Opportunities: Awards

CIS / Talecris Fellowship Awards

The Clinical Immunology Society (CIS) and Talecris Biotherapeutics, Center for Science and Education are pleased to announce the Fellowship Awards, which offers an award to an individual in the third or fourth year of their fellowship program with a concentration or focus on primary immunodeficiency. The 2010 Fellowship Awards will provide six individuals a one-year grant in the amount of $30,000.

The objective of the grant is to support the development of academic clinical immunology research careers of advanced fellows-in-training who have demonstrated commitment to the study of primary immunodeficiency as a career path in the United States. Funding is to support the education and research endeavors of this individual. This award is made possible by a generous unrestricted grant from Talecris Biotherapeutics, Center for Science and Education.

Below are the instructions for submitting an application for the 2010 Fellowship Award.

The deadline for the award application is April 16th. For more information, please contact Anne Krolikowski, CIS Executive Director, akrolikowski@clinimmsoc.org, Tel: 414-224-8095.

Please read the instructions very carefully.

Please note that the deadline cannot be extended for any reason.

AWARD APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applications must be received on or before April 16th.

ELIGIBILITY AND GUIDELINES:

• Applicants must hold an MD, DO or MD/PhD degree and plan to pursue a career in primary immunodeficiency;
• Applicants must be a third or fourth year fellow-in-training at the start of funding, with a concentration or focus on primary immunodeficiency and be in good standing within the program;
• Applicants must be enrolled in one of the recognized specialty boards in the US (i.e. allergy, immunology, hematology, infectious diseases, etc.);

CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD:

• The award is $30,000 for one year.
• Award begins July 2010.
• Funds may be used for any combination of salary and/or lab support.
• Award may only be used for salary support and direct costs. Institutional indirect or general overhead costs cannot be covered.
• During the period of this award, the recipient may not accept other grants or other external funds of more than $15,000 that provide stipend or salary support for the same work outlined in the application.
• Recipient must make proper acknowledgements in presentations and publications resulting from the research sponsored by the award. Awardee will also notify the Grant Committee of any publications resulting from the work supported by the Fellowship Award.
• The institution is responsible for documenting its role in terms of supporting the education and research efforts as well as providing adequate research capacity, including space and equipment, for the award recipient.
• The recipient must submit a final written progress report to the CIS at the conclusion of the award period. It is also expected the recipient will present the final results of their research at a future CIS Meeting.
• Awardee's institution is required to submit a financial progress report at the conclusion of the award period.
• The CIS may discontinue an award if it is documented that the purpose or the terms of the award are not being fulfilled. In this event, the recipient will be notified in writing of this determination, the reason, and the effective date.

REVIEW PROCESS:

Selection of candidates will be overseen by an appointed Grant Committee designated by the CIS Council. The application shall consist of a 3-5 page research and career description, curriculum vitae, a letter of recommendation from the Program Director and/or mentor stating the institution supports a curriculum with which to train such individuals. The awards will each consist of $30,000.

Eligible applicants shall be in their second or third year of their fellowship at the time of application. Applicants may be enrolled in Infectious Diseases, Hematology/Oncology or Allergy/Immunology fellowship programs. Applications must be directed at the field of Primary Immunodeficiency.

The scoring of the applications shall be performed by the members of the Grant Committee. The scoring shall be weighted according to the following scheme:

40% Scientific merit
30% Commitment to the field of primary immune deficiency
20% Quality of mentor
10% Potential impact on the care of patients with primary immune deficiency

Reviewers will score the applications (recusing themselves from any applications which would represent a conflict of interest). The scores will be compiled and the applications discussed on a conference call.

REVIEW CRITERIA:

• Scientific merit of project
• Commitment to the field of primary immunodeficiency
• Environment and mentor
• Career plan (potential impact on the care of patients with primary immunodeficiency)

APPLICATION:

1. Applicant's Statement of Purpose (limit 5 pages)
   1. This letter should outline the award and career objectives of the applicant toward clinical immunology research. The letter should specify:
      1. Current and future clinical immunology research objectives
      2. Further training requested by the candidate
2. Program Director/Mentor Letter (limit 5 pages)
   1. This letter from the Program Director and/or mentor should outline the suitability of the candidate.
3. Candidate's Curriculum Vitae (limit 10 pages)
   1. Must include a full disclosure of all grants or awards currently received or pending.
4. Research Plan (limit 5 pages)
   1. Thorough statement of the candidate's proposed research plan in clinical immunology, including:
      1. Specific aims
      2. Methods and procedures
      3. Preliminary data (if available)
      4. Long-range objectives
   2. Documentation, if applicable, that the proposed research experience was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or human subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the grantee institution.
5. Facilities (limit 2 pages)
   1. Description of the facilities for research and training that will support the candidate.

Applicants should direct questions to Anne Krolikowski at the CIS National Office:
Clinical Immunology Society, 555 E. Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823
Phone: 414.224.8095 ~ Fax: 414.272.6070 ~ E-mail: akrolikowski@clinimmsoc.org