Thrasher Research Fund
The Thrasher Research Fund is dedicated to improving the health of children across the world through medical research. The Fund provides financial support to researchers whose innovative ideas hold promise to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric illness and disease. The Fund emphasizes research that is hypothesis-driven and has a reasonable distance to clinical applicability. For this reason, the majority of funded research studies are either clinical or pre-clinical in nature. A grant application component requires the investigator to highlight how quickly the results would translate to clinical application. The award mechanism typically involves a submission of “letter of intent” by the applicant. After review, the Fund will notify the applicant if they are to submit a complete application, which involves both an electronic and paper format. The overall format of the application is not arduous and involves providing both a lay and a scientific summary. Budget submissions are also more focused on the overall needs of the study and not modular or line-item. Award amounts are variable; the median award in 2007 was $250,000. In 2006 the Fund initiated an additional award mechanism designed to encourage the next generation of researchers in pediatric health. Current or recent fellows and recent post-docs are eligible to apply for 30 awards of $25,000 to be made in 2008. The staff for Thrasher Research Foundation is extremely helpful. Their goal is to help the investigators succeed with their research, so that affected children can benefit in turn. Beneficial feedback is often provided during the review processes that further strengthen the proposed research.
The Children’s Heart Foundation
Since 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation has funded 30 research projects with more than $2.5 million. They recently called upon all investigators to submit clinical research proposals on congenital heart disease by June 1, 2008.
35 copies of each grant, with an abbreviated CV, are required, including any published work in the research proposal area.
Copies sent via US Mail should be sent to: The Children’s Heart Foundation, PO Box 244, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-0244.
Copies sent via FedEx, UPS, etc., should be sent to: The Children’s Heart Foundation, 620 Margate Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069.
The Medical Advisory Board of the Children’s Heart Foundation will review the submitted proposals in late Fall 2008; those recommended will receive funding in December 2008. Investigators should contact the Children’s Heart Foundation for an application or download an application at their site.
For more information, including previously funded proposals, visit the site directly, or contact the foundation by phone (847) 634-6474 or fax (847) 634-4988.
