PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONIn 2019, Spark Therapeutics established a program for competitive research grants that supports basic, translational, clinical and epidemiological research into the pathogenesis, complications, clinical outcomes & epidemiology of genetic diseases.
Spark Therapeutics may support Investigator Initiated Research (IIR) or Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs) through a grant for financial support. Additional consideration will be given to submissions that include a primary research objective of potentially addressing an unmet medical need. Spark does not provide operational support for IIR/IITs.
To learn more about Spark Therapeutics' current areas of research focus and how to apply, please select the appropriate therapeutic area of interest by clicking on one of the above tabs.Applicant Eligibility Requirements- The applicant (Principal Investigator, PI) must have a medical degree (MD or equivalent), advanced scientific degree (PhD or equivalent), advanced nursing degree (MS/PhD), or an advanced degree in an allied healthcare discipline such as pharmacy, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or social work where the applicant is affiliated with an eligible organization
- Eligible organizations are academic medical centers, research institutes and research foundations
- Ineligible applicants include for-profit organizations and individuals not affiliated with an academic or research institution/foundation. However, research laboratories and academic institutions affiliated with a for-profit hospital may apply
Application Materials- All materials must be submitted electronically on this site and be written in English
- Protocol of Scientific Research (WORD or PDF document format only)
- The Protocol must include enough information for the external, expert Review Panel to judge the scientific merit and ability of the PI and their research community to execute the proposed research study but not be overly detailed
- Such information includes, but is not limited to a statement of objectives, specific aims, hypotheses, and relevance of the proposed study to the mission of the research that advances the medical and scientific knowledge of the therapeutic area of interest
- A description of study methodology including: experimental design, sample size, potential problems and possible approaches for overcoming them, justification for the involvement of any experimental animals or human subjects, and methods of data analysis. Figures and tables must be included in the body of the text
- Appropriate references and a brief description of the research facilities can be helpful in assisting the Panel members’ review
- Principal Investigator and Sub-Investigator Curricula vitarum (WORD or PDF document formats only)
- Detailed budget (EXCEL format only)
- Supporting documents such as letters of endorsement, selected references, additional background information, etc. (WORD or PDF document formats only)
Applicant requirements / responsibilities- PI must be qualified by training and experience to undertake the proposed research
- If patients are involved, the clinician’s practice license must be current and not be excluded, debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible to participate in health care programs in their country
- PI must not be an employee of Spark or its affiliated entities
- The research idea and protocol must be the Principal Investigator’s or Academic Group’s own, unique idea and protocol
- The specific scientific project may not have commenced prior to the approval for funding
- The PI cannot be the current recipient of a Spark Competitive Research Grant
- Multiple applications from the same academic entity are allowed provided that each application protocol is unique
- Applicants will grant the right of first refusal to license any inventions arising from the research to Spark or its affiliates
Responsibilities of sponsor-investigator- Execution of approved research contract
- Approval to conduct the study by the local review board (Institutional Review Board, Institutional Ethics Committee, Institutional Animal Review Committee, etc.) as appropriate to the study
- Ensure safety reporting to Spark and IRB/IEC/Health Authorities (HA), etc. as appropriate to the study
- Submission of study reports and academic abstracts, posters, publication
- Awardees are encouraged to present findings derived from research supported by the Spark Competitive Grants Program at scientific meetings and publish them in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Copies of abstracts, posters, and peer-reviewed publications that are accepted for presentation at professional society meetings or publication in peer-reviewed journals must be submitted to Spark
- Posters and peer-reviewed publications must acknowledge support from the Spark Competitive Grant Program
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