PKD Research Grants - Young Investigator Award

The PKD Foundation invites applications for the Young Investigator Award, supporting research on polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The program funds up to $80,000 annually for two years, with a focus on basic, translational, and clinical research, as well as epidemiology. Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent and be affiliated with an institution at the time of the award. Special consideration is given to innovative approaches and research impacting underserved populations.

Overview of program goals and scope
Under this RFA, the PKD Foundation solicits research grant applications in the following areas:

• Basic research — to enhance understanding of molecular basis of PKD and its pathobiology
• Translational research — to accelerate development of predictive and therapeutic strategies for PKD
• Clinical research — such as small pilot studies

Epidemiology/data analysis research — to conduct secondary data analyses utilizing existing database resources, or to develop new statistical methodologies or test hypotheses using existing data
TERMS OF SUPPORT
Award amounts will equal $80,000 direct costs per year for two years, for a total grant award of $160,000 (or $240,000 for a three-year Young Investigator Award). Future year funding is dependent upon the availability of funds and interim research progress. The funds awarded must be used solely for the purposes specified in the proposal submitted to and approved by the PKD Foundation as executed by the investigator and institution in strict compliance with the budget attached to the application.
An optional third year of support will be available to a young investigator(s) to support the transition of a junior scientist to an independent investigator.

Eligibility

Applicants must have an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree and hold a faculty appointment or equivalent at the institution where the research will be conducted at the time of award. Researchers are invited to apply from all over the world and do not need to be United States citizens. No fellowships will be awarded under this RFA, although salary support for personnel working on the project may be requested. Applicants may only submit one grant proposal per funding cycle.No more than 50% of the direct costs ($60,000) may be used for the applicant’s or other personnel’s salary. Any use of the award for salary support must be justified in the application.*
Consultant costs cannot exceed $10,000; equipment costs cannot exceed $12,000.
No more than $1500 per year may be used for travel.
Successful applicants may not hold any other research funding from the PKD Foundation at the time funding of this grant begins.
Applicants with existing funding from other sources will be eligible to apply for this award as long as there is no scientific overlap between the new application and existing or anticipated funding.
All current or potential funding must be disclosed at the time of application.Specific eligibility criteria at the time of the beginning of this additional support include:

• Primary faculty appointments not required at time of application but must be held by start of funding

A letter of support is required from the department/division chair outlining the applicants’ path to independence and institutional/divisional commitment to the candidate’s research career development (commitment to the candidate having ability to devote required effort to activities under the award, access to appropriate office/laboratory space etc.,). If the applicant is a post-doctoral fellow at time of award submission, the letter needs to provide assurance of promotion to a faculty appointment at time of award initiation.No other career development award may be held (e.g., NIH K-award or equivalent)
No major research award may be held (in the role of lead investigator) (e.g., NIH R01 or equivalent)
No more than 7* years from completing post-doctoral or clinical fellowship training

Ineligibility

No Indirect Costs are paid on this award.