European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)

and

Novo Nordisk A/S

European Clinical Research Programme in Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes

Request for Applications

EFSD and Novo Nordisk
announce funding of Research Grants in 2008

Deadline Extended to: 5 August 2008

If you are applying for this Programme and need to apply for membership, please contact the EFSD office

   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.

Novo Nordisk A/S is a healthcare company and world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharma-ceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more that 23,600 employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries

   Plan and Research Focus

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

The aim of the Programme is to foster research targeted at finding a cure for type 2 diabetes and its complications. The specific goals of the Programme are to:

1. promote the highest quality of clinical research in Europe and its associated countries applicable to type 2 diabetes in adolescents;
2. expedite the practical application of scientific advances in our understanding of the psycho-social conditions, aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes and its complications in adolescents;
3. encourage clinical translational research bridging bench and bedside.

   Funding

Up to Euro 1 million has been made available over 3 years for clinical research in the framework of the Programme and performed in Europe and its associated countries.

   Mechanism of Support and Review

Clinical research will be supported through the award of fixed sum grants, each of up to Euro 100,000 per annum for a period up to three years, for a total individual funding amount not exceeding Euro 300,000.

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

Applications for an EFSD/Novo Nordisk clinical research grant 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 at a non-profit institution and the study must be performed at such a place of work.

Applications will be subject to a scientific review by a specialised and independent ad hoc committee. Funding will require approval by a joint EFSD 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 budget of the clinical research grants must not exceed Euro 100,000 per annum for up to 3 years, for a total up to Euro 300,000.

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

Postal applications should be submitted by the extended deadline of 5 August 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 Novo Nordisk.

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: 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?

   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 early notice 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 supported by an EFSD/Novo Nordisk research grant".

   Competitive Renewal

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

   Schedule