Drug Delivery

Award Aims

• To offer financial support to individuals beginning independent research careers in drug delivery research, including basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology and pharmaceutical biotechnology at the faculty level in a tenure track position.

Eligibility & Requirements

• Applicants (U.S. and non-U.S. citizens) must currently be in PhD and/or MS degree granting institutions in the United States.
• Applicants appointed to a tenure track position in a department that has responsibility for drug delivery research and instruction are eligible to apply. (Non-tenure track candidates will not be considered.)
• Those holding a tenure track appointment at the academic rank of assistant professor, research assistant professor, instructor or equivalent 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 research starter grant awards.
• Eligible candidates will not have other substantial sources of research funding.
• The applicant must be eligible to apply for independent external research funding by their institution.
• The letter of support from the Department Chair must confirm that the applicant has dedicated laboratory space and research independence.
• This program is not offered to augment an ongoing research effort. Nor is the grant intended to be used for any direct effort to obtain further extramural funding. Funds must be used to conduct the proposed research.
• If other funding becomes available during the grant, the PhRMA Foundation must be notified.
• Research projects that intend to extend or develop the proprietary value of specific drug products will not be accepted. This exclusion does not preclude research in which specific drug products are used to test hypotheses that have general applicability.
• If multiple applicants are submitting proposed efforts on the same project, the efforts must be separate activities. They may not be duplicative. We will not consider multiple applications for the same or similar efforts on the same project. This pertains to submissions from all three categories of our programs within Drug Delivery. The applications will be disqualified.
• This program is not intended for individuals in postdoctoral training. However, those enrolled in postdoctoral training programs scheduled to conclude by the start of the funding, i.e. January 1, 2022 through August 1, 2022, who will hold an academic appointment by that time, may apply.
• Awards may be activated beginning January 1, 2022 or on the first day of any month thereafter, up to and including August 1, 2022.
• Applicants will be judged on the scientific merit of the proposed research, degree of financial need and corresponding infrastructure to enable completion of the work.

 

[1]  Drug Delivery strongly emphasizes the quantitative understanding and use of the principles underlying drug transport, route of administration, formulation composition, technology development and manufacturing/engineering aspects intended to improve drug product safety and efficacy, including patient compliance.

Drug delivery research falls into four broad categories – drugs, delivery vehicles and formulations, routes of delivery, and targeting strategies. Today’s “drugs” include small molecules, peptides, proteins, antibodies, vaccines, oligonucleotides (gene modification), modified live cells (stem cells, CAR-T cells), bacteria (microbiome related) and viruses as delivery vectors. Developing vehicles and novel technologies is important for delivering increasingly complex drugs by alternate routes of administration. Of equal importance is the quantitative impact of drug molecular properties and formulation composition on the engineering factors and subsequent manufacturing processes.

Funding

• The PhRMA Foundation Research Starter Grant in Drug Delivery 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 awardee. Funds may not be used for fringe benefits or indirect costs.
• Funds may be budgeted to include the support of a technician or graduate student at an hourly rate. The funds may not be used to provide tuition, fringe benefits or indirect costs for said personnel.
• Within the $100,000 grant, up to $1,500 may be used for travel to professional meetings by the awardee.
• Funds may be used to purchase equipment and/or data to support the research efforts.
• Funding may begin as early as January 1, 2022.
• Within sixty days of the grant’s conclusion, a final progress report and financial statement are to be submitted to the PhRMA Foundation.
• Unspent funds are to be returned to the PhRMA Foundation upon the grant’s conclusion.
• Funds are not transferrable.
• Any changes to the proposed project must be approved by the PhRMA Foundation.

 

Application Process

To apply for a PhRMA Foundation Research Starter Grant in Drug Delivery, applicants must submit a letter of intent, due May 20, 2021 @ 11:59 PM EST. Those whose submissions are selected will be notified by July 1, 2021 and asked to complete a full application.

To start a Letter of Intent, go to the proposalCENTRAL website at https://proposalcentral.com/. If you are a new user of proposalCENTRAL, follow the “CREATE ONE NOW” link under “Need an Account?” and complete the registration process. If you are already a registered user, login at https://proposalcentral.com/ with your username and password. If you have forgotten your password, click the “Forgot your Password?” link.

Once you are logged in, please click the “Professional Profile” tab at the top and complete steps 1-10 or update with current information. Your name, degrees, Position/Title, Academic Rank, Department and address will be pulled from this page in proposalCENTRAL.

To start a Letter of Intent, select the “Grant Opportunities” tab and a list of applications will be displayed. Find “PhRMA Foundation” and click the Apply Now link next to the Research Starter Grant in Drug Delivery Program to create your Letter of Intent.

Letter of Intent Process (Step 1)

Letter of Intent

The letter of intent, written by the applicant, should not exceed two single-spaced pages (U.S. letter size 8.5” x 11” / .5” margin / 12-point font).

The first page of the LOI, should answer the following two questions (1-5 sentences per answer):

• What is the innovative component of your project?
• What are the challenges in the field you are actually solving and how will that advance the field?

