Medicines for Malaria Ventures Call for Proposal

The goal of this MMV 12th call for proposals is to encourage investigators to follow up on malaria box open source information, available on ChEMBL (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/malaria/),  and test the malaria box compounds and their derivatives in vivo using animal models of neglected infectious diseases. 

Deadline: 30 October, 2014
Budget: USD 100,000
Project length: 12 months

Investigators and/or co-investigators from malaria endemic areas are highly encouraged to apply and their applications will be prioritized over applications from non-malaria endemic countries.  This call for applications is to encourage animal model testing of the malaria box hit compounds and their derivatives in neglected infectious disease models, such as schistosomiasis, cryptosporidiosis, filariasis, tuberculosis, as well as other infections where there is co-morbidity in children with malaria.

These Challenge Grants will be prioritized based on scientific merit. They should propose in vivo (animal) studies on neglected infectious diseases that afflict children in malaria endemic countries.  They will also consider applications that propose to study malaria in animal models with the malaria box compounds or new compound series with novel anti-malarial compounds. Please note that for malaria studies, in vivo studies that address transmission blocking and liver stage malaria will be prioritized over in vivo studies that address only the asexual blood stages of malaria.  


Proposals are expected to be at the stage where initial leads are identified against neglected disease pathogens, such that they have in vitro data supporting the efficacy of the compound(s) against neglected diseases, that demonstrate lack of toxicity against mammalian cells, and have pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters compatible with efficacious exposure. Please note MMV has data on PK exposure after oral dosing of mice with majority of malaria box compounds. This information is being prepared for open access release in the near future.  If that information would be helpful for your application, please write vanvoorhisw@mmv.org for release of that information for up to ten malaria box compounds. 
The proposed project should facilitate further development of the compounds and develop proof-of-concept information, such that further funding can be obtained.  

They anticipate funding up to 5 projects that could begin as early as December 2014, depending on completion of a contract.  Funding is to last no more than a year.  

Please see the attachments  for further details about the 2 page application requirements, the application template, and to review the contract terms to ensure your eligibility and willingness to abide by the contract.

If you are interested in applying to this grant, or have any further questions, please contact Paul, Tim, or Glad at the Office of Research Services. Below are links to the call for application documents.

Call for Proposals document

Instructions to apply

Template for Submission

Draft Letter of Agreement

ETH Call for pilot activities

Bilateral Research Collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Region 2013-2016

Call for Pilot Activities with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam

The Swiss Federal Institute for Technology, Zurich has announced a call for pilot activities to promote and establish links with Asia-Pacific countries, with the following objectives:

• To intensify interaction and scientific cooperation between Swiss scientists or institutions and the focus countries
• To establish research partnerships of mutual interest and benefits
• To connect existing but separately funded research projects in Switzerland and the focus countries.

The call is open for all scientific disciplines and fields of research, and the following instruments are available for pilot activities:

People exchange - 

Support for faculty exchange

Support of short-term stays in the partner laboratory/institution for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows

Conferences and Workshops - 

Joint workshops and meetings

Attendance of conferences at the partner’s institution

Jointly organised short courses (e.g. summer schools)

Seed funding for initiating larger joint activities - 

Seed funding for preparing joint project proposals to be submitted to other funding agencies

Seed funding for institutional partnership development

Seed funding for Industry-Academia-Cooperation

Duration:

Duration of pilot activity may not exceed 12 months

Budget:

Maximum grant sum is CHF 10,000 (approximately USD 10,600)

Timeline

Call release: 15 October 2014

Deadline for submission: 23 November 2014

Evaluation and funding decision: December 2014

Notification: 15 December 2014

Project start date: January 2015

Project duration: Up to 12 months

For any further information or assistance applying, contact Paul, Glad or Tim at ORS. 

