Deadlines*
*Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MDA staff before
submitting a letter of intent for this grant.
For Review at the February 2009 TRAC Meeting:
Letter of Intent: July 1, 2008
Grant Application: September 1, 2008
Start Date: April 1, 2009
FOR ONLINE
SUBMISSION OF THE "REQUEST FOR GRANT
APPLICATiON" go to: https://proposalcentral.altum.com
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.
Vice President - Translational Research
(520) 529-5433
TranslationalResearchGrants@mdausa.org |
