European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Novo Nordisk A/S

European Programme in Type 1 Diabetes Research

Request for Applications (RFA)

EFSD and JDRF and Novo Nordisk
announce funding of
Research Grants in 2008

Deadline: 1 July 2008

   Background

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) was founded in Montecatini, Italy, in 1965. In 1999, the Association created the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD). The aims of EFSD are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, to rapidly diffuse acquired knowledge and to facilitate its application.

The mission of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes who were convinced that the disease could be cured. JDRF gives more money to diabetes research than any other non-profit, non-governmental health agency in the world.

Novo Nordisk A/S is a world leader in insulin and diabetes care and also manufactures and markets a variety of other pharmaceutical products. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk has companies and information offices in more than 60 countries.

   Plan and Research Focus

The EFSD/JDRF/Novo Nordisk Programme in Type 1 Diabetes Research aims to foster multi-disciplinary research targeted at finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.

The specific goals of the Programme are to:

• promote the highest quality of basic and clinical biomedical research in Europe and its associated countries applicable to type 1 diabetes;
• expedite the practical application of scientific advances in our understanding of the aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of type 1 diabetes and its complications;
• encourage clinical translational research bridging the bench and the bedside;
• increase awareness of type 1 diabetes research throughout Europe.

To achieve its goals and objectives, the Programme is issuing a request for applications (RFA) for research grants. The EFSD/JDRF/Novo Nordisk European Programme in Type 1 Diabetes Research will accept applications within any area of basic or clinical diabetes research focusing on type 1 diabetes and its complications.

   Funding

Up to Euro 2.7 million in has been made available, over the years 2007 - 2009, for focused research grants. Research is to be performed in Europe and its associated countries.

   Mechanism of Support and Review

Research will be supported through the award of fixed sum grants, each of up to Euro 100,000. The duration of each award may be one year or longer, depending upon the needs of the project and as justified in the application, so long as the total budget does not exceed the fixed sum of Euro 100,00, and the total duration of the award does not exceed three (3) years.

The Programme Board, at the suggestion of the Review Committee, may at its discretion recommend an award in a lesser amount considered more appropriate for the proposed studies.

Applications will be subject to scientific review by a specialised and independent ad hoc committee. Funding will require approval by a joint EFSD, JDRF and Novo Nordisk Board convened for this purpose.

   Research Grant Applications

Applications for research grants may be subjected to pre-review (or triage) procedures. In this event, any application rejected at pre-review will not be subject to a complete scientific review.

For the purpose of this Programme, the total budget of the research grants is limited to Euro 100,000. All budgets are to be prepared in Euro. For countries in which the Euro is not yet the common currency, the exchange rate (between the Euro and the local currency in the country where the work is to be performed) used for calculating the Euro budget must be mentioned under "Budget Justification". EFSD, JDRF and Novo Nordisk reserve the right to increase or decrease approved funding in Euro amounts to compensate for any significant change in the exchange rate.

Application forms may be requested from: Foundation@easd.org

All applications must be prepared on the official forms and completed in strict accordance with the detailed instructions to be found on these forms. In particular, applicants are reminded that any pages in addition to the maximum of 10 allowed for the scientific section of the application will be deleted prior to review. Similarly, no applications using a font or line-spacing smaller than defined in the instructions will be considered for review. Additional material (in the form of an appendix, attachments, reprints, etc.) is not acceptable and will not be sent to reviewers.

Postal applications should be submitted by 1 July 2008 (date of receipt) to:

   Review Considerations

Completed applications will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific/technical merit by an appropriate scientific committee convened by EFSD.

Review criteria are as follows:

• Significance: Does the study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of the proposed studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?
• Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
• Innovation: DDoes the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
• Investigator: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)?
• Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
• Budget: Is the requested budget appropriate for the proposed study?

   Reporting Requirements

All investigators funded by this Programme are required to submit a scientific report at the end of the funding period. Investigators must provide EFSD with copies of papers accepted for publication, and must acknowledge support of the Programme in all written material by use of the phrase: "This work was supported by an EFSD/JDRF/Novo Nordisk research grant".

   Competitive Renewal

Applications for renewal of an EFSD/JDRF/Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes research grant will be accepted on a competitive basis, with the same review process as described in this Announcement

   Schedule