RFA-HD-15-017: Increasing Access and Uptake of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) and Appropriate HIV-related Services for Adolescents in Low and Middle-income Countries (R01)

NIH Has announced a new R01 funding opportunity for HIV-related services for adolescents in Low and Middle-income Countries.

Dates:

Letter of Intent Deadline: December 2, 2014

Application Deadline: January 2, 2015

Earliest Start date: July 2015

Award budget:

USD 250,000 direct costs per year

Maximum project period: 5 years

The purpose of this RFA is to find ways to improve acceptability, uptake and effectiveness of HTC services and linkages to HIV prevention, treatment and care services among adolescents in Low and Middle-income Countries. 

Major objectives include:

Improve HTC utilization for adolescents most at risk for HIV infection and linkages to appropriate follow-up services in low and middle-income countries

• Studies utilizing age-appropriate approaches and strategies to optimize outreach to adolescents in order to improve their access to HTC and care in different settings.
• Mechanisms to strengthen health systems which promote uptake of HTC in family planning, reproductive health and school health settings and linkages to appropriate HIV follow-up services.
• Feasibility, acceptability, ethics, effectiveness of school-based and self-testing and linkage to follow up services.
• Identification of effective strategies for implementation/dissemination of testing and linkage to care into community clinics/settings.

Effective approaches to link and retain adolescents in treatment, care and support from HTC in low and middle-income countries

• Studies exploring barriers to and/or factors enhancing testing and follow up treatment and care, and comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve linkage to HIV treatment and care from HTC in different settings for adolescents most at risk for HIV infection.
• Interventions to enhance outcomes in adolescents living with HIV at all points along the treatment and care continuum, including linkage to and retention in primary HIV medical care, initiation of and adherence to ART and achievement of durable HIV viral suppression, and transition of care.

Evaluate interventions that will help HIV-uninfected adolescents, particularly adolescent girls, in low and middle-income countries minimize risk and maintain their uninfected status

•  Analysis of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of combination approaches and strategies targeting adolescent girls in order to reduce their vulnerability and improve their access to HTC and linkage to effective HIV prevention.
• Studies exploring the relationship between perceived and actual levels of risk for HIV and frequency of HIV testing that are unique to youth and which could inform downstream prevention interventions.
• Innovative uses of new technologies to increase girls’ and other key affected adolescent populations’ access to and uptake of HTC and subsequent utilization of HIV prevention and/or treatment services.  

For more details, see the full RFA here. If you have any questions, or are interested in applying to this grant, please contact Paul, Tim, or Glad at the Office of Research Services. 

NIH Grant: Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (mHealth)

Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries will support research on the development or adaptation of mobile health (mHealth) technology specifically suited for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the health-related outcomes associated with implementation of the technology.

The program aims to contribute to the evidence base for the use of mobile technology to improve clinical outcomes and public health while building research capacity in LMICs and establishing research networks in this area. In the context of this program, mHealth includes the use of mobile and wireless devices (cell phones, tablets, etc.) to improve health outcomes, health care services and health research. The mHealth technology that is developed or adapted in proposed projects can include external hardware and/or software components for mobile or wireless devices.

Of highest interest are well-designed multidisciplinary projects that focus on tools or interventions for chronic diseases or technology for disease agnostic and/or crosscutting applications. See the full program announcement for details on the specific research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

Deadlines

• Letter of intent due date: January 19, 2015
• Application due date: February 19, 2015

Eligibility

Applicants are required to propose partnerships between at least one U.S. institution and one LMIC institution (with LMIC defined by The World Bank as low-, lower-middle-, or upper-middle-income economies).

Program Directors/Principal Investigators may be employed in either a U.S. or LMIC institution, but should plan to build capacity in mHealth research in the LMIC institution(s).

Award Budget:

• Up to 125,000USD direct costs per year
• Project period may not exceed 2 years

For more details, click here for the full RFA document. If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please contact Paul, Tim, or Glad at the Office of Research Services.

