2024 FRAXA Fellowship

Eligibility

FRAXA Clinical Trial Grant applications may be submitted at any time, and budget is flexible.

These grants are strictly for clinical research with human subjects who have Fragile X.

• Flexible in amount, structure, and duration, but may be subject to some negotiation.
• Emphasis will be placed on clinical trials of potentially disease-modifying agents which have been previously validated in Fragile X animal models, especially in previous FRAXA-funded research. Other types of clinical research will also be considered, such as biomarker studies in Fragile X patients, or trials of symptomatic therapies, but this type of research is a lower priority.
• No limit to structure of grant (can fund PI, postdoc, grad student, technician, supplies, etc.) or time-frame (though all grants over one year still need yearly renewal).
• No limit on amount, but please remember that applications are evaluated based on relative value, so smaller requests have an advantage!

Summary

FRAXA ‘s mission is to find specific treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X syndrome. We aim to bring practical treatment into current medical practice as quickly as possible; we prioritize projects that have a clear practical application and the results of which will be shared in a timely fashion.

FRAXA awards two types of funding:

1. Clinical Trial applications are accepted and reviewed on a revolving basis, so there is no application deadline. Our #1 priority is to fund clinical trials, while still continuing to support worthwhile translational research and other early-stage work.
2. FRAXA Fellowship applications are due on February 1 each year.

FRAXA is unable to pay for indirect costs under any circumstances. Institutions which are unwilling to waive indirect costs are not eligible to receive FRAXA grants.
A FRAXA Fellowships provide $50,000 per year for up to 2 years.

• Priority is given to research with a translational or preclinical focus on Fragile X, which has potential to lead to improved treatment.
• Fellowships are initially funded for one year and are renewable for a second year, assuming successful progress and timely submission of a renewal application.
• Any university, hospital, or other non-profit lab in the world may apply. FRAXA funds research all over the world!
• Fellowships allow for a flexible use of funding; salary support for any personnel with graduate-level experience is permitted. Supply budgets are also allowed.
• Limit of one application per lab group.
• Non-transferable (only good for specified postdoc, PI, and institution).
• PIs must demonstrate adequate overall funding to pursue the project. Successful applicants for these grants will likely be working in established labs which have funding for supplies and any required animal handling costs. If the applicant proposes to work with a particular Fragile X model (mouse, drosophila, neural stem cells, etc.) s/he should demonstrate that this model system is already established in-house.

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Application Process

A Letter of Intent to Michael Tranfaglia, MD is essential before submitting any application.

Please email your application as a single pdf to both mtranfaglia@fraxa.org and kclapp@fraxa.org. Please be sure we acknowledge receipt of application. Applicants will be notified of awards 60-90 days after receipt of application. Successful applicants and their university grants offices will be required to sign FRAXA’s grants contract.

Please provide the following information with your application:

1. Project title.
2. Lay description suitable for publishing on fraxa.org if project is funded.
3. Requested start date. The earliest possible start date is 4 months after receipt of the application.
4. Budget.
5. Scientific Description of the proposed project (8-15 pages recommended).
6. Curriculum Vitae for the Principal Investigator.
7. Curriculum Vitae for the Fellow and/or other personnel to be supported under the grant.
8. 3 references who are willing to be contacted to provide recommendations for candidate fellow.
9. Full accounting of any other current and submitted sources of support for this project and other lab research.