Program Overview

The 2023 grant cycle is now open, and Barth Syndrome Foundation (BSF) and our International Affiliates welcome innovative applications that address the basic, translational, and clinical research challenges of Barth syndrome. Through this program, BSF seeks to provide seed grant funding to young and established investigators in order to generate the preliminary data required for successful follow-on funding available from major grant-making institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Applicants must be independent investigators (e.g. faculty appointment), postdoctoral fellows cannot apply. However, the American Heart Association & BSF Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship program is open and accepting applications with a focus on BTHS and/or cardiolipin (due Sept. 7th and Sept. 8th, respectively). For questions, please email our AHA colleagues via apply@heart.org 

Key Dates:

• Full Applications - Due Monday, October 31, 2022
• Grantees Announced and Earliest Award Start Date - March 2023

Application Types:

• Idea, US $50,000 maximum Total Cost, 1-2 years in duration. Idea applications are well-suited for basic research/discovery science applications and have a lower threshold for the amount of preliminary data required compared to Development applications
• Development, US $100,000 maximum Total Cost, 2-3 years in duration. Development applications have a higher threshold of preliminary data and are ideally suited for proposals with clear implications for therapeutic development
• Researchers seeking SMAB feedback are encouraged to email the BSF Director of Research for support

Key Considerations:

• For clinically-oriented research applications that involve recruitment of research participants, please note that participant travel costs for research purposes will be handled separately and is excluded from the aforementioned budget maximums, as they are an expense that it not directly pertinent towards evaluating the scientific merit of an application
• Young/non-tenured Investigators are allowed to budget up 75% of the total grant amount as PI salary
• Letters of Support from collaborators are encouraged components of Full Applications.
• Total Cost is composed of Indirect and Direct Cost, with Indirect Cost limited to 10% of Direct Cost.
• There are no geographical limitations to this funding program

Application and Review Process

BSF administers a competitive grant process, with a peer review stage that involves two (2) members of the BSF Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) and two (2) external reviewers with assay or topical experience relevant to the submitted application. More details of our program can be found in our Application Guidelines and Requirements document.

Full Application - Components of the Full Application include detailed information about the specific aims, significance, research strategy and methods, budget, as well as the personnel and facilities that would support a proposal.

Evaluation Criteria - All submitted applications will be scored on the basis of three (3) criteria:

1. Importance and Impact - the extent to which the research outlined could make a significant contribution to the understanding of Barth syndrome or the treatment of the disorder.
2. Feasibility - the qualifications of the investigator(s) to carry out the proposed work based on expertise, experience, and commitment; as well as the availability of all the elements required for the project (such as technology, reagents, and research participant engagement and recruitment).
3. Prospect for Long-term Funding - the likelihood of subsequent NIH or other grant funding institution to support follow-on work.

Decision to Fund - Based on the final recommendations of the SMAB, the BSF Board of Directors will make the final decision of whether or not to fund submitted applications. 

Historical Funding

* BSF has modified its grant cycle dating convention to follow the year upon which research funds are disbursed. Previously, the Foundation referred to the year in which the application was submitted.

Contact Information

Erik Lontok, PhD
Director of Research
Barth Syndrome Foundation, Inc.
erik.lontok@barthsyndrome.org
 

Grant Program Application and Guidelines

Last updated 8/17/2021