Foundation Fightingblindness

FOUNDATION FIGHTINGBLINDNESS

ALAN LATIES CAREERDEVELOPMENTPROGRAM

Clinical/ResearchFellowshipAwardProgram in

InheritedOrphanRetinalDegenerations

Application Deadline:September 29, 2017

TheFoundationFightingBlindness (FFB)issolicitingapplicationsforClinical/ResearchFellowship Awards(CRFA) from clinicianswithademonstratedinterest ininheritedorphanretinal degenerations.Theprogram will providefundingforpost-residencyclinicalfellowshipsininherited orphanretinal degenerations.Thegoalofthis program istoincreasethenumber ofclinician- scientistswithexpertiseandcommitment toprovideclinical caretopatientswithinheritedorphan retinal degenerations.With thisgoal inmind, theprogramisalsodesigned topreparefellowsfor careers inacademicmedicine,providingcritical traininginanenvironment thatfostersresearchto developpreventions,treatments, andcuresforinheritedorphanretinal degenerations.

Since thefocusoftheprogram istopromotetheemergingcareersofnewlytrained,highlyqualified specialistsin theretinaldegenerativediseasesfield,thecandidateswill undergoacareful selection process. Applicationswill be reviewedfor their meritbasedonthecriteriadescribedbelowbythe Scientific Advisory BoardofFFB. Selectedapplicantswill beinvitedforaninterviewtoprimarily discussapplicationmaterialsandplansfor thefellowshipand thefuture.

Eligibility

ClinicianswhopossessanM.D.,D.O., or recognizedequivalentforeigndegreebythetimethe fellowshipstartsandwillbeeligibleforsubspecialtyboardcertificationat thecompletionoftheir trainingprogram areeligible toapplyforaCRFA.

•Ophthalmologyresidentsorfellowswithaninterestininheritedorphanretinal degenerations couldapplyforbothafellowshippositionandaCRFA in thefinal yearof theirresidency program.

•Ophthalmologyresidentsorfellowswithaninterestininheritedorphan retinal degenerations couldapplyforaCRFA theyearbeforeapplyingfor thefellowshippositionitself,allowingthe applicantandinstitutiontoknowabout fundingprior tothefellowshipapplication.

Applications maybesubmittedonbehalfofcandidatesbydomesticandforeign,publicandprivate, academicinstitutions,aswell ashospitalsandlaboratoriesaffiliatedwithsuchinstitutions. Inall cases, collaborationbetweentheapplicantandthe fellowshipmentorwill be requiredtodevelopthe application. If thecandidate’ssituationisuniquefrom what hasbeendescribedhere,applicants shouldcontactAmyLaster, Ph.D.,Director, GrantsandAwardsPrograms; theFFBwill workwith individual applicants toaddresstheir personalsituations. Applicationinstructionsarebelow.

Award

Up to threeawardsareavailable(for thisfiscal year, FY17).Ingeneral, eachone-yearawardwillbe for atotal of$65,000. Budgetscanbetailoredtoaddressthesituationsof individual recipients. Applicantsfundedfrom other sourcesareeligibletoapply.Thesourceandnatureof thisfunding

shouldbedisclosedtoFFB at thetimeofapplication. TheCRFA maybeusedforcostsrelatedto

fellowship training,includingstipendandfringebenefits. Noindirectcostsarepaid.

1

The Mentor’sRole

As thesefellowshipsaredesignedtoprovideadvancedclinical traininginthecareofpatientswith inheritedorphanretinal degenerations, identificationofanappropriatementor or mentors isessential. Inaddition, CRFAsmustincludeasignificant clinical orbasic researchcomponent. Idealmentors should thereforebeclinicians/clinician-scientists/scientistswhohaveanestablishedclinical practicein inheritedorphanretinal degenerationsandanestablished researchprogram. Scientistswithan established researchprogram canserveasaco-mentorwithapracticingclinician. Mentoring for the clinical and researchcomponentsof thefellowshipcanbeprovidedbyasingleindividualora team of mentors.

SponsoringInstitutionRequirements

ThetrainingenvironmentforproposedCRFAswillalsobeevaluatedaspart oftheapplication process. Sponsoringinstitutionsshouldprovideformal endorsementfrom theProgram Medical Director oftheclinical settingwithwhich thenomineewill beaffiliatedforthedurationoftheCRFA award. Thisendorsementshoulddocumentacommitment totheproposed researchtraining program’sgoals, andprovideassurance that theinstitutionintendstheprogram tobeanintegral part ofitsresearchandresearchtrainingendeavor.Theapplicationshouldincludeadescriptionof support (financial orotherwise)tobeprovided for theprogram, whichcouldinclude, for example, space, sharedlaboratoryfacilitiesandequipment,fundsfor curriculumdevelopment, releasetimefor

boththeProgramMedical Director andparticipatingfaculty.Whileitisnot requiredthat thefellowship programbelistedwith theSFMatch,itisdesireable that it isincompliancewith theAssociationof University Professorsof OphthalmologyFellowshipComplianceCommittee(AUPO FCC).

HowtoApply

SubmitanelectroniccopyofthecompleteCRFA grant application, aseither aWorddocument or a

PDFfile, text-accessible, bye-mail to will confirm receipt byemail.

