Fellowships and Grants

Our process for scientific review and funding is rooted in an invitation process. Idea generation plays a central role in our invitation program. LAM Summits convened in the United States and abroad by Dr. Robert Langer as Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), over 90 as needed meetings between LAM Treatment Alliance CEO, Amy Farber, the LAM Treatment Alliance SAB members and LTA Scientific Directors, and other relevant participants, along with our monthly LAM/TSC seminar series meetings serve as opportunities to bring leaders in LAM research together with leaders in fields relevant to LAM for education, brainstorming barriers, collaborations and priorities in moving towards an effective treatment for the disease. Our ongoing programmatic methodology focuses on consolidating what is known and what is necessary to learn in order to find treatment. We work to identify experts, labs and collaborating institutions/ companies throughout the world that are best equipped to carry out prioritized high-impact research. We invite those who fit this description to submit short proposals that are then peer-reviewed at two levels before a funding decision is made. Invitations are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. In addition to this process, the LTA has launched/ partnered with a number of RFA programs:

Investigator-Driven Awards including RFP Programs:

This program area is dedicated to advancing our strategic plan through Investigator-Initiated Research Awards including our two Request for Proposal (RFP) programs. Our process for scientific peer review, award funding and collaboration facilitation in this program area is based on Letters Of Intent (LOIs), quarterly batched peer review and ongoing dialogue/collaboration facilitation/ progress reports for proposals received and funded as part of our investigator-initiated grants program in two classes and our two RFP programs.

LTA Investigator-Driven Awards:

The LTA supports investigator-driven grants in two classes: $10,000 pilot awards; $50,000 x 2 year awards. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required before submitting a formal grant application to the LAM Treatment Alliance (LTA).

Guidelines for Letter of Intent

A LOI consists of a brief synopsis of your proposal that is one or two pages long (attachments many be added if thought necessary by submitting PI(s)). Understandably, investigators may not have all of the details worked out upon LOI submission, however LTA encourages applicants to include the following five components in their LOI:

I. Study rationale: Brief introduction with supporting information about what has led you to your study rationale. This may include reference to relevant background literature, clinical and/or preliminary data etc.

II. Study goals or objectives: Please specify what you hope to learn by conducting your proposed study.

III. Study design: Briefly outline the study design, duration and methodology to be used and any other comments that describe how the study will be conducted.

IV. Estimated budget: Include a total dollar amount (in U.S. dollars) as well as a breakdown into the following sections: (a) principal investigator salary, if any; (b) supportive staff salary including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students or technicians, if any; (c) permanent equipment costs, if any (and identify the equipment) (d) cost of consumable supplies; and (e) cost of other expenses including travel (itemize as much as possible). LTA realizes that these budget figures are only estimates, but if possible, please provide anticipated budget totals for each of the five categories, as applicable. The maximum award size is $10,000 for pilot projects and $50,000/year for two-year awards. (Please contact LTA if you are considering a proposal for a larger sum of money. Exceptions to the maximum investigator driven award amounts may be made on a case-by-case basis).

V. Patient-relevance: Describe how your study will lead to the improved well-being of patients with LAM. Please be specific, and be certain that your project proposal offers something "new" and substantively relevant to treatment research.

Additional Information: In addition to the LOI, provide the CV(s) (or NIH Biosketch) of the principal investigator and additional primary people involved in the study.

Timeline/Process: Response to your LOI will be provided approximately six weeks after date of receipt. If there is a longer delay expected, you will be notified. Responses may include recommendations for improving your proposal or suggestions for modifying your application to make it more suitable to LTA's funding priorities. If your LOI receives a favorable response, you will have up to 6 weeks to submit your expanded grant application. We will send you information regarding grant application guidelines upon approval of your LOI. Once you have submitted your grant application, it will be reviewed and a funding decision made at the next quarterly meeting of our Scientific Working Group.

If you have other questions, please contact Richard Abrusci at LTA rabrusci@LAMTreatmentAlliance.org. We are happy to discuss LTA's application process with any investigator meeting our application requirements and wishing to propose a project that is related to our mission and research funding priorities.

LTA RFP Programs and other relevant Funding Opportunities:

LAM Treatment Alliance Folkman Fellowships

In January 2008, we said a sad and abrupt goodbye to medical giant and active member of LAM Treatment Alliance’s Scientific Advisory Board, Judah Folkman, MD. Not long before his untimely death, Dr. Folkman expressed his desire to create LAM Fellowships to attract the most innovative, compassionate, creative individuals committed to multi-disciplinary solutions to clinical challenges like LAM. In partnership with the Dean’s Office at Harvard Medical School, for the 2008 year we announced and selected an inaugural fellow, Sima Zacharek working Dr. Carla Kim’s laboratory at Harvard Medical School in the Children’s Hospital Stem Cell Program to receive a $75,000 award for two years focused on gaining critical insights into the cell of origin question in LAM with an important focus on therapeutics. The LAM Treatment Alliance funds cohorts of Folkman Fellowships in partnership with Harvard Medical School. Review of applications for the 2009 Folkman Fellowship is currently underway. Stay tuned for our announcement of our 2009 Folkman Fellow! For more information about these trans-Harvard awards, go to http://medapps.med.harvard.edu/fellowships/.

LAM Treatment Alliance American Thoracic Society Fellowships

LAM Treatment Alliance American Thoracic Society Fellowships are dedicated to accelerating the pace of LAM treatment research. To learn more about our 2008 awardee, click here: American Thoracic Society - Grant Portfolio.

The Lymphatic Research Foundation

The LAM Treatment Alliance supports the strong work of its partner, the Lymphatic Research Foundation. To learn more about LAM-relevant Lymphatic Research Foundation funding opportunities, go to: Lymphatic Research Foundation

Stay tuned for more program news! Contact info@LAMTreatmentAlliance.org for more information about these and other LTA programs.