GF Research Grants: Pediatric Research - Pediatric Health

Overview

_NOTE: The Letter of Inquiry deadline is the deadline for the Concept paper. The Concept paper provides a brief summary of the project, enabling the Foundation to assess how well the proposed research fits with the Foundation’s interests._

The Gerber Foundation's Mission

The mission of The Gerber Foundation, to enhance the quality of life of infants and young children in nutrition, care, and development, has remained the guiding beacon for Foundation giving throughout its history. Accordingly, priority is given to projects whose primary beneficiaries are young children from birth to three years of age. The Trustees of The Gerber Foundation expect the Foundation’s grant dollars to make a significant impact on issues facing infants and young children. Through our grant-making efforts, the Trustees are committed to improving the health and well-being of the youngest members of our society. The Foundation maintains three primary focus areas for its grant-making:

* The primary focus, supported by over 70% of grant-making, is applied research focused on health and nutritional issues affecting infants and young children. Research projects aimed at finding solutions to common every-day issues and problems regarding children’s health and nutrition are sought. Of particular interest are those offering a substantial promise of meaningful advances in prevention and treatment of diseases and those with broad applicability to the general population.
* West Michigan grants are focused on youth programs supporting the growth and development of children from 0-18 years of age within 4 counties in West Michigan – Lake, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. Specific areas of focus within youth programming include early childhood growth and development to assure children are ready for school by age 5; development of parenting skills; STEM education; health and dental care; and several historically supported programs such as 4-H, summer camps, and general support programs.
* College scholarships are provided to students graduating from select high schools in Newaygo, Muskegon, and Oceana Counties. Students must be graduating seniors at the time of application. Scholarships support education beyond high school in traditional colleges or universities as well as trade schools or support for certification exams.

Research Grants: Pediatric Research

Pediatric Research Focus Areas

The Foundation’s mission focuses on infants and young children. Accordingly, priority is given to projects that improve the nutrition, care and development of infants and young children from the first year before birth to three years of age.

The Foundation is particularly interested in fresh approaches to solving common, everyday problems or emerging issues within our defined focus area. Projects should focus on issues faced by care providers that, when implemented, will improve the health, nutrition and/or developmental outcomes for infants and young children. The board is particularly looking for practical solutions that can be easily and rapidly implemented on a broad scale with a predictable time frame to clinical application.

Major target areas for research include:

* New diagnostic tools that may be more rapid, more specific, more sensitive, less invasive
* New treatment regimens that are improved or novel, less stressful or painful, more targeted, have fewer side effects, provide optimal dosing
* Symptom relief
* Preventative measures
* Assessment of deficiencies or excesses (vitamins, minerals, drugs, etc.)
* Risk assessment tools or measures for environmental hazards, trauma, etc.

Note that the Foundation is looking for projects that will result in ‘new’ information, treatments or tools that will result in a change in practice. The board rarely funds projects that are focused on sharing current information with parents or caregivers (parent or provider educational programs).

Pediatric Health

Promoting health and preventing or treating disease is the primary focus of this target area. Of particular interest are applied research projects focused on reducing the incidence of serious neonatal and early childhood illnesses, or improving cognitive, social and emotional aspects of development.

Typical projects funded in this area of interest may include projects aimed at:

* Better diagnostic techniques (more rapid, specific, sensitive, or less invasive)
* Better treatment (improved, less stressful or painful, optimal dosing, fewer side effects)
* Symptom relief
* Preventive measures

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Pediatric Research grants focused on nutrition or health issues of infants and toddlers (ages 0-3).
* Organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) are eligible to apply for Foundation grants.
* Public governmental institutions such as universities are included in this definition.
* Organizations must also be determined not to be private foundations under Internal Revenue Code 509.
* With few exceptions, only organizations with principal operations in the United States and its territories are eligible for funding.
* Within the United States, there is no geographic limitation to the Foundation’s grantmaking. 
* The case must be made for conducting the research outside of the United States.
* Results must provide a benefit to children in the United States.
* Laboratory studies are funded occasionally.
* However, we expect that the basic science is a preliminary step required to support a clinical trial and that a clinical study will follow shortly after the funded project is completed.
* Organizations may submit as many concept papers at a time as they wish.
* Selection of concept papers are based upon the overall quality of the research and a determination of best fit with the Foundation’s goals.
* We do prefer that PI’s submit no more than one concept paper during any given cycle.
* Awards and time periods vary depending upon the specific project.
* Research projects may be no longer than 3 years in length.
* Total grant size should be no more than $350,000.
* The in-direct costs are limited to no more than 10% (included in the total amount).
* The base salary is capped at the current NIH salary cap level.
* In addition, PI and Co-PI time supported on the grant is limited to no more than 30%
* NOTE: The maximum grant amount is INCLUSIVE of indirects.

Ineligibility

* No grants are made to individuals. 
* In-directs applied to a subcontract may not be duplicated on the full grant.