Past call for funding

Call for funding - SFO Stem cells and Regenerative medicine 2017-2020

Areas of support

The vision of the SFO Stem cells and Regenerative medicine 2016 – 2020 is to support research and infrastructure within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine with the aim to enhance quality and significance, as well as clinical value of this program.

The SFO will support researchers, research programs and infrastructure at the Karolinska Institutet (KI) with or without collaboration with the health care system based on scope, quality, and the potential to strengthen and develop the field.

2020 calls

SFO grants 2020

2019 calls

This is the last call within the current program. All strategic research areas at KI will receive their last support in 2019 with future funding from the government not yet decided. Previous and currently supported infrastructures and researchers from SFO Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

This year’s call encompasses basic and clinical research grants to junior and senior applicants. Due to regulations, the grants for this period are divided over 2019 and 2020, and need to be reported before the end of 2021.

Research grants

The SFO will during the period 2019-2020 support up to 3 research grants for projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, one open to all candidates and two for candidates up to 12 years after obtaining their PhD. Applicants should be affiliated 100% at KI and/or the Stockholm County Council (SLL) at the time of starting the project. Applicants who received these grants in 2017 or 2018 are not eligible to apply. Priority will be given to high quality innovative projects.

Eligible projects will be supported with a total of 5.5 - 6 to MSEK over 2 years. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running costs, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project specified in the application must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving department. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for research grants or clinical research grants.

Clinical research grants

The SFO will during the period 2019-2020 support up to 4 clinical-translational research grants for projects within the area of stem cells, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapies, two open to all candidates and two for candidates up to 12 years after obtaining their PhD. These grants aim at supporting clinically active physicians, who have both a MD and a PhD degree and are affiliated 100% to SLL and KI at the time of starting the project. During the period of research support, the applicant should perform clinical work at least 20% of full time and be employed as a “ST läkare” or specialist at a clinical department within SLL. Priority will be given to high quality clinical projects, or translational projects with a clear clinical potential. Examples encompass, however are not restricted to, clinical trials, development of ATMP products or other essential steps for planned clinical trials, correlative biological studies for clinical trials, and diagnostic and biomarker studies, all with relevance for the field.

Eligible projects will be supported with a total of 2.75 MSEK over 2 years. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running costs, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project specified in the application must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving institution. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for research grants or clinical research grants.

Relevance for the field – who can apply?

Stem cells play an important role in the development of tissues, for maintenance and regeneration of tissues in adulthood, and for development and progression of disease. Research in this field is rapidly expanding our understanding of these processes. Stem cell therapies are established in clinical medicine for malignant as well as for non-malignant conditions and novel therapies are continuously developed and entered in preclinical and clinical trials. Applicants involved in research programs with relevance for the above-described fields are welcome to submit applications to this strategic research area. PIs in the process of being recruited to KI or K and who will be employed within 2019 are also eligible, but will require a detailed letter of support by the chair of the receiving department and/or clinical department.

Call for applications December 2018

Research grants

The SFO announces up to 3 research grants for projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, one open to all candidates and two for candidates up to 12 years after obtaining their PhD (junior grants), counted until the day of the application deadline (time for parental leave, military service, and up to 5 years for internship and medical specialty training occurring after PhD can be deducted). Priority will be given to high quality innovative projects.

Eligible projects will be supported with 6 MSEK (senior grantees) or 5.5 MSEK (junior grantees) over 2019 and 2020. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running costs, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving department. Starting date for grants is June 1st, 2019. However, within an active recruitment process, the starting date could be delayed to December 1st, 2019 at the latest. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for research grants or clinical research grants, i.e. not both.

Proposals will be evaluated and ranked by external international experts within the field. Final decisions will be taken by the SFO Steering committee.

Eligible to apply

For senior grants: Principal investigator. For junior grants: Principal investigators or researchers about to start an independent research group and within 12 years after obtaining their PhD, counted until the day of the application deadline (time for parental leave, military service, and up to 5 years for internship and medical specialty training occurring after PhD can be deducted). PIs in the process of being recruited to KI and who will be employed at the latest December 1st, 2019 are also eligible, but will require a detailed letter of support by the chair of the receiving institution. A final decision about support will require that the applicant has started his or her employment at KI/SLL. Grants will transferred to the KI department. Applicants should have a PhD degree and be affiliated 100% to KI and/or SLL at the time of starting the project. The proposed research program should have relevance for the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Applicants who received SFO Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine research grants in 2017 or 2018 are not eligible to apply.

