PSC Research Grants Program - Standard Seed Grant

Funder: PSC Partners Seeking a Cure (Colorado, US) and PSC Partners Canada

Overview:
The standard Research Grants program was officially launched in 2007 to fund seed grants for novel research projects to improve understanding of PSC disease progression and find a cure. As of 2024, Standard Seed Grant awards increased to $75,000 for a 2-year project period.

Historic Context:

• 2007: Program launch
• 2009: First grants awarded ($40,000 each to researchers from Mayo Clinic, UC Davis, and Academic Medical Center Amsterdam)
• 2016: PSC Partners Canada joined to fund their first research grant
• 2024: Award amounts increased to $75,000 (from previous amounts)

Geographic Scope: International (researchers from any country eligible)

Research Focus Areas:
Funds novel research projects addressing:

• Basic research on PSC
• Clinical research on PSC
• Translational research on PSC
• Closely associated diseases (inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cholangiocarcinoma)

Research Priorities:

• Improving understanding of mechanisms contributing to PSC development and progression
• Exploring the gut-liver connection in PSC and PSC-IBD
• Developing safe and effective treatments to slow disease progression and reduce symptom burden
• Early detection and treatment of PSC-related cholangiocarcinoma

Eligibility:

• Novel research question important to PSC understanding
• Clinical, translational, or basic research approaches
• International investigators welcome

Grant Cycle:
Annual cycle consisting of:

1. Letters of Intent (LOIs)
2. Full applications
3. Peer review by Scientific/Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC)
4. Community review by PSC Partners Community Review Committee (includes patients, caregivers, family members)
5. Board approval
6. Funding decisions and awards announcement

Reporting Requirements:

• Lay summary for PSC Partners website (first year)
• First-year progress report to SMAC (required for second-year funding)
• Final report upon project completion
• Second-year funding contingent on successful review of progress report

2025 Recipients: 2 Standard Seed Grants funded (plus 1 from PSC Partners Canada)

• Xiaojun Jiang, Oslo University Hospital ($75,000)
• Sonya MacParland, University Health Network ($75,000)
• Mark Swain, University of Calgary ($75,000)

Application Process

Submission Format:
Two-stage process:

1. Letters of Intent (LOIs)
   • Submitted first
   • Used to screen applications
2. Full Applications
   • Submitted by selected LOI applicants
   • Detailed project proposals

Required Materials:

• Project proposal addressing important PSC-related research question
• Lay summary (for funded projects)
• Progress reports (first year required for second-year funding)
• Final report (upon project completion)

Review Process:

• Evaluated by Scientific/Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) - panel of leading PSC researchers and clinicians
• Community review by PSC Partners Community Review Committee (patients, caregivers, family members)
• Board approval required

Eligibility Criteria:

• Novel, important research question related to PSC or closely associated diseases
• Feasibility of project timeline (2 years)
• Can be basic, clinical, or translational research

Application URL: Contact grants@pscpartners.org for application materials and portal information