2nd Global EURAXESS Links Event, Nov 13

On November 13, 2014, at the Banyan Tree Bangkok, the 2^nd Global EURAXESS Links Event, “Linking Researchers Worldwide”, will take place.

The event is organized by the European Commission, and is a unique opportunity for European and ASEAN researchers to network and learn from each other. High caliber speakers from Europe and ASEAN will address a range of topics, including:

• How can science act as an engine for growth in a globalized world?
• How can we improve scientific collaboration between Europe and ASEAN?
• How can international networks such as EURAXESS contribute?

If you are interested to join this event, please Register online at https://www.mci-registrations.com/euraxess/bangkok2014/registration.aspx

NSTDA Workshop on How to Prepare a Successful Proposal for EU Funding Programs

On Friday, 7 November, NSTDA will conduct a whole-day workshop on how to prepare a successful EU Funding proposal.

This is a great opportunity for researchers and PhD students to get familiar with the EU funding requirements, and improve grant writing skills.

Key topics to be addressed during the workshop include:

• What are evaluators looking for?
• What are the elements of a successful proposal?
• How to demonstrate the impact of your research idea?
• Keys to success

Participation is free, but seating is limited, so we urge you to register as soon as possible to ensure a spot.

To Register click the link below:

http://www2.mtec.or.th/eventnstda/Template/index.aspx?eventid=S14105

Date: 7 November, 2014

Time: 08:30 - 16:00

Location: Sofitel Sukhumvit Hotel

Programme:

• 08.30 – 09.00 Registration
• 09.00 – 09.10 Opening Remarks by Dr. Chadamas Thuvasethakul, Executive Vice President, National Science and Technology Development (NSTDA)
• 09.10 – 10:30 How to Prepare a Successful Proposal for EU Funding Programs, by Dr. Olivier Küttel, Head of European Public Affairs, EPFL, Switzerland
• Overview of EU funding programs
• Basic Proposal Structure
• 10:30 – 11:00 Tea & Coffee Break
• 11.00-12.30 How to Prepare a Successful Proposal for EU Funding Programs (cont’d), by Dr. Olivier Küttel, Head of European Public Affairs, EPFL, Switzerland
• Elements of a successful proposal
• What are evaluators looking for
• How to explain the impact of your proposal
• 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
• 13:30 – 15:00 Hands on Session in Proposal Preparation, by Dr. Olivier Küttel, Head of European Public Affairs, EPFL, Switzerland
• Review of sample proposals
• Exercises in proposal preparation (break out groups)
• 15:00 – 15:15 Tea and Coffee Break
• 15:15 – 16:00 Discussion
• Group Feedback
• Tips for success

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Grand Challenges: New Grant Opportunities

BMGF has announced new grant opportunities for their Grand Challenges Programme. Details about the most relevant one for FTM researchers can be found below, and you can go to their homepage for a list of all open opportunities.

New Interventions for Global Health:

This opportunity focuses on innovative concepts for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics with the potential to be translated into safe, effective, affordable, and widely utilized interventions to protect against the acquisition, progression, or transmission of infectious diseases, or to provide a cure for infectious diseases, in resource‐limited settings.

This request for proposals will fund full awards that could include grants, program related investments, or contracts up to USD $10,000,000 per awardee for up to four years. Full awards must include an industry, biotech, or other translational partner, either leading or participating in the application. We will also consider applications for pilot awards of up to USD $2,000,000 and up to four years to explore concepts that require additional investigation, with the anticipation that successful applicants will apply for a full award in subsequent years. Pilot awards do not include a requirement for a biotech or translation partner, but such partnerships would still be welcome.

Key Dates:

Open for submission: November 4, 2014

Application deadline:  January 13, 2015

To read the full call for applications, click here.

If you have any questions, or think that you might be interested in applying to this grant, please contact Paul, Tim, or Glad at the Office of Research Services. We are happy to help you to get started, and answer any questions you may have.