Pfizer announces its Global 2016 ASPIRE Cardiovascular Competitive Research Grants Program.

Aim: To support basic science, pre-clinical research, and clinical research through an independent competitive grants program that advances medical knowledge in the role of PCSK9 in health and disease. Basic/pre-clinical/clinical science projects will be accepted (i.e., animal models, in vivo/in vitro studies).

Research Areas:

1.- Pathophysiology of non-diabetic or diabetic dyslipidemia and its relation to atherosclerotic vascular disease, including genetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, proteomic, and clinical aspects

2.- Lipoprotein particles, cellular lipoprotein receptors, and lipid homeostasis

3.- Role of PCSK9 in:

       – Lipoprotein (a) metabolism

       – Tumorigenesis

       – Immune system

       – Infectious diseases

       – Vascular biology

4.- Pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases other than atherosclerosis (e.g., vein graft failure, thrombosis, valvular heart disease, stroke)

5.- Non-lipid/lipoprotein effects of PCSK9 (e.g., role of PCSK9 in the central nervous system, intestine, pancreas, adrenals, adipose tissue, kidneys, gonads, etc.)

6.- Biochemistry of PCSK9 (structural biology and mechanistic implications)

7.- Identification of the unmet needs and/or residual risk in high risk secondary/primary prevention patients that may be addressed by PCSK9 inhibitors (i.e., retrospective database analyses, cohort studies utilizing existing populations, etc.). Such patients will be receiving lipid-lowering therapy in accordance with optimal current standards of care.

Eligibility:

- Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent)

- Hold a full-time academic or institutional appointment, at least of the level of Assistant Professor/Instructor or equivalent academic position

- Emerging investigators must be within 10 years of their first academic appointment at the level of Assistant Professor/Instructor, or equivalent (applications from emerging investigators should be accompanied by a letter of recommendation and of support from their department or laboratory Head).

Duration: 3 years

Budget: Up to $200,000

Timeline:

- Letter of Intent: Sunday, March 13, 2016 (11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time)

- Full proposal invitation: mid to late May 2016

- Full proposal submission: Friday, July 1, 2016 (11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time)

- Successful applicants will be notified in Fall 2016

Further information: PFIZER Global 2016 ASPIRE Cardiovascular Competitive Research Grants Program