European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)

and

Merck Sharpe and Dohme (MSD)

European Basic Research Programme on Beta Cell Function and Survival

Request for Applications

EFSD and MSD announce funding of
Basic Research Grants in 2010

Deadline for submission of applications: 05 March 2010

   Background

The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) was created by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) to provide multiple funding initiatives in all areas of diabetes research. 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.

Merck & Co., Inc is a global, research-driven pharmaceutical company.  Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures.  Merck Sharp & Dohme, or MSD, is the name Merck uses for conducting its business in all other countries outside the United States and Canada.


   Programme Research and Focus

EFSD and MSD are continuing the European Study Programme on Beta Cell Function and Survival to encourage new projects in basic science aimed at advancing current knowledge in this domain. To achieve the goals and objectives of this Programme, EFSD and MSD invite applications by issuing this "Request for Applications" (RFA), which indicates joint funding as well as areas of research emphasis. This Programme is intended to stimulate and accelerate European research into basic research of beta cell function and survival, with particular focus on the following:

  • increasing beta cell mass/function
  • mechanisms of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
  • mechanisms of beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, including beta cell gluco- and lipotoxicity
  • non-invasive imaging of beta cells
  • beta cell intermediary metabolism
  • genetic defects that elucidate beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.


      Mechanism of Support and Review

Research will be supported through the award of 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 sum of Euro 100,000. The Programme Board, at the suggestion of the Review Committee, may at its discretion recommend an award in a different amount considered more appropriate for the proposed studies.

Applications for an EFSD/MSD grant award are invited from single non-profit institutions or groups of such institutions from Europe and associated countries. The principal investigator and any co-investigators must be employed full-time at a non-profit institution and the study must be performed at such a place of work.

Applications will be subject to scientific review by a specialised ad hoc committee. It is anticipated that applications will be received, reviewed and approved for funding by May 2010.

 Prior to any final decision on funding, and in order to offer applicants the opportunity to benefit from the review process, EFSD reserves the right to request revision to applications in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Committee.



   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. The deadline for receipt of research grant applications for funding this year is 05 March 2010.

The budget of research grants for the purposes of this Programme 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".

Application forms may be downloaded here

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 that defined in the instructions will be considered for review. Additional material (in the form of an appendix, attachment, reprints, etc.) will not be accepted.

Postal applications should be received in the EFSD Office no later than 05 March 2010. Please send to:

European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
Rheindorfer Weg 3
40591 Düsseldorf, Germany
Tel: +49-211-75 84 69 0
Fax: + 49-211-75 84 69 29

   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 in keeping with the goals and focus areas of this Programme? 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: Does 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?

 

   Competitive Renewal

Applications for a grant renewal grant will be accepted on a competitive basis, with the same review process as described in this Announcement. Such applications will thus be considered in the same fashion as all other new applications received for review and without any special priority.

  Reporting Requirements

All investigators funded by this Programme are required to submit a scientific progress report at the end of the project period. For those projects where funding is distributed over a period of more than one year, interim progress reports will also be required. Such reports will be subject to assessment prior to the release of any further funds.

Investigators must provide EFSD with copies of papers accepted for publication, and must acknowledge the support of the Programme in all written material by use of the phrase: "supported by an EFSD/MSD research grant".



   Schedule

Announcement: December 2009
Application Deadline: 05 March 2010
Anticipated Award:May 2010
Enquiries should be directed to:

European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
Rheindorfer Weg 3
40591 Düsseldorf, Germany
Tel: +49-211-75 84 69 0
Fax: + 49-211-75 84 69 29
E-mail: Foundation(a)easd.org