1. Research Support Resources for Junior Investigators
Jeffrey T. Guptill MD, MA, MHS
Department of Neurology
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina

2. Overview – Sources of Research Support
Foundation
Industry
Government (Dr. Nuckolls)
Department
Senior investigator
Independently wealthy

3. Focus On Fellowship Opportunities
Career development and research grants
Clinician-Scientist awards
Will not cover NIH opportunities (T32/K)
Fellowship training in clinical research
Some offer broad exposure and flexible
Others focused on developing a specific skill set

4. Clinician-Scientist Awards
Common Features
Salary support for early stage investigators
Funds for didactic training
Mentorship required
Research project
Mechanism may/may provide funds for the project
Available awards
American Brain Foundation
Clinician Scientist Development Award (CSDA; 3 years)
Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF; 2 years)
Muscular Dystrophy Association
AANEM

5. American Brain Foundation (formerly AANF)
Eligibility
Patient-oriented research conducted with human subjects, or translational research specifically designed to develop treatments or enhance diagnosis of neurological disease
AAN member interested in an academic career in clinical research who has completed residency or a post-doctoral fellowship (for a PhD) within the past 7 years
Evaluation criteria
Applicant: ability and promise as a clinician-scientist based on prior record of achievement and career plan, letters of reference, and curriculum vitae (30 percent)
Training plan: Quality and nature of the training to be provided and the institutional, departmental, and mentor-specific training environment (30 percent)
Research: Quality and originality of the research plan (40 percent)

6. Application Letter of nomination from department chair CV
Research plan (3 page)
Mentorship plan
Two letters of reference
Listing of the applicant’s and mentor’s current and pending support
Mentor’s biosketch
Letter from proposed mentor
Description of course work (epidemiology, biostatistics, study design, data analysis, and ethics)

7. Dr. Hehir
Dr. Benatar
Dr. Barnett
Dr. Cudkowicz

8. $75,000 salary support (Direct only) – ALS focused
$5,000 per year to support education and research-related costs
Supplementation of the award with other grants or by the fellowship institution is OK if ≤50% of research salary in first year
October 1, 2016: Application deadline
January 2017: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2017: Funding begins

9. 2 year award – ALS focused
$55,000
$10,000 per year to support education and research-related costs
Supplementation of the award with other grants or by the fellowship institution is OK if ≤50% of research salary in first year
October 1, 2016: Application deadline
January 2017: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2017: Funding begins

10. 2 year award – MD or PhD
$55,000
$10,000 per year to support education and research-related costs
Supplementation of the award with other grants or by the fellowship institution is OK if ≤50% of research salary in first year
October 1, 2016: Application deadline
January 2017: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2017: Funding begins

11. $75,000 salary support (Direct only) – MG focused
$5,000 per year to support education and research-related costs
Supplementation of the award with other grants or by the fellowship institution is OK if ≤50% of research salary in first year
October 1, 2016: Application deadline
January 2017: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2017: Funding begins

12. General Clinical Research Training Fellowship

13. MDA Development Grants
Awarded to senior postdoctoral researchers on the brink of becoming independent investigators, and are intended as seed money to help launch the scientific programs of promising new neuromuscular disease researchers.
$60,000 per year, for one to three years.
M.D, PhD or equivalent degree
Conducting program of original research under the supervision of an Independent Investigator
Strong record of achievement with their postdoctoral mentor
Access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project
Minimum of 18 months of post-degree (Ph.D or M.D.) research laboratory training at the time of application
<60 months from most recent advanced degree
Applications should focus on accelerating therapy development for the disease(s) in question.
New target identification, target validation, screening for new therapeutic molecules that hit validated targets, addressing a need of the neuromuscular research field, clinical research projects which fit the budget restraint of this program (however, clinical trials should be submitted either through the MVP program or HCTG program - see below under Clinical Research), applications that may result in new understanding of disease etiology and pathogenesis in neuromuscular disorders where these are not well understood
Training plan which details how the applicant will receive the necessary training and mentorship to transition to an independent research career

14. MDA Development Grant 2 cycles Cycle 1 (Fall) Cycle 1 (Spring)
June 15, 2016: LOI due
July 15, 2016 Application deadline
Nov/Dec 2016: Notification of recipients
February 1, 2017: Funding begins
Cycle 1 (Spring)
December 15, 2016: LOI due
January 31, 2017 Application deadline
May/June 2017: Notification of recipients
August 1, 2017: Funding begins

15. AANEM Foundation Development Grants
Seed money to help launch research into muscle and nerve disorders by promising new researchers.
Up to $50,000 for up to 2 years
$1,500 travel award to attend the AANEM Annual Meeting to present the research following the completion of the project
Complimentary AANEM membership and Annual Meeting registration in the year the research is presented
Eligibility: Hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Science (DSc), or equivalent degree (eg. DO);
Member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
Qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of an Independent Investigator;
Institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project;
Minimum of eighteen (18) months of post-degree research laboratory training at the time of application;
PhD or DSc applicants: Be engaged in post-doctoral fellowship or be no more than 60 months from receiving their PhD
MD or DO applicants: Be engaged in a residency or fellowship, or be no more than 60 months from completion of their residency or fellowship.
Application Deadlines:
Letter of Intent: September 15, 2016
Application: November 1, 2016
Notification: December 2016
Funding begins: April 1, 2017

16. 1 year award – fellows currently in clinical NM, neurophysiology, PMR training
Institution Application
$60,000
$10,000 per year to support education in clinical research methodology
Complimentary AANEM Annual Meeting registration and $1,500 stipend for Fellow to present completed research
Supplementation of the award with other grants or by the fellowship institution is OK if ≤50% of research salary in first year
Letter of Intent: September 15, 2016
Application Deadline: November 1, 2016
Notification: December 2016
Grant Funding Begins: July 1, 2017

17. Industry Sponsored Opportunities
UCB Biosciences – Duke Clinical Research Institute – UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Neurology Clinical Drug Development Fellowship
2 years
Year 1: mentored research project, didactics, 1day at UCB
Year 2: medical director at UCB, 4 days per week
Competitive stipend, health insurance, and benefits
An allowance for professional travel
Didactic training in clinical research and clinical pharmacology

18. Fellowship Deadlines: December 15
Biogen, Mass General Neurology Department, Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) and the Mass General Bio Statistics Center
2 years
2 years of salary support plus fringe and indirect costs
Didactic coursework
Fellowship Deadlines: December 15

19. Phrma Foundation: Grants and fellowships
Mission Statement: “support young scientists in disciplines important to the pharmaceutical industry by awarding them competitive research fellowships and grants at a critical decision point at the outset of their careers.”
Fellowship Deadlines: February 1

20. Phrma Foundation: Areas of research

21. Phrma Foundation: Other Awards

22. Phrma Foundation Research Starter Grants: Health Outcomes
Instructor or assistant professor
$100,000 for one year
May be used for salary support but should not exceed 25% (no fringe or indirects)
May include the hourly wages of a technician (no fringe or indirects)
$1,500 per year may be used for travel
No indirect costs or fringe benefits

23. NIH funded (T32)
1+ years
travel stipend and additional funds are generally available
2 years of salary support plus fringe and indirect costs
Opportunity to pursue a curriculum leading to an MPH or a master’s degree in Translational or Clinical Research
Coursework, experimental therapeutics, independent research project

24. Links https://www.aan.com/go/foundation/research/clinical
Neuromuscular-Research-Fello
Research-Grants-Funding.aspx
re-ABY pdf
fellowships/experimental-therapeutics.aspx

25. Thank You
Thank You