Originally published on July 16, 2014.
Cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for 2014 funding of clinical care research projects, under a competitive review by our Medical Advisory Council (MAC). The goal of this program is to improve care and living with SMA.
Program Overview:
The deadline for submission is August 29, 2014. Applications will be accepted for pilot studies with funding at a maximum level of $50,000, including 8% indirect costs. We anticipate granting awards for four SMA pilot projects in this funding round. This program awards funds for research into the clinical, psychological, or social management of SMA.
Scientific Priorities:
Cure SMA would like to encourage applications on novel research, the results of which will build an evidence base and demonstrate measurable, positive effects on the clinical management and lives of patients with SMA. Cure SMA is soliciting and funding pilot studies and studies with pilot data that may lead to full- scale multi-center studies. Competitive projects will include a research design and methods, strong scientific merit with high SMA relevance.
Cure SMA Funding Strategy:
Cure SMA invests in four areas of research: Basic Research, Drug Discovery, Clinical Research, and Care Research. Cure SMA has invested over $55 Million in SMA research since our inception in 1984, with $35 Million in funding in the past decade alone.
The aim of the Clinical Care Research Program is to improve the care and the quality of life for SMA patients. The funding for this program will build on the consensus statement for the standard of care for SMA with data driven results on specific areas of SMA care. The results of funded projects will build an evidence base and demonstrate measurable, positive effects on the clinical management and lives of patients with SMA. These results will be used to provide:
-Educational programs for professional medical providers, such as Cure SMA CME Day;
-New family-family focused care publications, such as Cure SMA Care Series Booklets; and
-Peer reviewed journal publications to influence insurance coverage
Cure SMA is proud to announce that we will be committing $1.8 million to new research funding over the coming year.
Fifteen years ago, we had just one potential drug in the beginning stages of preclinical discovery. Today we have over a dozen, including five now in clinical trials. Though there’s great promise in the research landscape, there’s also a pressing need for continued and growing investment.
In response to this need, we’re increasing our funding for all areas of research—basic research to understand SMA, drug discovery to make practical therapies, and clinical care research to improve the quality of life for those with SMA. With the size of our community and the strength of our connections, we’re able to direct research at unparalleled scale and efficiency.