| Research Funding |
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Application-Process Two Year To Cures projects must be able to create a direct patient impact in 24 months from the date of initiation of the project. Project budgets can range from $35,000 to $500,000. No more than 10% of the budget can be allocated to overhead, travel and publications. Each project must come to us with a minimum of 30% matching funds. Those funds can come from the institution itself, from government or other public funders, or from individuals, foundations or other private funders. NOTE: Partnership for Cures is not a traditional grantmaking organization. We are matchmakers. We match funders looking to make an impact in medical research with specific researchers and projects. WHEN WE ACCEPT A NEW RESEARCH PROJECT INQUIRY SUBMISSION WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL BE FUNDED. We can guarantee that we will offer each project to appropriate funders, and we will keep offering it to new funders until we find a match or the researcher tells us the project is no longer in need of funding.
These documents must be created electronically and e-mailed to Bruce@4cures.org. No paper submissions will be accepted.
SELECTION:
All of the submissions are reviewed internally when they arrive-first to make sure they are complete, second to make sure that this science/research can meet the program objectives (potential to make a safe, effective, direct and significant impact for patients in 24 months or less; repurposing an existing therapy for a new use; focused on a life altering disease; supported by other funders; good institutional support. etc.) and third to see both the science and lay staff believe that this project is worth pursuing. Requests are made of the researcher if we need more information. In the event that the submission does not meet the initial review, we will send notice to the researcher. If there is a change that will increase the chance of approval, we will let the researcher know. We offer accepted funding opportunities to current Partnership for Cures philanthropic "investors" on a quarterly basis to see if they select this project for funding. If sufficient funds are obtained for a particular project we begin the independent validation process.
The first step in the process is to check with the PI to see if anything has changed since the original submission. The second step is to request a more detailed project proposal, which will be reviewed by independent scientists. Once we have any science or administrative updates and a full research protocol, we create an ad hoc science review panel, often of scientists suggested by the researcher who submitted the project. We ask these independent scientists to review the project. If they give it the thumbs up, we finalize the paperwork and begin funding the project. If they give it the thumbs down, we will give the researcher the opportunity to respond to any suggestion or objections, and will re-review if appropriate. Final selection of projects will by made by PFC funders and lay Board members. If the PI is willing to and able to make those changes, then we make the grant and the project can begin. If not, then we decline the project.
If current Partnership for Cures philanthropic "investors" are not inclined to fund this project, then we ask the PI to allow us to keep this project in inventory as we search for additional funders. We will provide the PI with quarterly e-mail on our success in finding additional funders, and ask the PI to give us a quarterly update by e-mail to let us know if there have been any changes in the proposal or if the project has received funding from other sources. Typically, we know within 6-9 months whether a project is creating any funding interest, although we have had some projects funded after a longer time in inventory.
FUNDING: Once a project is selected for funding and agreement is finalized, start-up funds will be sent to the institution in support of the research project. Each quarter the PI will report to PFC on the quarterly aims and goals described in the Research Roadmap™. When aims and goals are met a new quarter of funding will be released. The last payment will be made on receipt of the final scientific and financial reports. A yealry financial report will be required for projects that are more than one year in length.
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