Funding opportunities from the Harvard Institute of Translational Immunology (HITI). HITI Funding

HITI/Helmsley Trust Pilot Grants in Crohn’s Disease

At a glance
Funding level
  • $50,000 - $200,000 for one year
Project Requirements
  • Proposals need to address one of five targeted areas (listed below)
Eligibility
  • All Harvard faculty, regardless of degree or institutional affiliation (Please see the RFA for detailed information on eligibility)
Deadline(s)
  • Application: February 23, 2011, 12:00 noon ET
  • Interviews of leading candidates: March 30 - April 1, 2011 (see Timeline)
Apply
Note: The application process has closed.
Request for Applications

The Harvard Institute of Translational Immunology (HITI) the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust seek innovative applications that will advance our knowledge of Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with no known cure. Crohn’s disease can precipitate life-threatening complications and confers an increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer. The principal goal of this RFA is to support pilot studies likely to lead to sustainable and innovative projects that will impact the lives of Crohn’s patients.

Key Elements of the HITI/Helmsley Trust Pilot Grants in Crohn’s Disease:

Applications are invited that address the areas indicated below. The topics listed reflect community thinking about key gaps in our knowledge and possible approaches to addressing these issues.

  1. Devising a novel in vitro intestinal epithelial cell culture system that will facilitate evaluation of mechanisms of Crohn’s disease
  2. Developing real-time readout systems that can interrogate the dynamics of microbiome, epithelial and immune cell interactions
  3. Generating a creative and integrative analysis of the intestinal microbiome that moves beyond cataloging of the luminal milieu
  4. Formulating studies directed at the dynamic balance between injury and repair in the intestinal epithelium
  5. Devising approaches to patient stratification that recognize the marked variability in their pathophysiology, genetics, and response to therapy

Click here for more details on these five research areas.

While feasibility will be a key factor in review of submissions, novel approaches and risk taking are encouraged. Please review the RFA for complete information.

Award Amount:

HITI/Helmsley Trust Pilot Grants in Crohn’s disease will be awarded in amounts between $50,000 and $200,000, with an award period of one year.

Eligibility:

Any faculty member who holds a Harvard University faculty appointment, regardless of type of degree or institutional appointment, is eligible to be the Principal Investigator on a HITI/Helmsley Trust Pilot Grant application. Please call 617-432-7550 or e-mail if you have any questions.

Process:

Applicants are required to submit a five-page application and related administrative documentation. Principal investigators of the strongest submissions will be invited for interviews.

Timeline:

RFA announcementDecember 16, 2010
Applications dueFebruary 23, 2011, 12:00 noon ET
Interview invitationsMarch 25, 2011
InterviewsMarch 30-April 1, 2011
Anticipated funding decisionsApril 11, 2011
Anticipated project startApril 15, 2011

Each proposal PI should insure her/his availability and the availability of another senior project member during the scheduled interview dates.