TDR Call for applications: Research on innovative approaches for safety monitoring of preventive chemotherapy interventions for the control of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Research teams are invited to submit letters of interest for research on piloting innovative approaches for safety monitoring in the context of preventive chemotherapy and mass drug administration implemented for the control of neglected tropical diseases. Under this call, one or two research teams are expected to be selected for funding for a maximum amount of US$ 100 000 each. 

Background and rationale 

Preventive chemotherapy programmes for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are being expanded in many countries. These programmes often target very large but vulnerable populations (e.g. children) and use non-medical staff (e.g. teachers or community health workers) for drug distribution at the community level. Adequate safety monitoring should be ensured where such programmes are carried out, and guidance has been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help programme managers establish a safety surveillance system (1, 2). However, many low and middle income countries lack a robust system and tools at the community level for collecting in an efficient and reliable manner information on safety for these mass treatment interventions. New tools, in particular m-health tools, have been proposed as a way of improving reporting of safety information, but little evidence has been gathered on the field. Implementation research is needed to determine effective and sustainable methods for monitoring the safety in MDA, as part of a broader system of pharmacovigilance in health programmes. This call fits within TDR’s focus to help low- and middle-income countries develop innovative tools and strategies targeting neglected tropical diseases. 

Objectives 

The overall objective of the call is to support one or two research teams from Africa, Asia or Latin America and the Caribbean to pilot innovative approaches to improve safety monitoring in the context of preventive chemotherapy and mass drug administration (MDA) put in place for the control of NTDs. The expected outcome is data that would aid evidence-based decisions for recommendations on methodologies to be implemented for safety monitoring in preventive chemotherapy and MDA programmes. 

 Application 

Applications should be submitted online. A 6-10 page letter of interest should provide a brief outline of the technical and operational feasibility for the proposed project (see below). A one-page summary CV of the principal investigator and a supporting letter from the institution’s director should also be attached. 

Deadline for submission: 10 April 2015

For full details about this grant and the application procedures, please click on the following link: http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/en/

If you are interested in applying to this opportunity, or have any questions, please contact Paul (paul.ada@mahidol.ac.th) or Glad (gladgeorge.rot@mahidol.edu) at the Office of Research Services

Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development

REMINDER: SAVING LIVES AT BIRTH ROUND 5

The Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development partners invite global problem solvers to answer their fifth call for groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches to better support for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the time of childbirth.  The Challenge seeks to identify and develop transformative approaches that integrate forward thinking science and technologies, better service delivery models and improved "demand side" innovations that empower pregnant women and their families to practice healthy behaviors and access health care during pregnancy, childbirth and the early postnatal period, especially the first two days after birth. This year, in addition to the seed and transition awards used in previous rounds, the partners introduced a third funding stream.  'Validation' funds will be used to introduce and validate the effectiveness of innovations to reach proof-of-concept. Round 5 will also place an increased focus on advancing the most successful and transformational innovations in their transition to scale. The number of awards in each category varies.    The Challenge will be accepting applications until Friday March 27, 2015 (closes at 2:00 p.m. ET). For more information and to apply online, visit the Saving Lives at Birth  website.   Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development partnership, launched in 2011, includes the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada (funded by the Government of Canada), and the U.K’s Department for International Development (DFID).

Joint Health Research Call: MRC - TRF - NSTDA - Newton Fund

• Status: Open
• Open date: 09/03/2015
• Closing date: Tuesday 02 June 2015 16:00
• Type: Calls
• Categories: Infections and immunity, Molecular and cellular medicine, Global health

       

• Objectives and scope
• Infectious disease
• Cancer
• Research activities
• Funding available
• The Newton Fund
• Assessment process
• Decision making process
• How to apply
• Contacts

Objectives and scope

“NATIONAL STRATEGIC DISEASES OF THAILAND”

Thailand is presently in a period of epidemiological transition, reflected in key changes in the morbidity and mortality. Today, the major and rising causes of death among Thai citizens are non-communicable diseases. The number one cause of death is cancer. The prevalence rate of communicable (infectious) diseases, which used to be significant health problems have been declining, however drug-resistant and re-emerging infectious diseases are a growing challenge for disease control and prevention in Thailand. For further details please refer to the Thailand’s Health Profile prepared by Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Healthopens in new window.

To tackle these important, evolving health priorities, key research funding partners in Thailand and the UK have worked together to support this new joint funding initiative, as part of the Newton Fund.

The MRC is working with NSTDA and TRF to support research within the remits of both Thai funders to tackle disease areas of critical importance to the Thai population.

The following areas have been identified by UK and Thai partners as highlight areas and eligible diseases for this call.

