Strategic Research Area Stem cells and Regenerative medicine: Call for applications January 2023

The SFO announces up to 12 research grants for projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine.

 

The call is closed.

Research grants

The SFO announces up to 12 research grants for projects within the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Senior research grants are open to all candidates and junior research grants are open to candidates up to 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). Eligible projects will be supported with 2 MSEK for 2023. 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 research grants is April 1st, 2023. However, within an active recruitment process of an external candidate, the starting date could be delayed to December 1st, 2023 at the latest. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for a research grant or a clinical research grant, 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.

Note, if the government decides to allocate funding for 2024 to the SFOs, the 2023 research grant may be followed by a second-year research grant in 2024 based on the application granted in 2023, without new evaluation.

Senior and junior grants

Eligible to apply

For senior research grants: Principal investigator.
For junior research 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, 2023 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.  

Research grants will be transferred to the KI department. Applicants should have a PhD degree or equivalent 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 with a disposition right including 2023 are not eligible to apply.

Relevance

Research on stem cell biology is important for understanding normal development, homeostasis, and physiological as well as pathological cell turn over. Advancing our knowledge about these processes is critical within regenerative medicine and tissue engineering aiming to develop strategies for regrowing, repairing or replacing damaged cells/tissues/organs/body parts by endogenous or transplanted cells and to treat malignant conditions. Research projects with relevance within the broadly defined areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine are eligible.

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 main 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. Same applies for a possible co-applicant. 
- List of publications, highlighting the 10 most relevant publications of the main applicant and if applicable also the co-applicant(s).
- Budget description.

 

The application should be submitted as a single pdf to:
- Sri Sahlin (sri.sahlin@ki.se) when sent during the period November 2nd – November 30th, 2022.
- Annette Öster Fernström (annette.oster.fernstrom@ki.se) when sent during the period December 1st, 2022 – January 9th, 2023.

Application deadline: January 9th, 2023

Decisions will be announced before mid of April 2023

 

Clinical research grants

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

These clinical research grants aim at supporting clinically active physicians, who have both a MD and a PhD or equivalent 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 “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. Priority will be given to high quality innovative projects.

Eligible projects will be supported with 2 MSEK for 2023. Clinical research 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 clinical research grants is April 1st, 2023. However, within an active recruitment process of an external candidate, the starting date could be delayed to December 1st, 2023 at the latest. A researcher is limited to submit only one application for a research grant or a clinical research grant, i.e. not both.

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.

Note, if the government decides to allocate funding for 2024 to the SFOs, the 2023 research grant may be followed by a second-year grant in 2024 based on the application granted in 2023, without new evaluation.

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, 2023 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/SLL. Clinical research 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 clinical research grants with a disposition right including 2023 are not eligible to apply.

Relevance

Research on stem cell biology is important for understanding normal development, homeostasis, and physiological as well as pathological cell turn over. Advancing our knowledge about these processes is critical within regenerative medicine and tissue engineering aiming to develop strategies for regrowing, repairing or replacing damaged cells/tissues/organs/body parts by endogenous or transplanted cells and to treat malignant conditions. Research projects with relevance within the broadly defined areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine are eligible.

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.
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 main applicant holds or will hold a 100% position at SLL/KI. 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. Same applies for a possible co-applicant. 
- List of publications, highlighting the 10 most relevant publications of the main applicant and if applicable also the co-applicant(s).
- Budget description.

 

The application should be submitted as a single pdf to:
- Sri Sahlin (sri.sahlin@ki.se) when sent during the period November 2nd – November 30th, 2022.
- Annette Öster Fernström (annette.oster.fernstrom@ki.se) when sent during the period December 1st, 2022 – January 9th, 2023.

Application deadline: January 9th, 2023

Decisions will be announced before mid of April 2023

 

 

EH
Content reviewer:
28-02-2023