Board of Directors
Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
UCLA Medical SchoolNicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D.
Nevada Cancer Institute
Brian Loggie, M.D.
Creighton University Medical Center
Michael Harbut, M.D., M.P.H.
Royal Oak, MI
Roger G. Worthington, Esq.
Dallas, Texas
Mathew Bergman, Esq.
Seattle, Washington
Susan Vento
St. Paul, Minnesota
Mouzetta Zumwalt-Weathers
Cary, North Carolina
In Memoriam
Congressman Bruce F. Vento
Bill Powell
Science Advisory Board
Harvey Pass, M.D., Chairman
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Victor Roggli, M.D.
Duke University
Robert N. Taub, M.D.
Columbia University
Lary A. Robinson, M.D.
H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center
Steve Hahn, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Joseph R. Testa, Ph. D.
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Claire Verschraegen, M.D.
University of New Mexico
Eric Vallieres, M.D.
Swedish Cancer Institute
Dan Miller, M.D.
Emory University
Raphael Bueno, M.D.
Harvard/Brigham and Women's
Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D.
University of Chicago
W. Roy Smythe, M.D.
Texas A&M
Executive Director
Christopher E. Hahn
Santa Barbara, CA
MARF,
inc.
1609 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel (805) 560-8942
fax (805) 560-8962
c-hahn@marf.org
http://www.marf.org
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To: Interested Physicians and Scientists
Re:
Call for Applications - Mesothelioma Therapy Research Grants, $100,000
Date: May 6, 2004
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Inc. announces the availability
of its 2004 round of
mesothelioma research grant funding.
Continuing its efforts to stimulate translational research for the treatment
of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, MARF is again soliciting applications
for funding of innovative developmental projects. Eligible projects may
relate to either benchwork research or clinical research, must not be
presently funded or pending review, and may be conducted through any not-for-profit
academic, medical or research institution, in the U.S. or abroad.
MARF's ability to award grants results from the generosity of private
donors, who give to MARF in order to make a direct impact on the tragedy
of the disease. Therefore, MARF seeks exceptional projects for which MARF
funding is demonstrated to be essential.
MARF's Science Advisory Board will review and score the research proposals,
and make a recommendation to MARF's Board of Directors as to the relative
ranking of the projects, and the extent to which they merit funding. Over
the previous four rounds, the awards to applications ratios have been
2:7, 2:10, 2:10 and 5:25 respectively. Maintaining a at least a 20% award
rate, even as the number of applications jumped drastically last year,
reflects MARF's deep commitment to funding highly deserving research.
This round, MARF will again endeavor to fund as many high quality projects
as its resources allow.
The award for any project will be for two years up to $50,000 per year.
MARF will closely review and monitor the study's progress and results,
requiring quarterly financial and progress reports, and a presentation
and full progress report at the close of each year. Funding will be continued
for the second year only upon satisfactory progress obtained in the first year.
Please be advised that MARF does not pay institutional indirect costs.
As MARF's endowment grows, and we are able to make larger grants,
we will revisit this policy.
Proposed projects must address issues for the treatment of the disease.
MECHANISTIC INVESTIGATIONS THAT DEAL WITH CAUSATION WILL NOT BE FUNDED.
Encouraged projects include, but are not limited to, benchwork/clinical
investigations of:
(1) Strategies for early detection of new or progressive disease;
(2) Definition of targetable differences between normal and transformed
mesothelium and development of novel strategies for treatment taking advantage
of these targets;
(3) Therapeutic intervention, including;
a. Gene therapy
b. Immunotherapy
c. Novel chemotherapeutic compounds
d. Novel radiation techniques
e. Novel mechanisms which inhibit angiogenesis or metalloproteinases;
(4) Determination of clinical/molecular determinants for prognosis;
(5) Pain management.
Applications will be scored on the following criteria:
(1) Scientific merit
(2) Originality
(3) Study design
(4) Technical parameters (reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, cost)
(5) Clinical or scientific impact
(6) Potential for multi-center collaboration
(7) Practicality and feasibility.
CLINICAL PROTOCOLS AND PROPOSALS INVOLVING ANIMALS MUST BE APPROVED BY
THE APPROPRIATE IRB OF THE UNIVERSITY, HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTE BEFORE MARF
FUNDS ARE AWARDED. A COPY OF EITHER THE APPROVAL LETTER(S) OR OF THE REQUEST
FOR APPROVAL MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION.
Applications are due no later than August 15. It is anticipated that review
will be completed by October 15 and any award(s) activated by November 30, 2004.
For instructions and a copy of the MARF Grant Application, please see download
instructions at bottom of http://www.marf.org/marfFrames/GrantsFrame.htm.
For additional information, including a listing and descriptions of prior
MARF grants, please review the MARF website or contact MARF at the address above.
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