The Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) is dedicated to identifying and funding promising research projects that are relevant to the prevention, etiology, pathogenesis, assessment, and treatment of MS and to ultimately lessen its personal and societal impact.

Within the MSRP, Investigator-Initiated Partnership Award (IIPA) mechanism is being offered with the goal of attracting promising investigators and new perspectives on a research project to improve MS patient care and/or quality of life.

Elegibility Information:

- Proposals must be submitted on partnership of no more than three partners; including the Initiating PI and one or two Partnering PIs. The application should clearly describe each partner’s role, expertise, and why they are essential to the project.

- Each PI must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

- At least one partner must be a clinician (M.D., M.D./Ph.D., D.V.M./M.D., or equivalent with clinical duties and/or responsibilities), and at least one partner must be a research scientist.

- At least one partner must have experience in either MS research and/or MS patient  care, and at least one partner must be from outside of the MS field.

- The proposed collaboration must be new in that the proposed team as a whole cannot have collaborated previously. Some, but not all, partners of the proposed collaboration may have collaborated with each other in the past.

- Eligible investigators must apply through an organization. Organizations eligible to apply include national, international, for-profit, non-profit, public, and private organizations.

Funding scheme:

i. The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

ii. The maximun allowable direct cost for the entired period of performance are $1,200,000 plus indirect cost.

iii. All direct and indirect costs of any subaward (subgrant or subcontract) must be included in the total direct costs of the primary award.

iv. The applicant may request the entire maximum funding amount for a project that may have a period of performance less than the maximum 3 years.

v. Regardless of the period of performance proposed, the applicant may not exceed the maximum allowable direct costs.  Indirect cost shall be proposed in accordance with the organization's negotiated rate agreement.

Deadlines:

i. Pre-application deadline:

       - VHIR's deadline: June 04th, 2014

       - Official deadline: June 04th, 2014

ii. Invitation to submit an Application: July 2014

More information: HERE