Dysautonomia International: $500,000 in POTS Research Grants Available

Received as an email so quoting all of it.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS
$500,000 in POTS Research Grants Available
Letter of Intent Due February 1, 2019


Dysautonomia International is pleased to announce the availability of up to $500,000 in research grants from our POTS Research Fund. The fund was created in 2013 to provide a dedicated stream of funding to support postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) research. We have issued nearly $1,000,000 in grants to date, which you can review at CurePOTS.org.

Funding Available
We intend to distribute $500,000 in POTS research grants during the summer of 2019. Grants are capped at a maximum of $200,000 per grant, to be issued over a period of 1-3 years. Applications for smaller amounts are welcomed. We expect to fund 3-5 projects during this grant cycle. High-quality projects that are not funded through the initial round of funding may be eligible for a Dysautonomia International online crowdfunding campaign, which past experience suggests can raise up to $100,000, depending on the interest from our patient community. Furthermore, we maintain a list of high-quality POTS research projects in need of funding that large donors request from time to time, and this has previously resulted in additional funding.

2019 Priority Areas
Dysautonomia International's Board of Directors, in consultation with our Medical Advisory Board and Patient Advisory Board, has identified the following research priority areas for our 2019 grant cycle. All proposals should be relevant to one or more of the following priority areas:

• imaging studies in POTS
• biomarkers in POTS
• neuropathological findings in POTS
• the development of animal models for POTS research
  
• exploring biological mechanisms that may explain co-morbidity relationships in POTS (e.g., EDS, MCAS, CSF leaks, autoimmune diseases, etc.)
  
• new or improved methods to diagnose POTS
  
• new treatment approaches to POTS
  
• studies identifying the efficacy of existing treatment approaches in POTS, for treatments that require additional evidence to assist patients in obtaining insurance coverage
  
• development of POTS research tools and infrastructure, especially those needed to support collaborative multi-center studies

The Application Process
We use a two-stage application process. The first stage requires the submission of a three-page Letter of Intent, providing basic information on the proposed project. In the second stage, selected applicants will be invited to submit a more comprehensive application. Detailed budget justifications will be required during the second stage of review.

Who Can Apply?
Anyone capable of conducting credible POTS research can apply, from any country. We encourage early-career researchers to apply with appropriate supervision from experienced researchers. Applicants can submit a maximum of two proposals each. There is no limit to how many proposals can come from one institution. Dysautonomia International board members are allowed to apply but, consistent with our Conflict of Interest Policy, board members may not review their own proposals or proposals from institutions they are affiliated with.

Important Deadlines
Letter of Intent Due: February 1, 2019
Selected Applicants Invited to Submit Full Application: March 1, 2019
Full Application Due: May 1, 2019
Grant Recipients to be Notified: July 1, 2019

Letter of Intent (LOI) Instructions
Interested applicants should submit a three-page letter on their institutional letterhead, on or before February 1, 2019, describing the proposed project via email to research@dysautonomiainternational.org. Late LOIs will not be accepted. The LOI should explain:

• which of the 2019 grant cycle priority area(s) the proposal is relevant to
• the aim(s) of the study
  
• the testing/data collection proposed
  
• the number of POTS subjects and controls involved
  
• the time frame to begin enrollment and completion of the study
  
• the cost of the total project
  
• the amount of funds requested from Dysautonomia International
  
• other anticipated sources of funding, if any
  
• whether similar studies have already occurred

The Review Process
LOIs and full applications will be reviewed by our Board of Directors in consultation with our Medical Advisory Board, Patient Advisory Board and independent experts using a numeric rating system that scores the proposals for scientific merit, likelihood of success, meaningful impact on the lives of POTS patients, and other factors. All reviewers have agreed to keep information learned during the review process strictly confidential using signed Confidentiality Agreements.

Contact Information
Please feel free to ask questions about the overall grants process before applying. Contact research@dysautonomiainternational.org.

Reviewers Needed
If you have published research on autonomic disorders or if you see a large volume of POTS patients clinically, we encourage you to apply to serve as a volunteer grant reviewer. Each reviewer is assigned 2-5 projects to review within 30 days, depending on the time they have available. If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, please send your C.V. to research@dysautonomiainternational.org.

Donations Welcome
Dysautonomia International is able to fund this important research through the generosity of many donors, large and small. If you would like to support our POTS Research Fund, we invite you to contribute at CurePOTS.org. 100% of donations to the POTS Research Fund go directly to research. If you would like to support our physician education, public awareness and patient empowerment programs that benefit individuals with all autonomic disorders, we invite you to contribute at dysautonomiainternational.org/donate. All donations will be doubled this month, up to $125,000, thanks to generous matching grants from the Red Lily Foundation and two anonymous donors.​

 

Has anyone forwarded this to the big players in ME research?