BWF Investigators in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Awards (info. for UNC-Chapel Hill researchers)
Granting Agency: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Disciplinary Areas
Biomedical sciences
Agency Deadline
November 1, 2007
Nominations to ORD by
September 4, 2007
Project Area
Faculty Research Award
Synopsis
The program's goal is to provide new opportunities for accomplished investigators still early in their careers to study pathogenesis of infectious disease at its most fundamental level - the points where human and microbial systems connect. The program supports research that sheds light on overarching problems in this encounter: how colonization, infection, commensalism, and other relationships play out at levels ranging from molecular interactions to systemic ones.
BWF is particularly interested in work focused on the host, as well as host-pathogen studies originating in viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasite systems. Studies in this area may have their root in the pathogen, but the focus of the work should be on the effects on the host at the cellular and/or systemic levels.
While work on AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and microbes of interest for bioterror and biodefense is allowed, the progam emphasizes areas of research that open up unexplored areas of pathogenesis. Proposed work in well-funded systems may be viewed as less relevant to the program's goals.
Research on under-studied infectious diseases, including pathogenic fungi, protozoan, and metazoan diseases, and emerging infections is especially of interest. The BWF hopes to see strong applications from veterinarian scientists and researchers working in pathogenic helminths, mycology, or reproductive science. Excellent animal models of human disease, including work done in veterinary research settings, are within the program's scope. Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.
The awards are intended to give recipients the flexibility to pursue new avenues of inquiry and higher-risk research projects that hold potential to significantly advance the understanding of how microbes and the human system interact especially in the context of infection. Biochemical, pharmacological, molecular, genetic, immunologic, and other approaches are all appropriate.
Areas of particular interest include:
- Cell/Pathogen interactions: studies of host responses at the cell surface, cell signaling in response to infection, microbial persistence in host cells, and other work.
- Host/Pathogen interactions: studies of how host genetics influences resistance and susceptibility to infection, innate and adaptive immune responses to microbes, pathogen modulation of the immune system, and other work.
- Novel routes to disease causation: studies of the role of infectious agents in the etiology of chronic, autoimmune and immunologic diseases, and other work.
This award can be used to stimulate multidisciplinary work tying together related fields that have often been isolated from one another in practice, with appropriate plans incorporated in the proposal. The BWF's full program announcement provides more detail about this option.
Guidelines
- An institution may nominate up to 2 candidates. To encourage applications from veterinarians, institutions that nominate a researcher who holds the D.V.M. will be allowed 3 nominations.
- Candidates should be tenure track assistant professors with an established record of independent research. Researchers recently appointed to a faculty position may not have a demonstrated track record sufficient to compete successfully for this award.
- BWF encourages applications from women and from members of underrepresented minority groups.
- Candidates will generally have an M.D., D.V.M., or Ph.D.
- Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada.
- Awardees must devote at least 75% of their time to research related activities.
- Candidates at the appropriate career stage who have held or currently hold a BWF award must contact the Fund in advance to determine eligibility for this program.
Selection Criteria
- Candidate's qualifications and potential to conduct innovative research.
- Quality and originality of the proposed research and its potential to advance understanding of fundamental issues of how infectious agents and human hosts interact. Proposals that bring new, solid experimental approaches to under-studied questions will be considered more competitive than proposals that primarily extend work under way.
- Demonstration of an established record of independent research.
- Demonstration of institutional commitment to the candidate and his/her area of research.
Awards
- $500,000 over 5 years ($100,000/year). Up to 16 awards will be given.
- No more than 20% of the award may be used annually toward the awardee's salary support. There is no limit on use of the award for salary support for other laboratory or clinical personnel working with the awardee.
Contacts
For additional assistance and information, contact ORD by email or at 962-7504.
