EFSD Anniversary Fund Programme

supported by educational research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly and Novo Nordisk

Deadline Date: 16 August 2021

Background

The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) was created by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) to provide funding initiatives in all areas of diabetes research. The aims of EFSD are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, to rapidly diffuse acquired knowledge and to facilitate its application.

EFSD began its work in 2000 and with the precious help of its numerous supporters has already committed over Euro 100 million to European diabetes research. In 2021 EFSD marked its new cycle of activity through the EFSD Anniversary Fund.

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective.

Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when Lilly introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today Lilly is building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing Lilly strives to make life better for people affected by diabetes and related conditions. Lilly works to deliver breakthrough outcomes through innovative solutions—from medicines and technologies to support programmes and more.

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company committed to innovation and leadership in diabetes care since 1923. Today, Novo Nordisk has become a leading healthcare company and we strive to use our capabilities to tackle unmet medical needs in diabetes, obesity and other serious chronic diseases.

Programme and Research Focus

The EFSD Anniversary Fund Programme joins in the celebration of the 100-Year Anniversary of the discovery of insulin with the aim at supporting the most talented investigators in the fields of diabetes research in Europe. Projects may be basic, translational and/or clinical research on diabetes or its comorbidities and complications. The Programme is supported by educational research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

Applications may be made by any paid-up member of EASD having received their highest degree (PhD, MD, DMD, DVM, or equivalent) no more than fifteen (basic scientist) or seventeen years (clinician) before 1 January in the year the Fellowship is awarded. For clinicians holding more than one qualifying degree (e. g. MD PhD) or with a clinical specialist degree/board certification, the time since the first degree may not exceed twenty years before 1 January in the year the Fellowship is awarded. Time periods spent on maternity/paternity leave, long-term illness or other exceptional circumstances will be taken into account, if adequate documentation can be provided upon request.

To achieve the goals and objectives of this Programme, EFSD invites applications by issuing this "Request for Applications" (RFA), which indicates areas of research emphasis.

Mechanism of Support and Review

Research will be supported through the award of grants, each of up to Euro 200,000. The duration of each award may be one year or longer, depending upon the needs of the project and as justified in the application. EFSD may, on advisement from the Review Committee, recommend an award in a different amount from that requested, but which is considered more appropriate for the proposed studies.

The proposal should be based on an original idea and concept of the applicant and not be part of larger ongoing projects. Nevertheless, if the proposed project exceeds the requested support, funding or application for funding from other will need to be well described and justified in the application (see Review Considerations).

Applications for an EFSD Anniversary Fund Programme grant are invited from single non-profit institutions or groups of such institutions from Europe and associated countries (for detailed country list, please see here). The principal investigator and any co-investigators must be employed full-time at a non-profit institution and the study must be performed at their place of work. Application must be signed by a legal representative of the Institution confirming the employment of the PI during the funding period and the feasibility of the project at the PI´s Institution.

Applications will be subject to scientific review by an independent ad hoc committee. It is anticipated that applications will be received, reviewed and approved for funding by January 2022.

Prior to any final decision on funding, and in order to offer applicants the opportunity to benefit from the review process, EFSD reserves the right to request revision of applications in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Committee.

Research Grant Applications

Applications for research grants may be subjected to pre-review (or triage) procedures. In this event, any application rejected at pre-review will not undergo a complete scientific review and no feedback report will be provided to the applicant.

The deadline for receipt of research grant applications for funding is on 16 August 2021.

All budgets are to be prepared in Euro. For countries in which the Euro is not the common currency, the exchange rate (between the Euro and the local currency in the country where the work is to be performed) used for calculating the Euro budget must be mentioned under "Budget Justification".

Application forms may be downloaded here:

Application Form

All applications must be prepared on the official application form and completed in strict accordance with the detailed instructions to be found on these forms. Applications which do not comply with the instructions given in the application form will not be considered for review.

Please send your application as one complete PDF email attachment to Foundation@easd.org by 12:00 midday (CET) on the deadline date 16 August 2021.

Review Considerations

Completed applications will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific/technical merit by an appropriate and independent scientific committee.

Review criteria are as follows:

• Significance: Does the study address an important problem in keeping with the goals of this Programme? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of the proposed studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?
• Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Are they supported by preliminary data? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
• Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
• Investigator: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers, if any?
• Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be carried out contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
• Budget and feasibility: Is the requested budget appropriate for the proposed study? Is the requested duration suitable for completion of the project?
• Contribution towards a larger research project: Is the work described in the application intended as part of a larger project? If so, is there any overlap? Is there a clear explanation how the new work will contribute towards the overall success of that larger project?

Reporting Requirements and Approval of Funding

All funded applications will receive initial funding instalment upon confirmation of the approval of the Review Committee as appropriate. For one-year project 90% of the funding will be provided at the start of the programme while the remaining 10% will be paid upon submission of final scientific and financial report. For those projects where funding is distributed over a period of more than one year, the initial instalment will be 50%. A second 40% instalment will be paid upon submission of an interim progress report with the final 10% paid upon submission of the final scientific and financial report. All reports will be subject to assessment prior to the release of any further funds.

Investigators must provide EFSD with copies of papers accepted for publication and must acknowledge the support of the Programme in writing in the paper acknowledgment with the following sentence "This work has been funded through the 2021 EFSD Anniversary Fund Programme supported by EASD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly and Novo Nordisk".

Funded investigators are expected to be willing to serve as reviewers for EFSD in the future.

Competitive Renewal

Applications for a grant renewal will be accepted on a competitive basis, with the same review process as described in this Announcement. Such applications will therefore be considered in the same fashion as all other new applications received for review and without any special priority.

Schedule

Enquiries should be directed to:

European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
Rheindorfer Weg 3
40591 Düsseldorf
Germany

Tel: +49 211 7584690
Mail: foundation@easd.org