 Usean Arialtypefaceandafontsizeof11points orlarger. (ASymbolfont maybeused toinsert Greeklettersor special characters; thefontsize requirement still applies.)

 Typedensity,includingcharactersandspaces, mustnotexceed15charactersper inch.

 Type maybenomorethansix linesperinch.

 Usestandardletter size(8½”x11”)sheetsofpaper.

 Useat leastone-halfinch margins(top,bottom, left,andright) for all pages.

 All pagelimitsspecified refer tosingle-spacedformat using theaboveformattingrequirements.

Thecompleteapplicationshouldbeassembledinthefollowingorder:

1.ApplicationCoverSheet

Pleasefill inall therequiredinformationontheprovidedformsandmake sureall signaturesarein place.

2.Letterfrom Chair/Headof Department(s)

A letter from thehead/chairofthedepartment(s) inwhich theapplicantisappointedshouldconfirm thedepartment'swillingness tosupport thecandidate'sresearcheffortsandguaranteeasignificant amount ofprotectedtimefor researchrequiredtofulfill thetermsoftheaward.

3. OtherSourcesof Funding

A listofall current andpending fundingsources,including thespecificaimsofeachgrantoraward and thedegreeofoverlapwith theapplicant'sproposal mustbeincluded.

1

RecipientsofCRFAsarealsoeligibletoapplyforFFB-sponsoredIndividual Investigator Awardsand mayact asPrinciple Investigatorsofnewor existing modulesofFFB Center Grants.

4. Mentor'sLetterofSupport

EachMentorshouldevaluatetheapplicant'squalificationsfor theproposed researchproject and assesstheirpotentialforsuccessfulindependent research. Eachmentor mustguaranteethat the awardeeisundernoobligation toany industrialtiesor obligations thementor mayhave.

5.Candidate’sBiographical Sketch

Thisshouldincludeabiographical sketchandwhenappropriate, abibliographyofrecent publications

(nottoexceedtwopages). A listof pendingandcurrent fundingshouldalsobeincluded.

6. Mentor'sBiographicalSketch

Thisshouldincludeabiographical sketchand abibliographyofrecentpublications (not toexceed two pages). A listof pendingandcurrent fundingmustalsobeincluded.

7.ResearchProposals

Thisshouldinclude thefollowingthreecomponents:

A. Applicant’scareer goals (1-2paragraphs): A briefstatement from the candidatefellowof their long-termcareergoalsandhowthistrainingwill contributetotheseobjectives.

B. Abstract ofproposedtrainingprogram andhowitwill help theapplicantachieve their careergoals(1pagemax):Theabstract should: statetheapplicant’s researchquestion(s)tobe investigated; provideabrieflaydescriptionofallspecificaims,includingexperimental approach(es); listall diseases/patientpopulationstobestudied;andstatetheexpected accomplishmentsandoutcomesofeachspecificaim.Theapplicantmust alsostatethe significanceoftheproposedprojectintermsofaccelerating theadvancement oftherapeuticand preventiveapproachesintotheclinic,andhowtheproposedresearchdirectlysupportsthe missionoftheFFB.

C. DetailedProject Description(6pagesmax):Thelevel ofdetail inaNIH investigator-initiated researchproject grant applicationisnot requiredbytheFFB. However,applicants must include sufficient informationsothat reviewerscanunderstandtheproposedexperiment,itssoundness, feasibilityandimportanceforadvancing thestudyofinheritedorphanretinal degenerative diseases.

Thefollowingformatissuggestedfor the DetailedProject Description:

1. Specific Aims–1page

2. ResearchStrategy–5pages. a.Significance

b.Approach(includingPreliminary Studies):Foreachspecificaim, describe theexperimental

design, strategiesand methodstobeused in theconductof theresearch.Includehowthe datawill becollected,analyzed,andinterpretedaswell asanyresource sharingplansas appropriate. Discusspotential problems,alternativestrategies,andbenchmarksfor success anticipatedtoachieve theaims. If theproject isin theearlystagesofdevelopment, describe anystrategytoestablishfeasibility,andaddressthe management ofanyhighriskaspectsof theproposedwork. Pointoutanyprocedures,situations,or materialsthat maybe

hazardous topersonnelandprecautionstobeexercised.Includeanycoursesthat youplan totaketosupport theresearchtrainingexperience.

D.Budget (useFFBBudgetForm):TheCRFA maybeusedfor costsrelatedtofellowship training,includingstipendandfringebenefits. No indirect costsarepaid.

1

Lettersof Reference

Threelettersofrecommendation, from qualifiedindividualsbestabletoassesstheapplicant and his/herpotentialfor developingacareerasaclinician-scientist,shouldbesignedandsentdirectly to

FFB via regularmail (aPDFcopysentbyemail isacceptable), separatefrom thecandidate's

applicationpackage.Theseshouldincludelettersfromqualifiedsources thatcanassessthe applicant’sprofessionalexperiencesin:medicalschool, residencyprogram, andfellowship training period(s). Thequalityanddepthoftheseletterswill bepivotal indecidingthecandidate'ssuitability.

1