Classical HCU Research Grants
HCU Network America provides grants to researchers to support the key priorities identified via our research strategy. These grants are primarily administered via a global grants process that may be a collaborative effort with HCU Network Australia or with other patient groups or funded solely through HCU Network America.
Research grants are intended to support innovative seed or pilot projects to produce preliminary data that would facilitate more substantial funding from federal agencies, foundations, or corporations.
Grants Process
Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) are issued on a periodic basis (the goal is every 18 months) and are communicated through relevant organizations (e.g. SIMD, SSIEM, GMDI) and posted on our website.
EOI:
- Researchers are asked to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) Application, including a high-level description of the proposed project, potential budget range, and any conflict of interests with SAB members. EOIs are reviewed by the Global Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and applicants are notified whether they are invited to submit a full Grant Application.
- Grant Applications are reviewed and scored by the SAB up to 2 independent reviewers who are considered experts in the specific scientific approach being recommended. Based on these evaluations, the SAB then recommends which proposal(s) are recommended for funding and the HCU Network(s) then make the final decision based on available funding.
- Most current grants are awarded at the level of $50000 USD, though exceptions can be made depending on the specific project.
- Researchers must agree to submit an interim project update halfway through the grant period (which is usually 12 months), and a final report at the end of the project. Awardees may also be asked to present results to the SAB and/or to the patient community at periodic meetings or webinars, and to publish the results.
2024 EOI: HCU Network America issued a call in April 2024 for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for research grants to address one of the following priorities for classical homocystinuria:
- New therapies to treat classical homocystinuria by exploring novel mechanisms to obtain proof of concept to enable progression to clinical trials
- Implications of homocystinuria at a molecular level, with focus on venous thrombosis
7 EOIs were received and 4 were chosen to request full proposals.
Important Dates:
- EOI deadline for submission: June 15, 2024
- Notification of successful EOI: July 25, 2024
- Deadline for full applications: September 15, 2024
- Funding decisions will be made by January 15, 2025
Scientific Advisory Board
Professor Warren Kruger, (Chair of SAB); Ph. D, Full professor, Cancer Biology and Epigenetics program at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, U.S. Read Professor Kruger's bio
Dr Andrew Morris, (Co-chair of SAB), BM, BCh, PhD, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Willink Metabolic Unit, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. Read Dr. Morris' bio
Professor Matthias R. Baumgartner, Prof. Dr. med., head of Division for Metabolic Diseases and Medical Director of the Swiss Newborn Screening Program, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland. Read Professor Baumgartner's bio
Dr. Kaustuv Bhattacharya, Senior Staff Specialist, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Sydney, Australia
Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health and Genomics, Sydney University. Read Dr. Kaustuv's bio
Dr Kimberly Chapman, MD, Ph.D., attending physician in Genetics and Metabolism, Children’s National: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Integrated Systems Biology, George Washington University, U.S. Read Dr. Chapman's bio
Professor Viktor Kožich, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Genetics,
Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Diseases, General University Hospital in Prague and Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. Read Professor Kožich’s bio
Patient Representatives:
Margaret McGlynn, R. Ph., Ph. D. (hon), President of Board, HCU Network America
Tara Morrison, BA LLB, Director and Chair, HCU Network Australia
For more information, email Margie McGlynn at grants@hcunetworkamerica.org
