PFF Research Fund to Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis - PFF Scholars Grant

The PFF Research Fund to Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis aims to support innovative research that enhances understanding and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. The PFF Scholars Program provides $100,000 over two years to early-stage researchers, encouraging them to pursue independent funding opportunities. Eligible applicants include post-doctoral trainees and early Assistant Professors committed to interstitial lung disease research. This initiative fosters mentorship and collaboration, ultimately advancing the field and improving patient care.

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
One of the primary missions of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to fund research that will ultimately lead to successful therapies to improve care and quality of life for those affected by pulmonary fibrosis (PF). As part of this commitment, the Foundation will support new research through its own grant award program and through partnership grants with other patient advocacy organizations.
The Research Fund to Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis was established with the primary goal of funding innovative grants that offer a high likelihood of advancing research that improves the understanding of pulmonary fibrosis and/or that could translate into successful therapies in the following areas:

• Basic Science Translational Research Clinical Research Epidemiological Research Health Services Research
• PFF Scholars: A fund to support emerging researchers

The PFF Scholars Program is designed to support early-stage researchers and provide career development opportunities to future leaders in the field of pulmonary fibrosis. Awards will be offered for $100,000 USD to be given over a two-year period to encourage early stage investigators (individuals must be post-doctoral trainees, instructors, or Assistant professors) to support them as they seek “K” or “R”-level funding. Those who have completed their terminal degree 12 years or more from the date of the application deadline are not eligible. The PFF will support additional scholarly activities, including supplementary mentorship by a PFF Scholar Sponsor, participation in PFF Scholar activities throughout the year and at the PFF Summit and Volunteer meetings, and the opportunity to invite a PFF Scholar Sponsor to their home institution or to visit theirs. The PFF allows no more than 8% of indirect costs for these awards, which is already included in the total award amount.
The PFF Scholars are talented and promising early stage researchers conducting mentored research that will ultimately lead to independent funding. The awards are intended to enable investigators to be competitive for K or R awards from the NIH, other federal agencies, private foundations, or other sources.

Eligibility

United States tax laws restrict the ability of the PFF, a not for profit foundation certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to make grants to international applicants. International applicants will be required to certify that grant funds will be used solely for the types of charitable, educational, and scientific purposes permitted to be performed by domestic Section 501(c)(3) organizations, and that the grant funds will not benefit private interests, as opposed to the public at large. The determination whether such certification is satisfactory will be made by the PFF in its sole discretion. If you are a non-U.S. citizen working at a U.S. institution, you will need to remain there long enough to finish your project.If you do not have a permanent visa, state in your application that your visa will allow you to remain in the U.S. long enough for you to be productive on the project. Your institution ensures that you have an appropriate work visa. The following criteria must be met to be eligible to be a PFF Scholar: Must have an MD, DO, RN, PhD, or other doctoral level or professional degree as of the application deadline.Must have an appointment at an academic institution as a post-doctoral fellow, or hold a faculty appointment that is not more senior than Assistant Professor or equivalent. Those who have held a faculty appointment for more than 12 years are not eligible. For those with a clinical degree (MD, DO, RN, etc.), candidates must have completed their clinical (e.g., ACGME) fellowship training as of the application deadline. Although designed for fellows and Instructors, early Assistant Professors within 12 years of completing their terminal degree are also eligible. Licensed registered nurses with a PhD are eligible.Must have demonstrated a commitment to becoming an independent investigator in an interstitial lung disease-related field.Must not be the PI of another career development award (e.g., K Award) or independent grant (e.g., R01).  Must not have received non-mentored grants ≥ $100,000 per year for at least two years.Budgetary or scientific overlap with other awards is only permitted when the other award has an annual direct cost less than $100,000. In the event that an individual receives a “K” or “R” award between the time of application and the end of the PFF Scholar award, the awardee must notify the PFF within one month of the notice of grant award. The chair and vice-chair of the Research Review Committee and Foundation leadership will carefully review for scientific and budgetary overlap. Proposals that overlap will render the Scholar ineligible for ongoing PFF grant funding, but participation in the PFF Scholars Program may continue. Applicants must have a strong link with one or more senior investigators, and be pursuing a career as an independent investigator. A signed letter from the investigator’s supervisor will be acceptable documentation. The intent of the PFF Scholars Program is to allow the investigator to generate data to be competitive for a major independent research award within three years. Applications from individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be reviewed.