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Maryland Stem Cell Commission Issues Requests for Applications

Thursday, October 2, 2008 General News
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COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 1 Per the Maryland Stem CellCommission (Commission) meeting on Sept. 10, 2008, the Commission has issuedtoday three official Requests for Applications (RFAs) for funding through theMaryland Stem Cell Research Fund under the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act.This is the third round of funding from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund,which has an operational budget of $19 million for FY 2009. However, it shouldbe noted that the FY 2009 appropriation is subject to change pending upcomingBoard of Public Works action in mid-October as a result of the State's revenuewrite down.
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The grants to be awarded under these three RFAs will fund basic andtranslational research with human stem cells of all types, as defined in theStem Cell Act. The goals of this program are to broaden and advance basicknowledge of human stem cell biology that will be relevant for eventualdevelopment of clinical applications, and to enable, support and acceleratesuch clinical applications for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of humandiseases and conditions.
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The Commission is seeking the widest range of research topics that maycontribute to achievement of these goals. A one-page Letter of Intent isrequired and must be submitted by Nov. 14, 2008. Applications for fundingunder these RFAs will be due Jan. 15, 2009.

RFA-MD-09-1 is soliciting applications for Investigator-Initiated ResearchGrants, which are designed for investigators with preliminary data supportingthe grant application. Based on previous investigator response, the Commissionhas changed the terms of these Investigator-Initiated Research Grants to$300,000 of direct costs per year, and extended the duration of the grants forup to five years. Maryland-based organizations of all types are eligible forInvestigator-Initiated Research Grants. Such organizations include public andprivate, for-profit and nonprofit: universities, colleges, researchinstitutes, companies, medical centers and others.

RFA-MD-09-2 is soliciting applications for Exploratory Research Grants,which are designed for investigators who are new to the stem cell field (younginvestigators and investigators from other fields), and for new hypotheses,approaches, mechanisms or models that may differ from current thinking in thestem cell field, without any preliminary data supporting the application.These Exploratory Research Grants will be for up to $100,000 of direct costsper year, for up to two years.

RFA-MD-09-3 is soliciting nationwide applications from pre-doctoralstudents and post-doctorial fellows who wish to conduct basic and/ortransitional research on all types of human stem cells in Maryland. Eachfellowship being awarded up to $55,000 per year for up to two years, which isinclusive of all direct, indirect and fringe benefits costs. Maryland-basedorganizations of all types are eligible as training institutes, includingpublic and private, for-profit and nonprofit: universities, colleges, researchinstitutes, companies, medical centers, and others.

The work funded under these RFAs must be conducted in Maryland. Thescientists and clinicians conducting the work must be employed or retained byan eligible Maryland-based organization while doing so. Such employment orretainer may be permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time. Individualsfrom underrepresented minorities and individuals with disabilities areencouraged to apply.

All applications must include an explanation of the translation potentialand/or plan of the proposed research. Translation potential means therelevance and potential utility of the research (including basic research) forclinical applications for patients. A translation plan means the anticipatedprocess for accomplishing such clinical applications. All PrincipalInvestigators funded under these RFAs will be required to present theirinterim and final research results at an annual in-state symposium and inannual reports to the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission.

New cell lines initially developed with funding under these RFAs will berequired to be shared with other qualified researchers. Applicants may requirethe receiving researchers to pay reasonable compensation for the new celllines. Applicants will be free to decide, in their discretion, whether and towhat extent to cover such new cell lines with intellectual property andcontractual protections.

Questions by applicants about these RFAs may only be addressed by email,through the following contact: [email protected].

SOURCE Maryland Stem Cell Commission
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