Relevance

Evaluation criteria and weights

Evaluation of quality and feasibility of the project 33%

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 =Good

1 = Insufficient

Evaluation of the originality of the project 33%

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 = Good

1 = Insufficient

Evaluation of the quality and merits of the scientist 33%. For junior applicants evaluation of the applicant´s potential to start an independent and successful line of research

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 = Good

1 = Insufficient

Application

Each application must be supported by a letter from the head of department, who will thereby ascertain that the applicant holds or will hold a 100% position at KI / SLL. If several departments are involved, each head of department should support the application.

- Project description (6 pages, Times roman, 12 points, single space, 2 cm margin), covering: Summary (limit 200 words), Objectives, Introduction, Preliminary results, Experimental plan, Significance for the field and references.

- CV, max 2 pages. Mark whether within 12 years from PhD.

- List of publications, highlighting the 10 most relevant publications of the main applicant

- Budget description

The application should be submitted in one pdf file to Sri Sahlin, Karolinska Institutet (Sri.Sahlin@ki.se)
Application deadline: January 20th, 2019
Decisions will be announced before May 1st, 2019

Clinical research grants

The SFO Stem cells and Regenerative medicine announces four research grants for clinical and translational research within the area of stem cells, regenerative medicine and cellular therapies.

These grants aim at supporting clinically active physicians, who have both a MD and a PhD degree and are affiliated 100% to SLL and KI at the time of starting the project. During 2019, two of these grants will be awarded to a candidate who is within 12 years after obtaining PhD degree, while two are open to all candidates (time for parental leave, military service, and up to 5 years for internship and medical specialty training occurring after PhD). During the period of research support, the applicant should perform clinical work at least 20% of full time and be employed as “ST läkare” or specialist at a clinical department within SLL. Priority will be given to high quality clinical projects or translational projects with a clear clinical potential. Examples encompass, however are not restricted to, clinical trials, development of ATMP products or other essential steps for planned clinical trials, correlative biological studies for clinical trials, and diagnostic and biomarker studies. All should have relevance to the field.

Eligible projects will be supported for up to 2.75 MSEK over 2019-2020. Grants can be used to cover salaries, running cost, equipment and administrative costs. Indirect costs for the research project must not exceed the INDI level at the receiving KI department. Starting date for grants is June 1st, 2019. However, within an active recruitment process, the starting date could be delayed to December 1st, 2019 at the latest. A researcher is limited to submit one application for research grants or clinical research grants.

Proposals will undergo external evaluation and will be ranked by international experts in the field. Final decisions will be taken by the SFO Steering committee.

Eligible to apply

Applicants should have a PhD and an MD degree and be affiliated 100% to SLL and KI at the project start. Applicants should hold a position as “ST läkare” or specialist at a clinical department. Clinical researchers in the process of being recruited to SLL / KI and who will be employed at the latest December 1st, 2019 are also eligible, but will require a detailed letter of support by the chairs of the receiving institution and clinical department. A final decision about support will require that the applicant has started his or her employment at KI/K. Grants will be transferred to the KI department. The proposed research program should have relevance for the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Applicants who received SFO Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine research grants in 2018 are not eligible to apply.

Relevance

Evaluation criteria and weights

Evaluation of quality and feasibility of the project 25%

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 =Good

1 = Insufficient

Evaluation of the originality of the project 25%

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 =Good

1 = Insufficient

Evaluation of the quality and merits of the scientist 25%. For junior applicants evaluation of the applicant´s potential to start an independent and successful line of clinical / translational research 25%

5 = Outstanding

4 = Excellent

3 = Very good

2 =Good

1 = Insufficient

Clinical relevance 25%, please note that score 1 will make the application ineligible for this call.

5 = Outstanding

3 = Very good

1 = Insufficient

Application

Each application must be supported both by a letter from the head of the KI department and the clinical department, who will thereby ascertain that the applicant holds or will hold a 100% position at SLL/KI. If several departments are involved, each head of department should support the application.

- CV, max 2 pages. Mark whether within 12 years from PhD

- List of publications, highlighting the 10 most relevant publications of the main applicant

- Budget description

The application should be submitted in one pdf file to Sri Sahlin, Karolinska Institutet (Sri.Sahlin@ki.se)
Application deadline: January 20th, 2019
Decisions will be announced before May 1st, 2019