may apply. The applicant should hold a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Science or equivalent degree.

What kind of projects are funded?
This grant is designed to support new infrastructure, defined as tools, techniques or services, that benefit the neuromuscular disease research community in developing therapies for neuromuscular disease. Examples of infrastructure projects include, but are not limited to, maintenance and distribution of animal models, development of patient registries/databases, development of new diagnostic techniques, maintenance of tissue repositories, and support for core facilities. Infrastructure projects must be consistent with priorities described in the Translational Research Strategic Plan.

How is the application reviewed?
Grant applications to the Translational Research Program are reviewed by two or more expert ad hoc reviewers for scientific feasibility. Recommendations of ad hoc reviewers are passed on to the Translational Research Advisory Committee, which makes a final funding recommendation by taking into account the ad hoc reviews and MDA priorities as described in the Strategic Plan. All applicants, whether selected for funding or not, receive copies of the anonymized ad hoc reviews.

What are the review criteria?

1. RECOGNIZED NEED FOR PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE: Rationale and supporting letter(s) from potential users

2. FEASIBILITY: Description of resource and detail of its development and maintenance; evidence of effectiveness; superiority over existing similar resources

3. COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING RESOURCES: If applicable, is there compatibility with pre-existing data formats, protocols or record keeping?

4. ACCESS PLAN: Plan for disbursement, sharing and collaborations; ease of access, breadth of access, cost of access

5. LOCAL SUPPORT: Commitment from university, institution or other funding source to support project (e.g., commitment of space, staff, other resources)

6. COST EFFECTIVENESS: Proposed infrastructure development cost is reasonable in face of the likely benefit to the research community; vendor contracts (where applicable) are appropriate and cost-effective

7. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: General excellence; experience with proposed infrastructure subject

When are the deadlines?
Letters of intent, which may be submitted online, will be reviewed at the Translational Research Advisory Committee meetings in early February and early August. If you are invited to apply for a grant, full applications will be due the first week of the following May or the first week of the following November, respectively. The start date for the grant will be approximately six months from the deadline for the letter of intent. See deadlines for an exact schedule of dates.

How is the grant administered?
Funding is paid in quarterly installments and is contingent upon a satisfactory progress report at the end of year one, among other things.

Does MDA have a royalties-sharing agreement?
MDA will negotiate a royalties-sharing agreement.

What restrictions apply to this grant?
Recipients of an MDA infrastructure grant must develop a plan to make this MDA-funded resource available to the research community. Grantees will be expected to honor reasonable requests for access to the resource, and in some cases, may be bound by a specific agreement with MDA. Commercialization of the resource is not necessarily precluded.

More Information
For detailed information about the Translational Research Infrastructure Grant, including review criteria, please see the Infrastructure Grant Policy Manual. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review this manual and to speak with MDA staff before sending a letter of intent.

Contact
Sharon Hesterlee, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
(520) 529-5433
shesterlee@mdausa.org