Sponsor link https://www.cff.org/researchers/path-cure-collaborative-research-grant

IMPORTANT: Applicants must speak with program staff prior to submission to ensure the research aims are in alignment with the research priorities described in this request for applications (RFA).

Small molecule CFTR modulators that directly target the mutant protein are powerful therapies that will likely benefit 90% of people with CF in the near future. However, there is still a significant unmet need for people with CFTR mutations who do not respond to modulators, do not generate sufficient quantities of protein for correction, or block protein synthesis (i.e., premature stop codon mutations, splice site mutations, indels, etc.). To ensure all people with CF have access to effective CFTR-directed therapies, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced the Path to a Cure initiative in 2019.  

Projects supported through the Path to a Cure: Collaborative Research Grant should be ambitious in scope and utilize cutting-edge technologies and strategies that have the potential to inform or translate into novel therapies to restore CFTR protein function by fixing and/or replacing the defective CFTR gene.  

Collaborations that bring new investigators into the CF research community are a high priority. A single Collaborative Research Grant proposal must have at least two -- and may include up to four -- related research projects (each led by a separate principal investigator) that share a well-defined theme and overall objective. Proposals must contain sufficient preliminary data to justify support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Total direct costs for the Collaborative Research Grant may not exceed $1,000,000 per year for up to three years. The application must consist of at least two projects, each led by an independent investigator. The lead institution may request up to $25,000 direct costs per year to support an administrative core, however, total direct costs may not exceed the $1,000,000 cap per year. An additional 12% of indirect costs per year may be requested.