PSC Research Grants Program - Standard Seed Grant

PSC Research Grants Program - Standard Seed Grant

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

Program Status: Active and ongoing since 2007

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

Contact: grants@pscpartners.org

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)