Request For Proposals

NBIA Disorders Association
Announces
Research Seed-Money Grants
for
NBIA, Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation

Submission Deadline June 10, 2011

About NBIA Disorders Association

The NBIA Disorders Association, formerly known as Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome Association, (HSSA) was originally founded in 1996 by President, Patricia Wood. The goals of the association are to raise funds to support research pertinent to NBIA; to provide emotional support to those afflicted with NBIA and their families; and to raise public awareness of NBIA. If you would like further information, please e-mail at pwood@NBIAdisorders.org, or telephone at (619) 588-2315.

The NBIA Disorders Association is accepting applications for one-year grants for clinical and translational research studies related to the early detection, diagnosis, or treatment of patients with NBIA. Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) is a group of rare, genetic, neurological disorders characterized by the accumulation of iron deposits in the brain and progressive degeneration of the nervous system. It typically first appears in childhood. Presenting signs and symptoms may include difficulty walking, loss of balance, and problems related to speech. Those affected suffer a progressive loss of muscle control, sudden involuntary muscle spasms, and uncontrolled tightening of the muscles. Symptoms may also include disorientation, seizures, and deterioration of intellectual ability. Approximately half of the cases diagnosed have been linked to a mutation of a gene known as PANK2. At the present time, symptoms may be treated but there is no cure.

Research Objectives

The purpose of the NBIA Disorders Association Research Grant Program is to encourage meritorious research studies designed to improve the diagnosis or treatment of NBIA. The research can be conducted in the United States, countries of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Japan, or Israel, and in other countries where adequate supervision of grant administration is possible.

Grants will be awarded to qualified researchers to initiate pilot studies, the results of which are intended to be used to obtain larger multi-year grant funding. Evaluation of proposals 
will follow NIH guidelines and include careful consideration of experimental or protocol design, objectivity or relevance of parameters measured, and statistical analysis plan. Proposals that address the following areas will be given priority:
 

• Therapeutics Development:
        *  Development of pantethine and its derivatives
        *  Development of other rational therapeutics
   
• Animal & Cellular Models: 
        *  Development of a new rodent disease model by targeted insertion of a ‘human disease’ mutation into Pank2
        *  Development of induced pluripotent stem cell lines.
               »  Development of animal and cellular models will be considered for multi-year funding with adequate budget justification.
                  Proposals should detail a research plan and a budget for the initial phase of the work, with the option to contract further
                  work out to a commercial enterprise.
   
• Biomarker Discovery and Assay Development: 
        *  Metabolomics
        *  Coenzyme A / acyl coenzyme A measurement using accessible (peripheral and central) tissue/fluid
    
• New NBIA gene discovery   

How to Use this Application Form

• Open this file on your computer in Microsoft Word
• Do a “Save As” with the filename, “2011 NBIA Grant Application-your last name”
• Fill out the application and submit by June 10, 2011.                                          
• Submission must be a single .pdf document attached to an email addressed to pwood@NBIAdisorders.org.

Application Procedure – Letter of Intent Deadline June 10, 2011         

• Your application must be submitted with all of the following documents to be considered:
• A letter of intent
• A one-page abstract of the proposal                                                         
• Brief budget outline                                                                                      
• Cogent reasons why NBIA Disorders Association funding is essential            
• A biographical sketch and bibliography of the principal investigator.

RFP Deadlines

• Letter of Intent by June 10, 2011
• Full proposal invitations by July 15, 2011
•  Full proposal deadline September 15, 2011
• Award announcements November 15, 2011
• Funding to begin December 1, 2011

Further Information

• All applications will be reviewed for scientific merit.

•  Indirect costs are not allowed.

• PI salary of up to $10,000 per year will be allowed in addition to other lab personnel salaries.

• The number of research grants to be awarded will depend upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications.

• Applicants will be informed if a complete proposal is appropriate and an application form will be sent by NBIA Disorders Association to those individuals.  Full proposal invitations will be announced on July 15, 2011.

• Full proposals (by invitation only) are due September 15, 2011

•  If study involves humans, copies of the Informed Consent and the Institutional Review Board (Ethics Committee) approvals will be required from each site involved in the study, before payment.

• Clinical drug trials must meet the requirements established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• If study involves human gene therapy, a copy of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) review or waiver of review will be required.