Purpose

The purpose of the PhRMA Foundation Research Starter Grants is to offer financial support to individuals beginning their independent research careers at the faculty level.

This program supports individuals beginning independent research careers in academia who do not have other substantial sources of research.

The areas of interest within this program consists of research that supports career development of scientists engaged in computational and experimental research to integrate cutting edge-edge information technology with advanced biological, chemical, and pharmacological sciences in:

Genetics

Molecular
Medical (human)
Pharmaco
Population

Genomics

Function
Structural
Toxico
Pharmaco
Comparative

Proteomics

Biological pathways

Preference will be given to those individuals whose research combines novel computational methods with experimental validation. Emphasis will be placed on the development of new informatics technologies that demonstrate the translation of genomic data into an elucidation and understanding of biological and disease processes.

The program provides a research grant of $30,000 per year for up to two years.

Research projects that extend or develop the proprietary value of specific drug products are not acceptable in this program. This exclusion does not preclude research in which specific drug products are used to test hypotheses that have a general applicability.

The "starter" aspect of the program strives to assist those individuals who are establishing careers as independent investigators in the field of informatics. The program is not offered as a means to augment an ongoing research effort or is the grant intended to be used for any direct effort to obtain further extramural funding. The funds are to be used to conduct the proposed research.

Funds are generally unrestricted, with flexibility of use - a characteristic of the program. In an effort to gain the maximum usefulness, some guidelines are in order. The funds may not be used for salary support of the grantee, but may be used to support technical assistance. No more than $500 a year may be used for travel to professional meetings by the grantee. Indirect costs are not provided to the institution, and grant funds may not be used for this purpose.

Applications, however good, which do not meet the aims of the program will be disapproved.

Eligibility

Those holding the academic rank of instructor or assistant professor and investigators at the doctoral level with equivalent positions are eligible to apply for these research starter grants, providing their proposed research is neither directly nor indirectly subsidized to any significant degree by an extramural support mechanism. The program is not intended for those in postdoctoral training programs. However, individuals in postdoctoral training scheduled to conclude and who will hold an academic appointment by January 1, 2009 may apply. Applicants must be sponsored by the department or unit in which the proposed research is to be undertaken. The grant is made to the university on behalf of the applicant and with the understanding that the university will administer the funds.

Applications must be submitted by an accredited U.S. school, and all applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Applicants will be judged on the scientific worthiness of the proposed research, and on the degree of need. If support is obtained after the application has been submitted, the Foundation must be so informed.

Before an individual is eligible to apply for a PhRMA Foundation award, the applicant must first have a firm commitment from a U.S. university.

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