Call for funding - SFO Stem cells and Regenerative medicine 2016-2019
Areas of support
The vision of the SFO Stem cells and Regenerative medicine 2016 – 2020 is to support research and infrastructure within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine with the aim to enhance quality and significance, as well as clinical value of this program.
The SFO will support researchers, research programs and infrastructure at the Karolinska Institutet (KI) with or without collaboration with the health care system based on scope, quality, and the potential to strengthen and develop the field.
Infrastructure support
In 2017, the SFO decided to award 6 infrastructures a grant of 1M SEK/year 2017-2019 respectively, in order to develop and make technologies of relevance for the research field of stem cells and regenerative medicine accessible to the KI-K communities. Existing generally accessible platforms and core facilities interested in broadening and modernizing their technologies were prioritized. These core facilities are presented at the SFO website and a first report will be provided during 2018. There will be no call for core facility applications in 2018.
Research grants
In 2017, the SFO decided to support one senior and two junior researchers with a grant of 2 MSEK/year for three years respectively, in 2017-2019. Scoring and decision was made by an independent international review committee. The grantees are presented at the website for SFO.
The SFO will during the period 2018-2020 support up to 4 research grants for projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, one to two open to all candidates and two to three for candidates up to 12 years after obtaining their PhD. Applicants should be affiliated 100% at KI and/or the Stockholm County Council (SLL) at the time of starting the project. Applicants who received these grants in 2017 are not eligible to apply. Priority will be given to high quality innovative projects.
Eligible projects will be supported with up to 2M SEK/year for 3 years. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running costs, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project specified in the application must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving department. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for research grants or clinical research grants.
Clinical Research Grants
The SFO will during the period 2018-2020 support clinical-translational research within the area of stem cells, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapies with up to 12 MSEK. Two research grants, each at 1 MSEK/year over 3 years will be announced 2018, and another two will be announced 2019. These grants aim at supporting clinically active physicians, who have both a MD and a PhD degree and are affiliated 100% to SLL and KI at the time of starting the project. During 2018, at least one of these grants will be awarded to a candidate who is within 12 years after obtaining PhD degree, while one is open to all candidates.
During the period of research support, the applicant should perform clinical work 20-50% of full time. Priority will be given to high quality clinical projects, or translational projects with a clear clinical potential. Examples encompass, however are not restricted to, clinical trials, development of ATMP products or other essential steps for planned clinical trials, correlative biological studies for clinical trials, and diagnostic and biomarker studies. All should have with relevance for the field.
Eligible projects will be supported with up to 1MSEK/year for 3 years. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running costs, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project specified in the application must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving institution. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for research grants or clinical research grants.
Relevance for the field – who can apply?
Stem cells play an important role in the development of tissues, for maintenance and regeneration of tissues in adulthood, and for development and progression of disease. Research in this field is rapidly expanding our understanding of these processes. Stem cell therapies are established in clinical medicine for malignant as well as for non-malignant conditions and novel therapies are continuously developed and entered in preclinical and clinical trials. Applicants involved research programs with relevance for the above-described fields are welcome to submit applications to this strategic research area. PIs in the process of being recruited to KI or K and who will be employed within 2018 are also eligible, but will require a detailed letter of support by the chair of the receiving department and / or clinical department.