European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)
and
Novartis Pharma AG

European Programme for
Clinical Research in the Field of Pancreatic Islet Dysfunction

Request for Applications

EFSD and Novartis announce 1.2 Million
for European research in
pancreatic islet dysfunction

Deadline for submission of applications: 15 January 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.

Novartis is a world leader in the research and development of products to protect and improve health and well-being. Novartis was created in 1996 from the merger of the Swiss companies Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz.

   Emphasis of Research Project 

EFSD and Novartis have established a European Programme for Clinical Research in the Field of Pancreatic Islet Dysfunction to encourage new clinical projects aimed at advancing current knowledge in this domain. Applications that propose to carry out clinical physiology are particularly welcome, whereas studies that only make use of human tissues would not be top priority.

To achieve the goals and objectives of this Programme, EFSD and Novartis invite applications by issuing this "Request for Applications" (RFA), which indicates joint funding as well as areas of research emphasis.

The EFSD/Novartis Programme grants are intended to stimulate and accelerate European research into all aspects of pancreatic islet dysfuntion. This Programme will target the clinical physiology and natural history of pancreatic islet dysfunction as it pertains to diabetes and other dysglycaemic conditions.

   Funding

Up to Euro 1.2 million will be made available over years 2006 - 2008, and distributed through the annual award of up to three fixed sum grants, each of up to Euro 100,000.

All budgets are to be prepared in Euro.

   Mechanism of Support and Review 

Applications for this EFSD/Novartis Programme are invited from single non-profit institutions or groups of such institutions from Europe or associated countries. The principal investigator and any co-investigators must be in regular employment 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 the successful project approved for funding by March 2008.

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 revisions to applications in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Committee.

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, attachment, reprints, etc.) will not be accepted and will not be sent to reviewers.

Applications should be submitted by post no later than 15 January 2008 (date of receipt)to:

Dr. Viktor Jörgens
Executive Director
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
Rheindorfer Weg 3
40591 Düsseldorf
Germany

   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 and Novartis.

Review criteria are as follows:

• Significance: Is the study relevant to the 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?
  
• Relevance: A brief statement of the impact of the proposed study on diabetes research within the framework of the Programme's plan and objectives.

   Reporting Requirements 

All ivestigators funded by this Programme are required to submit a scientific report at the end of the funding period. Investigators must provide the 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: "This work was made possible by an EFSD/Novartis research grant".

   Schedule