The research proposed must be specifically relevant to the Thai population. For example, this may include understanding the cause of disease or epidemiology in the Thai population, or development or implementation of interventions for resource-poor communities.

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Infectious Diseases (to be supported by the MRC and NSTDA)

• Dengue:   basic research related to dengue vaccine development
• Malaria:    research and development related to drug resistant parasites (in particular artemisinin), detection, diagnostic kits, etc.
• Outbreak prediction systems using mathematical models and novel data management systems (IT): particularly to inform emerging infectious disease outbreaks
• New solutions for important emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) of pandemic threats / endemic infectious diseases: basic research, diagnostic kits, etc.

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Cancer, particularly those outlined below which are major causes of death in Thailand (to be supported by the MRC and TRF)

• Lung cancer: basic research to understand the disease mechanisms, and research and development related to biological markers for disease detection, monitoring and treatment
• Cholangiocarcinoma: basic research on early diagnostic markers, and potential new more effective therapies
• Oesophageal cancer: basic research related to disease development mechanism, and biological marker for treatment

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Research activities

The funders, MRC NSTDA and TRF, welcome proposals for research in these diseases across the spectrum of research activities, from basic discovery research, understanding the mechanisms of disease, novel detection and diagnosis to development of novel preventatives (vaccines) and therapeutics

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Funding available

Funding will be provided by a partnership consisting of:

• The National Science Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
• Thailand Research Fund (TRF)
• Medical Research Council

The Medical Research Council will lead administration of this call in the UK. Funding from the Medical Research Council has been secured through the Newton Fundopens in new window.

NSTDA, MRC and TRF have earmarked up to £2,889,000 for this call.

NSTDA area:

• MRC – GBP 1million (in support to the successful UK applicants)
• NSTDA – GBP 556k (THB 30 million) in support to the successful Thai applicants

TRF area:

• MRC – GBP 1million (in support to the successful UK applicants)
• TRF – GBP 333k (THB 18 million) in support to the successful Thai applicants

It is expected that this funding will support up to 4 joint projects at a level of up to GBP 389k per project for infectious diseases, and 3 joint projects at a level of up to GBP 444k per project for non-communicable diseases.

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The Newton Fund

The UK contribution will be channeled from the Newton Fund. The Newton Fund is an initiative intended to strengthen research and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging knowledge economies. It was launched by the Chancellor in April 2014, and will deliver £375 million of funding over the course of five years.

The Fund forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment which is monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). ODA funded activity focuses on outcomes that promote the long-term sustainable growth of countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee list. Newton Fund countries represent a sub-set of this list. For more information please visit the MRC Newton Fund pageopens in new window.

The Newton Fund requires that the funding be awarded in a manner that fits with Official Development Assistance (ODA) guidelinesopens in new window. All applications under this call must therefore be compliant with these guidelines. 

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Assessment Process

To be funded, proposals must be internationally competitive and at a standard equivalent to that normally expected to be supported by each funding organisation.

Key assessment criteria for the submissions will be:

• Significance and Impact of the research
• Scientific Rationale: novelty, importance and timeliness of the research;
• Design and Feasibility of the Project Plan
• Partnership: including strength and clarity of collaborations and opportunities provided, quality of the project management structure proposed;
• Quality and suitability of the research environment and of the facilities;
• Value for money for Thai and UK science;
• Ethical considerations and governance arrangements.

Applications received and comments from all peer-reviewers will be assessed by MRC and TRF and NSTDA Review Panels in September. 

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Decision making process

Researchers planning to submit to this scheme are asked to submit an Expression of Interest including the names of the leading UK and Thai investigators and a preliminary project title, by Friday 1 May. The deadline for full applications is Tuesday 2 June

Full applications must be submitted by UK PI’s to MRC via the Je-S application system by 4pm, Tuesday 2 June 2015.

Funding decisions will be made through a joint process. This will include:

1. Joint Expression of Interest emailed to international@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk by Friday 1 May 
2. Joint application from  the UK and Thai researchers by Tuesday 2 June via Je-S
3. Joint panel meetings of academic experts for MRC, TRF and NSTDA 
4. Joint peer review process including UK and Thai academic reviews (plus other international reviewers as appropriate);
5. Joint panel meetings of academic experts for MRC, TRF and NSTDA
6. Funds released

The panel’s decision shall be final and will not be open to appeal

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How to apply

UK applications will be submitted to and processed by MRC. Please see guidance (PDF, 331KB)for further information.

