The TS Alliance has funded more than $16.5 million in research on TSC since 1984. The TS Alliance Research Grants Program funds research focused on TSC with priorities set by the researchers together with the TS Alliance. Collaborations between basic and clinical researchers are encouraged and fostered, and the TS Alliance is working to increase funding for research on TSC. Download an analysis of the impact of the TS Alliance Research Grants Program from 1984-2010.
The 2013 Research Grants Program announcement can be found below or downloaded as a PDF.
The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TS Alliance) endeavors to stimulate, support and coordinate research that will lead to a cure for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), while improving the lives of those affected. A recent white paper describes the impressive scientific progress in the field and highlights key TSC research needs for the future.
Purpose
The TS Alliance Research Grants Program supports basic research by postdoctoral scientists and studies that accelerate the translation of basic research findings into improvements in quality of life for those affected by TSC. Researchers funded by the TS Alliance have a strong history of obtaining additional funding: between 1984 and 2010, principal investigators who received a total of $8.7 million from the TS Alliance garnered an additional $60 million from the NIH for TSC-related research and $6.9 million from the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.
Areas of Emphasis in 2013
Successful proposals will be those that address one or more of the following:
- Developing future TSC researchers and clinician scientists through postdoctoral fellowships
- Development of biomarkers to enable more robust and efficient clinical studies
- Methods of eliminating tumors rather than only shrinking or stabilizing tumor growth
- Neurological, cognitive, or behavioral manifestations of TSC
Key Dates
- Online Submission for Letters of Intent Opens: June 1, 2013
- Letters of Intent Due: June 27, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. US EDT
- Full Proposal Invitations Sent by TS Alliance: July 25, 2013
- Full Proposals Due (by invitation only): September 5, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. EDT
- Award Notification: October 9, 2013
- Earliest Funding Start Date: December 1, 2013
Funding Available
- Duration: up to two years (can be shorter if appropriate for the project)
- Budget limits:
- Maximum total costs of $66,000 per year ($132,000 total) inclusive of both direct and indirect costs
- No more than 10 percent of the total costs ($6,600 per year or $13,200 total) may be applied to indirect costs
- Postdoctoral fellowship awards must include $1,000 for travel expenses to support the applicant’s professional development
The TS Alliance anticipates making three awards this year in some combination of postdoctoral fellowships or research proposals, depending on merit.
Postdoctoral fellowship awards are designed to provide funding for a PI who has recently earned a PhD or MD degree and is working with a Sponsor to do research relevant to this Request for Letters of Intent. The Sponsor must be tenure-track faculty or an equivalent level at a research institution or company. The award is intended to fund the Principal Investigator’s salary and some of the laboratory supplies or tools necessary to conduct the proposed research. The award is not intended to fund technical support for the project or to purchase equipment in the Sponsor’s laboratory.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to all investigators at established academic or research institutions or at pharmaceutical or biotech companies worldwide. Researchers residing in the U.S. do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply for funding.
Process
Overview
- Applications will only be accepted through the online submission system.
- Applicants submit a brief Letter of Intent describing their specific aims and the relevance of their proposed work to TSC, and generally describing the rationale and any preliminary data supporting the approach.
- Letters of Intent will be evaluated by reviewers identified by the TS Alliance, including experts selected from the International Scientific Advisory Board or ad hoc reviewers who will evaluate the Letters of Intent for scientific merit and impact.
- The TS Alliance will invite a relatively small number of applicants to submit more detailed Full Proposals.
This process is intended to reduce workload on applicants and reviewers by triaging applications based on a brief Letter of Intent. Those invited to submit Full Proposals will have a much higher probability of funding and will engage in a dialog with the TS Alliance Chief Scientific Officer during the preparation of the Full Proposals to optimize alignment of the scientific proposal with the goals and areas of emphasis of the TS Alliance.
Required Components of the Letter of Intent
- PI contact information, Sponsor (if a postdoctoral fellowship application), the anticipated duration of funding, and the total (not itemized) estimated annual budget.
- In lay language, a summary of the proposed research and a statement of the impact the research will have on individuals who have TSC.
- A research plan overview of no more than two pages, including the rationale, specific aims, the concept of how the research will be carried out, and references (if needed).
- An NIH-style biosketch of the PI and, if a postdoctoral application, the Sponsor; this form is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketch.pdf.
- The components above must be submitted online prior to June 26, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. US EDT
This information and a description of research funded by previous awards are available here.
For Related Inquiries, Contact:
Katie Smith
Senior Associate, Science and Government Affairs
Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
801 Roeder Road, Suite 750
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: 1-800-225-6872 or 240-638-4646
E-mail: ksmith@tsalliance.org
All questions should be directed to Steven L. Roberds, PhD, at sroberds@tsalliance.org or 1-800-225-6872.