Funding News
Funding News
The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is an organization based in St. Louis that is interested in funding novel research with the goal of increasing rates of survival and improvement of functional recovery of individuals with brain cancer. Grants made by JSMF are not intended to provide additional funding for ongoing previously funded research projects. Rather, funding is intended to encourage new ideas and approaches early in their development that are unlikely to be funded from traditional sources. In 1998, JSMF received 79 proposals and funded six. The Foundation will preferentially support: 1) Investigations exploring novel approaches in neurobiology, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, and neuropathology for the development of new therapies for brain cancer; 2) Studies that apply advances in research of non-nervous system cancers to brain tumors; and 3) Research that improves the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors through better understanding of its cellular and molecular characterization. Proposals can request up to $150,000 per year for up to three years, not to exceed $450,000 total. Only direct research costs are included. Proposals from junior faculty and from individuals with strong neuroscience, genetics, molecular pathology, and tumor immunology backgrounds interested in pursuing novel research on brain cancer are encouraged. Although the deadline for 1999 applications has passed (application deadline June 15, 1999; awards announced November 1, 1999), information on future programs is available at the JSMF Web site (www.jsmf.org) or by contacting Susan M. Fitzpatrick, PhD, James S. McDonnell Foundation, 1034 South Brentwood Blvd., Suite 1850, St. Louis, MO 63117, Email: [email protected]
The Pew Charitable Trusts (Web site: www.pew trusts.com), a Philadelphia-based foundation with approximately $4.7 billion in assets, invested more than $213 million in 298 nonprofit organizations in 1998. Its Health and Human Services program, which in 1998 funded 155 grants for a total of $39,536,000, is designed to promote the health and well-being of the American people and to strengthen disadvantaged communities. One of the goals of this program is to promote biomedical research and training, in part through the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. This is a fellowship program intended to support and encourage the study of biomedical sciences among competitively selected young American scholars of outstanding promise. The award is intended to provide assured support for junior faculty during their early years as they establish their laboratories. It is hoped that the assurance provided through the scholars program will encourage successful applicants to be more venturesome in their research and future applications for support than would otherwise be likely.
For the 16th series of awards, to be made in 2000, one nomination will be invited from the presidents of each of a limited number of institutions selected on the basis of the scope of their work in biomedical research and which will have been recommended to The Pew Trusts by the National Advisory Committee of the Program. The Program is open to individuals with a doctorate in medicine, other health-related professions, or biomedical sciences. As of November 1, 1999, candidates must hold full-time appointments at the rank of assistant professor or independent researcher on the faculty of the sponsoring institution. On July 1, 2000, they must not have been in such an appointment for more than three years, whether or not such appointments were on a tenure track. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, or in work toward board certification does not count as part of this three-year limit.
Proposals should demonstrate particularly creative and innovative approaches. Risk-taking is encouraged. An evaluation of earlier performance by those with whom the applicant trained, along with evidence of performance and a description of the work the applicant proposes to undertake, will be the major elements upon which selection will be based. The National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to evidence that the candidate is an independent investigator and to significant published work.
Twenty scholars are to be selected in 2000 and, given evidence of satisfactory progress, will be supported for four years. An award of $50,000 per year will be provided to sponsoring institutions for use by the scholar over the four-year period, subject to annual review of the Scholar’s progress. Grants will be awarded in July 2000. Annual progress reports are required, describing research accomplishments, project status, and future directions. Scholars may not simultaneously be supported by similar private foundation awards for the first two years of their Pew Scholarship. Candidates who have awards supporting primarily their salary, such as Research Career Development Awards, American Cancer Society Faculty Research Awards, or from institutional endowments, are not precluded from applying for or receiving a Pew Scholarship. The funds may be used, at the discretion of the Pew Scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar’s research, in whatever way will best advance the research and the scholar’s career. Inquiries may be directed to: The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences, Ann Clarke, Director, 3333 California Street, Suite 410, San Francisco, CA 94118; phone: 415-476-8181.
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