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Contacts

For further information, UK applicants should contact:

• Melanie.bundhoo@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk

For further information, Thai applicants should contact:  

• monta@nstda.or.th   (for infectious diseases)
• saengpetch@trf.or.th  (for non-communicable diseases)

Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP)

The Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) Defense Appropriations Act provides $247.5 million to the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The vision of the PRMRP is to improve the health and well-being of all military Service Members, Veterans, and beneficiaries. The PRMRP challenges the scientific and clinical communities to address one of the FY15 congressionally directed topic areas with original ideas that foster new directions in basic science and translational research; novel product development leading to improved therapeutic or diagnostic tools; synergistic, multidisciplinary research program; or clinical trials that address an immediate clinical need. 

As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, Research, Development, and Acquisition (DHA RDA) Directorate manages and executes the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The executing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). 

The PRMRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY15 PRMRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov by late March or early April 2015. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government. 

Congressionally Directed Topic Areas. The FY15 PRMRP will solicit research applications for the following 41 topics areas: 

Acupuncture Acute Lung Injury Advanced Prosthetics Arthritis Burn Pit Exposure Cardiovascular Heart Disease Chronic Migraine and Post-Traumatic Headaches Congenital Heart Disease Dengue Diabetes DNA Vaccine Technology for Postexposure Prophylaxis Dystonia Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Food Allergies Fragile X Syndrome Healthcare-acquired Infection Reduction Hepatitis B Hereditary Angioedema Hydrocephalus Inflammatory Bowel Disease Integrative Medicine

Interstitial Cystitis Lupus Malaria Metals Toxicology Mitochondrial Disease Nanomaterials for Bone Regeneration Osteoarthritis Pancreatitis Pathogen-inactivated Dried Plasma Polycystic Kidney Disease Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Psychotropic Medications Pulmonary Fibrosis Respiratory Health Rheumatoid Arthritis Scleroderma Sleep Disorders Tinnitus Vascular Malformations Women's Heart Disease

Military Relevance: Relevance to the healthcare needs of the military Service Members, Veterans, and beneficiaries is a key feature of each FY15 PRMRP award mechanism.

Award Mechanism	Eligibility	Key Mechanism Elements	Funding
Clinical Trial Award	Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)	Supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials of novel interventions with the potential to have a significant impact on patient care in the topic area(s) of interest Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale, definitive trials Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption applications, if needed, should be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration before the PRMRP Grants.gov application submission deadline Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only	Funding limit not defined; requested funding must be appropriate for the scope of work proposed Maximum period of performance is 5 years
Discovery Award	All Investigators	Supports the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory Not intended to support the logical progression of an already established line of questioning Clinical trials will not be funded Reviewers will be blinded to the identity of the PI, collaborators, and their organization(s)	Maximum of $200,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs) Maximum period of performance is 18 months
Focused Program Award	Full Professor level or above (or equivalent)	Restricted to the topic areas of Acupuncture, Advanced Prosthetics, Burn Pit Exposure, Cardiovascular Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Healthcare-acquired Infection Reduction, Hepatitis B, Hydrocephalus, Integrative Medicine, Metals Toxicology, Mitochondrial Disease, Nanomaterials for Bone Regeneration, Osteoarthritis, Pathogen-inactivated Dried Plasma, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Psychotropic Medications, Respiratory Health, Sleep Disorders, Vascular Malformations, and Women's Heart Disease Supports a synergistic, multidisciplinary research program of at least four distinct but complementary projects addressing an overarching goal in one of the topic areas listed directly above Projects should work together to answer critical questions, resolve differing hypotheses, and translate laboratory findings to clinical applications  Projects may range from exploratory/hypothesis-developing through small-scale clinical trials that together will address the overarching goal/question Research team of highly qualified, multidisciplinary project leaders should be led by a Principal Investigator with demonstrated success in directing large, focused projects Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only	Maximum of $10 million for total costs (includes direct and indirect costs) Maximum period of performance is 5 years
Investigator-Initiated Research Award	Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)	Supports research that will make an original and important contribution to the field of research or patient care in the topic area(s) of interest Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option available Clinical trials will not be funded Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only	Maximum of $1.2 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs) Maximum of $1.5 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs) for applications including a Partnering PI Option Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Technology/ Therapeutic Development Award	Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)	Supports the development of diagnostics or therapies that have the potential to make a strong impact on patient care in the topic area(s) of interest Product-oriented: device, drug, clinical guidelines Clinical trials will not be funded Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only	Maximum of $1.8 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs) Maximum period of performance is 3 years

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all CDMRP funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.  

Applications must be submitted through the federal government's single-entry portal, Grants.gov. Submission deadlines are not available until the Program Announcements are released. Requests for email notification of the Program Announcements release may be sent to help@eBRAP.org.  

For more information about the PRMRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (http://cdmrp.army.mil). 

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Public Affairs 
301-619-9783 
usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil