PERF: Infrastructure/Registry Research Grant in Any Area of Pediatric Neurology

The PERF: Infrastructure/Registry Research Grant focuses on developing new multicenter infrastructures or enhancing existing programs in pediatric neurology. It aims to advance clinical research, particularly in pediatric epilepsy, supporting projects that train and mentor young investigators. The grant offers up to $300,000 for a duration of three years, with an emphasis on mentorship for both senior and early-stage investigators, ensuring the growth of expertise in the field.

About PERF
The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation (PERF) was established in 2004 as a not-for-profit foundation to support research in pediatric epilepsy and other pediatric neurologic conditions.
In 1994, two pediatric neurologists, Roy D. Elterman, MD (1) and W. Donald (Don) Shields, MD (2) filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a study of vigabatrin for the treatment of newly diagnosed infantile spasms. They organized a national collaborative group, the Vigabatrin Infantile Spasms Study Group (VISSG) to allow participating child neurologists access to vigabatrin for patients with infantile spasms until the drug was approved by the FDA.
Drs. Elterman and Shields received approval from the FDA to proceed with a single-blind, high dose versus low dose vigabatrin in newly diagnosed infantile spasms, which the members of the VISSG conducted between 1996-2001. The drug manufacturer, Aventis, later decided not to seek approval for vigabatrin in the United States (US). A start-up company, Ovation Pharmaceuticals, eventually purchased US rights for vigabatrin with the plan to seek FDA approval. The VISSG data proved to be essential for FDA approval. Because the VISSG study was not included in the purchase from Aventis, Ovation agreed to pay royalties for the data. It was decided that the highest and best use of that money would be to establish the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation® as a not-for-profit foundation to support pediatric neurology research.
Infrastructure/Registry Research Grant in Any Area of Pediatric Neurology
This competitive grant is directed at developing a new multicenter infrastructure, (registries and networks), or enhancing the scientific scope of an existing multicenter infrastructure program to enable advancement of clinical and health-services research.
We are interested in all areas of pediatric neurology, although we have a special interest in pediatric epilepsy. We prefer research projects that provide opportunities for training and/or mentorship of young investigators.
Applicants who are senior investigators should show mentorship of junior faculty or trainees as part of the proposal. Applicants who are early-stage investigators (ESI)* should demonstrate that they are receiving appropriate mentorship from senior faculty.
*Per NIH An ESI[1] is (1) an individual who is within 10 years of completing their terminal degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, and (2) as a Principal Investigator has not received an independent grant (e.g. R01) from NIH or equivalent major funding from another funding organization.
We look forward to evaluating your exciting and innovative projects.
Funding Amount and Duration
The PERF Grant for Infrastructure/Registry Research is up to 3 years of support for up to $300,000.00 (in general, grants are for $100,000 per year for each of three years; in special circumstances, which must be clarified in the budget justification, payments can be adjusted to be higher in one year than the others although the overall total will not exceed $300,000.00). The funding begins September 1.A yearly interim scientific and financial reports are required the first Monday of October. Forms are provided by PERF.10% of each payment is held back and paid upon an on-time receipt of annual scientific and financial report that is acceptable to the PERF Board.A no cost extension request can be arranged, but in general should be avoided and may result in forfeiture of the final 10% payment.

Eligibility

The applicant should be a pediatric neurologist (MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) at any stage in his or her career or a PhD working in an area relevant to pediatric neurology.
The applicant must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada and may only submit one letter of intent (LOI) per grant cycle.

Ineligibility

PERF® does not pay indirect costs on its research grants.