The PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation whose mission is to provide research, education, and support for people affected by Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). The PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Foundation offers grants to support PSC researchers to conduct research that addresses an important and novel, basic or clinical research question related to PSC and closely allied diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease). The applicant must be at an academic institution. The goal of funding is to help encourage investigators to conduct research in a promising new area. Funding is limited to $20,000 per year for 2 years ($40,000 total).

The PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Foundation is particularly interested in funding research projects that have the potential to discover a cure for this disease, and/or identify novel therapies that may significantly delay time to liver transplantation, and/or prevent disease recurrence following liver transplantation. The Foundation recognizes that much fundamental research is necessary to discover the environmental factors which may trigger this disease in genetically susceptible individuals, and thus the Foundation would like to encourage research proposals aimed at identifying the gene-environment interactions contributing to disease initiation and progression. The Foundation recognizes that studies with animal models may be appropriate to address these fundamental questions. The Foundation is interested in funding research that explores PSC-related diseases (such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease)) in ways that they impact, enable, or perhaps cause PSC. The Foundation encourages research that will be complementary to the goals and objectives of the North American Adult and Pediatric PSC Registry (STOPSC) registry. Proposals that have little relevance to PSC will not be considered for funding.

No special application forms are needed. There will be two deadlines for application submission per year; January 1 and July 1. One copy of each full application must be submitted electronically in the English language, and in portable document format (.pdf) to: contactus@pscpartners.org. Any revised application must include a point-by-point response to the comments of the reviewers of the original proposal. The instructions below should be followed:

1. Face Sheet.
Please include the title of the research project, the name and title of the principal investigator (PI), the PI's mailing address and e-mail address, and the names, titles, and e-mail address of any co-PI's.

2. Budget.
The Scientific Advisory Board may exercise discretion in the approval of the expenditure of funds, but since these are small research grants, they are primarily intended only to support the purchase of consumable research supplies (e.g. glassware, chemicals, enzymes, etc.) to conduct PSC research. Indirect costs (overhead), and salaries are not allowed.

3. Budget Justification.
Items to be purchased should be briefly explained and justified.

4. Project Description.
This segment of the proposal should be no longer than 5 pages. Please use the following format:

A. Project Summary - Approximately 250 words.
B. Specific Aims.
C. Background and Significance.
D. Preliminary Data (optional).
E. Research Plan (include materials and methods, interpretation of data, anticipated results, potential problems, and alternative approaches).
F. Any revised application must include a point-by-point response to the comments of the reviewers of the original proposal.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Completed grant applications should be typed in the English language, converted to a .pdf file and submitted via e-mail to:

Ricky Safer
PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Foundation
contactus@pscpartners.org

All grant applications will be reviewed by members of the PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee. Ad hoc reviewers will be used when appropriate. Renewal applications will be judged in competition with other applications.

The following points will be taken into consideration when the proposals are reviewed:

1. Is the proposed research relevant to the research mission of the PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Foundation?
2. Does the proposal have scientific merit?
3. Are the hypotheses to be tested based on sound, logical principles, and are the specific aims delineated in the proposal adequate to test the hypotheses?
4. Are the methods appropriate?
5. Is the approach novel?
6. Does the proposed research have a high probability of success?
7. Is the applicant qualified to carry out the proposed study, and are the facilities adequate?
8. Is the proposal clear and concise? Has the appropriate literature been consulted and cited? Does the proposal give attention to detail?
9. Will the proposal be complementary to the goals of the STOPSC registry?
10. Is the budget appropriate and adequately justified?

Awardees will be expected to provide a 1 to 2 page summary of results obtained with funds provided by PSC Partners Seeking a Cure, including a list of publications and abstracts presented at scientific meetings. The Foundation requests that all publications resulting from research funds provided by PSC Partners Seeking a Cure should include an acknowledgement of this support.