2011 CURE Multidisciplinary Award

Multidisciplinary Award

Online LOI Form

CURE seeks to promote collaborative, multidisciplinary research that will address the goals of “no seizures/no side effects,” and specifically one of the following needs: prevention of epilepsy, including post-traumatic epilepsy; advancement of the search for a cure; understanding of basic mechanisms; elimination of treatment side effects; reversal of deficits caused by frequent seizures. We specifically encourage studies that may not be currently fundable by other agencies, such as the NIH, because of their preliminary or unconventional nature. Applicants will be expected to pursue novel, multidisciplinary projects requiring the collaborative efforts of both investigators. The LOI (and subsequent application) should provide specific aims for the proposed work and background for the collaborative research effort. We encourage both new and continuing collaborative relationships between investigators. Invited applicants will be required to describe how each investigator will contribute to the proposed work through details of research design and methods, including where and how the specific projects will be accomplished. Additionally, the application will demonstrate an equitable distribution of budget costs. Successful applications are anticipated to pursue work that could not ordinarily be pursued by either of the investigators without collaborative effort.

Eligibility: This program awards a joint seed grant in support of collaborative, multidisciplinary research undertaken by at least two investigators (including early career investigators*)– one investigator specifically specializing in epilepsy and one investigator outside the epilepsy field who is looking to extend his or her work into epilepsy research. Together, the investigators’ joint efforts should be aimed at advancing CURE’s goal of “no seizures/no side effects.” Preference will be given to research addressing the more severe and refractory syndromes of epilepsy. International applicants are welcome. Researchers who serve on CURE’s Scientific Advisory Board are ineligible to apply for or sponsor a grant for the duration of their term. All materials must be submitted in English.

* Generally, early career investigators are university faculty at the assistant professor level (or hold an equivalent position in a non-university research organization). Established investigators are university faculty at the associate professor level or above.

Amount: Requests may be made for up to $200,000 for two years. If applicants are from separate institutions, contracts will be required from each of the collaborating institutions.

2011 FUNDING CYCLE Deadline for Receipt of LOI: September 14, 2010 Notification of Invitation to Apply: mid-November 2010 Deadline for Receipt of Full Application: January 11, 2011 Award Announcement: May 2011 Earliest Project Start Date: July 1, 2011

Letter of Intent: All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent. All LOIs are reviewed by CURE’s Scientific Advisory Board and Research Review Board, with the final decisions as to who will be invited to submit formal proposals made by the CURE Board of Directors.

For questions, please contact Danielle Davis at the CURE office, 312.255-1801, or email danielle.davis@CUREepilepsy.org.