Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
Application Deadline: February 1, 2018
“Translational medicine and therapeutics is a discipline focused on bridging experimental and computational research and discoveries to their application in clinical practice. To be successful, this requires working with clinicians to identify critical unmet clinical needs. Examples of research components include activities in molecular and cellular biology, pathophysiology, systems biology, bioinformatics, modeling and simulation, and other quantitative sciences to connect basic biological concepts and entities to directly address such unmet medical needs. Clinical observation becomes the basis for hypothesis generation to further basic research and to efficiently advance the product of basic research to patients.”
The goal of the PhRMA Foundation’s Translational Medicine and Therapeutics Program is to promote the development and use of experimental and computational methods in an integrative approach towards clinical needs in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The Foundation believes that to be successful, this requires working with clinicians to identify critical unmet clinical needs.
This can involve enhanced understanding of human biological and disease processes but requires a strong translational component. This program will support the concepts of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics.
Translational Medicine and Therapeutics awards will advance training and support career development of scientists engaged in research that significantly addresses specific clinician-defined problems and integrates innovative technologies with advanced biological, chemical, and pharmacological sciences and engineering methodologies in areas such as:
Genetics (Molecular, Pharmaco-, Population, Medical)
Genomics (Functional, Structural, Toxico-, Pharmaco-, Comparative)
Systems (Biology and Pharmacology)
Pathways and Networks
Integrative Biology
Modeling and Simulation
Target Identification and Validation
Biomarker Discovery and Validation
Vaccine Development
Molecular Epidemiology
Imaging
Disease Modeling
Program Priorities
- Emphasis will be placed on the identification of clinician-defined unmet clinical needs and the development of new experimental and computational approaches and technologies that facilitate the translation of research data into an elucidation and understanding of human biological and disease processes to directly support their solution.
- Preference will be given to those applicants whose research identifies unmet clinical need and combines novel experimental and computational methods together with actual clinical validation.
- For applications to be considered, proposal must contain evidence of collaboration across the non-clinical:clinical interface and not solely apply experimental and computational methodologies to data generation and analysis without clinical validation.
- The use of non-human model systems, not involving human tissue, must be described in terms of its relationship to human biology and disease including its limitations and advantages, and the results of such studies are required to involve clinical testing in support of the model.
To assist individuals beginning independent research careers in translational medicine and therapeutics at the faculty level.
Eligibility & Requirements
- Those holding the academic rank of Assistant Professor (or Research Assistant Professor) within a tenure track (or Research track) appointment, or Instructor, if eligible to apply for independent research funding by their institution, are eligible to apply for these research starter grants, providing their proposed research is neither directly nor indirectly already being subsidized to any significant degree by an extramural support mechanism. Individuals receiving only intramural funding or start-up funding from their institution are eligible to apply for RSG awards
- Applicants will be judged on the scientific merits of the proposed research, and on the degree of need and fit within the scope and goals of the program.
- The program is not intended for those in postdoctoral training programs. However, individuals in postdoctoral training scheduled to conclude and who will hold an academic appointment by January 1, 2018, or the start of the grant period, may apply.
- Applicants must be sponsored by the department or unit in which the proposed research is to be undertaken.
- Applications must be submitted in conjunction with an accredited U.S. university or research institution
- All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents by the time of initiation of the grant.
- If support for the proposed research is obtained otherwise after the application has been submitted, the Foundation must be so informed.
- These funds are not transferable.
- These grants can begin on July 1, 2018 or not later than December 1, 2018 for a period of 1 year.
- The grant provides funding of $100,000 for one year.
- The grant is paid on a quarterly basis to the university on behalf of the applicant, with the understanding that the university will administer the funds.
- The funds have limited restrictions – a characteristic of the program.
- The funds may not be used for salary support of the grantee, but may be used to support technical assistance. The support of technical assistance may include the hourly wages of a technician; however the funds may not be used to provide fringe benefits or indirect costs for the technician
- $1,500 per year may be used for travel to professional meetings by the grantee.
- PhRMA Foundation funds may not be used for indirect costs or fringe benefits.
- These funds are not transferable.
Research Starter Grant Application Checklist
Please make a copy of this list to reference during the application process, as incomplete applications will not be considered.
- General Registration Information
- Applicant CV or Biosketch
- Extended Letter This letter is an opportunity to tell us who you are and to describe your career and future plans. Include a synopsis of your career, your professional interests, and your desired career path. The letter should not exceed two single-spaced pages (12-point font).
- Research Plan [1] Prepare a comprehensive yet concise statement, not to exceed eight single-spaced pages (12-point font), including objectives and specific aims, background, significance, and rationale. Preliminary studies, as well as results (if available), should be included. Detail the research design and methodology. Applicants should use a format similar to the format specified for grants submitted to the National Institutes of Health. A bibliography of major references should be provided, but will not be included in the page limit. The first use of any abbreviation or acronym should be preceded by the full name or description. Clearly identify other principals involved as collaborators in the project, the amount of time they will commit, and the amount of time you will commit. List by titles the funded research projects of each principal, the portion of time committed, and the amount and source of funds for these projects.Identify the amount of intramural support available for the proposed project, and other research efforts by budget categories and amounts. If the school makes the services of a technician available to the candidate, note this. Identify the part of the proposal that will be directly initiated or expedited by the Foundation’s funds. The Advisory Committee that reviews each application places considerable emphasis on the quality of the research and training proposal. In describing the research and training plan, it is essential to document that guidance and departmental support will be available to ensure proper training in the techniques and principles of the specified area.
- Research Abstract Submit a titled abstract of approximately 200 words concerning the proposed research plan.
- Budget (no specific format required) Submit a budget categorizing how grant funds will be used. List any other funding this project will receive, including startup funds for the applicant.
- Department Chair: Provide contact information and a recommendation letter.
- Sponsor/Mentor: Provide contact information, a biosketch, and a recommendation letter.
- Additional References:Provide contact information and reference letters from up to three individuals familiar with your scientific career. Letters and third-party materials should not be uploaded by the applicant. The application system will request contact information, including an email address, for the chair, sponsor, and references. These individuals will receive a prompt from the system with instructions for uploading their document(s), which will be appended to the application.
- Reprints: Submit copies of relevant articles you have published.
[1] Submission of this plan is assurance that the research proposal has been written primarily by the applicant.
Based on our policy, we do not provide written reviews.
Click here for the 2018 Translational Medicine and Therapeutics Brochure.
Applications will be accepted after January 1, 2018 and are due no later than February 1, 2018.
