Research Project Grants

This scheme is jointly funded by the Jennifer Trust and the SMA Trust and provides awards to fund biomedical research of the highest scientific merit and greatest clinical or translational relevance to SMA.

Duration

Grants will be offered for a maximum of three years duration.

Finances

Applications should not exceed £75,000 per annum (and £225,000 in total over 3 years). Funding is available for salaries & laboratory consumables. Costs for equipment and travel expenses will be considered where they are necessary as an integral part of the project. These should be requested at the time of the application.

Conditions

The Principal Investigator making the application must be UK based, but collaborative projects with international partners are eligible for funding. There is a limit on summary applications of two per institute.

Assessment

The objective of this joint call for projects is to fund and promote research aimed at investigating the pathogenesis and possible therapeutic interventions for SMA.

Priority areas for funding include projects related to:

Developing a better understanding of SMA
Research of direct clinical and therapeutic relevance
Clinical and healthcare research to improve standards of care and quality of life for people with SMA

These key areas are elaborated on in the JTSMA Research Strategy.

Applications for project grants will be judged on the key criteria of:-

novelty
scientific merit
its relevance to SMA and our research strategy
the potential clinical and or translational relevance of the research
how the study fits in with other work in the laboratory / institution.

Please note that limited funds may also be available for health & social care research grants. Potential applicants should contact Richard Green at the Jennifer Trust before applying.

Timing

The deadline for summary applications is 3^rd of October 2008. Subsequently, a maximum of six applicants will be invited to make full applications. These will be considered on our behalf by an internal triage team and the established full peer review board of the Motor Neurone Disease Association's Research Advisory Panel in April 2008. A full timetable is available.

Where can I find out more?

Contact Richard Green at the Jennifer Trust e-mail: contact telephone: 01789 267 520.

How to apply

Applicants are invited to submit an initial 2-3 page summary, outlining the project aims and methods.

The closing date for receipt of summaries is the 3^rd of October 2008.

Summary applications should be sent by email to Richard Green at the Jennifer Trust.