The second page is your proposed project. It should be written in a style and format that is similar to the NIH specific aim page (project synopsis to include how the project is novel, innovative, cutting edge across disciplines, and showing how the impact of the project may move science forward, etc.) The first use of any abbreviation or acronym should be preceded by the full name or description.

Projects that integrate cutting-edge scientific drug delivery approaches will be favored.

Those whose submissions are selected will be notified by July 1, 2021 and asked to complete a full application. Full applications are due September 1, 2021 @ 11:59 PM EDT, including letters of support. 

Application Components (Step 2)

The following items will be required if you are invited to submit a full application.

1. Extended Letter
We want to know our applicants. Include a synopsis of your career, your professional interests, and your desired career path. This is an opportunity for you to tell us how your project specifically relates to drug delivery. Applicants who don’t address the clear connection between their project and drug delivery will not be considered.

The letter should not exceed two single-spaced pages (U.S. letter size 8.5” x 11” / .5” margin / 12-point font).

2. Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Project Title (maximum of 200 characters – – entered directly into proposalCENTRAL)

4. Project Summary / Abstract (maximum of 2,000 characters – – entered directly into proposalCENTRAL)

5. Research Project / Proposal

Upload a comprehensive yet concise statement, written by the applicant, not to exceed eight single-spaced pages plus an introductory page.

The introductory page should outline how this project addresses the following two questions (no more than 5 sentences per answer):

• What is the innovative component of your project?
• What are the challenges in the field you are actually solving and how will that advance the field?

The remaining eight pages should include: objectives and specific aims, background, significance, and rationale. Preliminary studies, as well as results (if available), should be included. The proposal should detail the research design and methodology.

Is the department you are in PhD granting? 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 in order to ensure proper training in the techniques and principles of the specified area.

Projects that integrate cutting-edge scientific drug delivery approaches will be favored.

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.

Required type specifications: U.S. letter size 8.5” x 11” / .5” margin / 12-point font (figures may be provided in a smaller font).

6. Budget

Upload your budget explaining:

• How the funds will be used.
• Whether the project receives other funding.

 7. Funding

Upload other support you may receive or have received since completing your postdoctoral appointment. All amounts should be in U.S. Dollars.

If no other support, upload a document stating, “No other support has been received or is pending.”

Other support includes all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual’s research endeavors, including but not limited to start-up funding, research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or institutional awards. Training awards, prizes, or gifts do not need to be included.

Information required:

• Project Number
• Principal Investigator
• Source of Support
• Title of the project (or sub-project)
• Start / End Dates (if Pending, date of notification)
• Amount
• Your Role
• Is the funding for research or stipend support or combination, in which case, how is it split
• Explain any overlap with your proposed project

8. Career Publications

Up to three relevant authored publications should be uploaded.

9. References
Please note that the system will not accept your application unless the letters of support from your references been successfully uploaded.

You are required to submit contact information for the following personnel (minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 references):

• Department Chair (a.k.a. program director, center director, institute director, etc.)
• Collaborators, if any
• General Reference(s) (1-3) who are familiar with you and your scientific career. This can include additional collaborators.

Once you add their name and contact information to your application, an auto-generated email will be forwarded to them. The email will include instructions as to what they should address in their letter of support and it will provide a personalized hyperlink where they should upload their letter. Letters of support should be uploaded before September 1 so you can submit your application before 11:59 PM ET.

We suggest you inform your references in advance of what items should be addressed in their letter of support. See below:

Department Chair (a.k.a. program director, center director, institute director, etc.) should provide:

• The department’s mission in relation to drug delivery research.
• Describe explicitly the support the department will provide to the applicant (e.g. funding, laboratory space, research independence, etc.)
• Assessment of the applicant and proposed research.
• Confirm the applicant is in a tenure track position.
• If your department has a training grant, please note if it is limited to a specific area and the area on which the grant focuses. Indicate how many graduate students are in the department and how many are supported by the training grant.

Collaborator should provide:

• Collaborators need to acknowledge their commitment, participation, and enthusiasm in the project.
• Brief biographical biosketch.

General Reference(s) should provide:

• Contact information.
• Assessment of the applicant.
• General references who are connected to an applicant’s project should explain their roles and responsibilities regarding the project.

REMEMBER to begin your application early so your references have ample time to meet the September 1st deadline.

It is your responsibility that these letters are uploaded. The application portal will permit you to review your application and the status of your letters of support before your final submission. Be sure to check it frequently and do not wait until the last minute.

The application portal will not permit the application to be submitted until the letters of support have been uploaded.

Application deadline is September 1, 2021 @ 11:59 EDT. Late submissions will not be accepted.

 

Preference is for the applicant to submit a CV. References, where requested, may submit either CV or NIH style biosketch.

Per our policy, the PhRMA Foundation does not provide written reviews.

Award notification is December 15, 2021.

 

Click here for 2022 Drug Delivery brochure.

Letters of intent due May 20, 2021.