MWLC Seed Grant Programme

Awarded Projects

1. Cancer predisposition and epigenetic deregulation of hematopoietic stem cells:
   Vanessa Lundin (MedH), Andreas Lennartsson (BioNut)
    
2. From disease to recovery: Investigating the effects of APOB-lipoproteins on hematopoietic stem cells in cardiometabolic disease: 
   Petter Woll (MedH) Stephen Malin (MedS)
    
3. Greasing the way for regeneration from gut to brain: Revealing the role of lipids in stem cell differentiation and regeneration: 
   Erdinc Sezgin (KBH), Jonas Frisén (CMB), Pekka Katajisto (CMB)
    
4. Investigating the link between placental function and congenital heart disease using organoids-on-a-chip system: 
   Qiaolin Deng (FyFa), Elif Eroglu (CMB)
    
5. Non-invasive analysis of cellular compositions during manufacturing of stem cell products via extracellular vesicle profiling: 
   Fredrik Lanner (CLINTEC), Samir EL Andaloussi (LABMED)
    
6. Progenitor cell location as determinant of fate and regeneration: 
   Eduardo J. Villablanca (MedS), Maria Genander (CMB)
    

7. Single cell analyses of in vitro-specified dopamine progenitors and their developmental trajectory after engraftment into a striatal context: 
   Johan Ericson (CMB), Erik Sundström (NVS)

    

Full Application Instructions

The 2023 Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine (MWLC) Seed Grant Programme is intended to promote new research activities in stem cell differentiation, reprogramming and biomanufacturing toward translational application among researchers employed at least 50 % by Karolinska Institutet (KI). The Seed Grant team must have a minimum of two group leaders from different KI departments with an equal partnership and budget splits. The funding is meant to support new collaborative projects, not continuation of ongoing collaborations. Five proposals will be funded with a budget of 1 000 000 Swedish kronor per year for a maximum period of three years. The deadline for submission of a proposal is 21 April 2023. Awards will be announced by the end of September 2023.

The application for Seed Grants includes:

• Abstract (up to 3 000 characters): State the goals of the proposal; summarize the overall plans of the research proposed and how it will meet the stated objectives of the proposal. Describe the rationale for these studies and techniques you will use to pursue these goals.
• Specific Aims (1/2 page): Explain the broad, long-term objectives and the goal of the specific research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or practice, develop a new therapy, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology. Identify and enumerate each specific aim of the proposal, in a concise and stepwise fashion, and how that will lead to the broad goal of this research.
• Rationale and Significance (1 page): Summarize the context and background of the present application and the specific rationale for the work proposed. Evaluate existing knowledge and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. State how the proposed research meets MWLC’s goals of funding innovative, perhaps scientifically risky, and untested research. If the aims of the application are achieved, state how this information will contribute to the development of diagnostics and/or therapies based on stem cell research.
• Research Design and Methods (up to 3 pages): Describe concisely, but in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the merit of the research, the experimental design, methods, and techniques to be employed to achieve the goals specified in the proposal. Identify the new or risky aspects of the research, anticipated pitfalls, and plans to overcome or circumvent difficulties that may arise. Describe the methods of analysis of results, including criteria for success of the preliminary studies.
• Ethical considerations: Reflect on which ethical issues are relevant in the project.
• Feasibility (up to 1 page): Provide any information that will help to establish the experience and competence of the investigator to pursue the proposed project. It is not necessary to have preliminary data relevant to the proposed research since generation of such data is the primary purpose of the Seed Grant Programme.
• Collaboration (up to 1 page): Collaboration is a key element of the Programme; describe how this will be achieved.
• Timeline (1/2 page): Provide a realistic timetable for completing each proposed specific aim of the project, where appropriate provide specific milestones for evaluating the achievement of each specific aim.
• References (up to 2 pages): List all references used in the body of the proposal.
• Laboratory/Clinical Facilities Including Major Equipment (1/2 page): Provide a short description of the facilities and environment in which the work will be done, and the major equipment and resources available for conducting the proposed research. Discuss ways in which the proposed studies will benefit from unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements where applicable.
• Budget: Provide all budget information requested (use VR template).
• Applicants CV (3 pages including max 10 relevant publications for each applicant).

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Review and Award Process

MWLC Seed Grant applications will be reviewed by scientists from institutions outside KI.

The applications will be rated according to scientific and technical merits. The following are among the qualities to be considered for evaluation of research grant applications.

• Originality
• Collaboration and Complementarity of Expertise
• Quality of the Research Plan
• Feasibility
• Impact and Significance

Submission

The application should be submitted as one pdf latest by 21 April 2023 to agneta.wallin.levinovitz@ki.se.

Reporting

A scientific report and a financial report should be submitted six months after the disposition period has expired. Money not used should be returned to MWLC.

Contact

For questions please send an e-mail to agneta.wallin.levinovitz@ki.se.