Life Science Announcement

FLAD Grants on Portugal-USA collaborative projects: Basic Project Grant / Translational Project Grant

FLAD is launching a call for 3-4 year project grants on basic and translational health sciences for researchers working in Portugal developing a collaborative effort with researchers in USA.

1. OBJECTIVE The objective of the FLAD grants is to increase the competitiveness of Portuguese research groups, by providing support for collaborative research projects with leading USA groups. All research areas in biomedical sciences will be considered eligible for funding.

2. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE A scientific committee provides FLAD with independent scientific coordination and advice. It is composed by the following experts: • Maria Manuel Mota, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal; • Rui Costa, Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal; • Sangeeta Bhatia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. 3. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY/INDEPENDENCE At the time of application: • The applicant must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree, and must be employed by a Portuguese institution (public non-profit, private non-profit, or government) engaged in health care and/or health related research.

• The applicant must have attained independence as a researcher, and sufficient information must be provided in the application to demonstrate the autonomy and scientific quality of the Portuguese research institution.

• The applicant’s research institution must declare its support for the project, and describe the available resources to develop the project.

• Detailed information will also be required on the proposed co-applicant from US research institutions.

• Eligibility is not restricted by citizenship.

4. PROPOSAL ELIGIBILITY\RESTRICTIONS • Each Portuguese research institution can only submit, per call, up to two applications to the Basic Project Grant and up to two applications to the Translational Project grant.

• Applicants can only submit one application per call either for a Basic Project Grant or for a Translational Project Grant.

5. REVIEW PROCESS FLAD grants applications are reviewed by the Grants Review Committee. Each application is assigned to (at least) two reviewers, who will prepare a written evaluation of the application, addressing the following Selection Criteria: • Relevance to human health: It is the applicant's responsibility to explain the scientific/clinical relevance of the proposal.

• Scientific Merit: This includes the underlying scientific hypothesis, experimental design, and the likelihood of the proposed research to produce significant new information that will enhance human health.

• Excellence of Investigator: Investigator qualifications to be examined are academic background, research experience, achievements and publications.

• Research Environment: availability of appropriate space and equipment, quality and commitment of the supporting institution, etc.

• Each criterion will be scored from 0 to 5 (with decimal increases).

• The final score will be the arithmetic mean of the scores from the four criteria.

6. TERMS OF THE GRANTS a) Duration • Grants are awarded for one to three years, with a possible extension for one more year.

• FLAD retains the right to renew each year only if a satisfactory progress report is received. b) Amount • The total amount for grant per project is € 300.000 or € 400.000, in case of extension.

• The maximum total amount given per year is €100.000, of which €10.000 per year may be allocated to indirect costs, i.e. 10% of the total award.

• The first year grant is made available upon execution of the Contract Agreement.

• The following year grants are disbursed after a positive evaluation of the annual progress report, which must be sent to FLAD until the end of September of each year.

• All amounts are transferred to the Portuguese institution.

7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS a) Progress Reports Recipients of FLAD grants are required to submit a progress report, outlining the project’s accomplishments during the first nine months of the grant. Second and third year funding (and fourth year, in case of extension) is contingent upon favorable evaluation of the previous year’s progress report. b) Final Scientific Report The final scientific report, a brief summary of progress toward the achievement of originally stated aims, is due 60 days after the end of the project. c) Financial Reports Annual financial reports will be due two months after the end of each project year.

8. PUBLICATIONS Publications resulting from research activities supported by FLAD grants (or other public/private project presentations) must contain the following acknowledgement: “Supported by (Insert project title of the grant and reference number) from the Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento”.

9. PATENTS Grants are awarded with the understanding that FLAD will receive written notification from the applicant of the filing of any letters of patent for any discovery made based on work funded by FLAD. (Please see FLAD Patent and Intellectual Property Policy).

10. HOW TO APPLY a) Applications must be sent to FLAD by email – luz.fernandes@flad.pt – with the following documents: • Application Form (template provided); • Applicant and Co-Applicant Biosketchs (template provided); • Co-Applicant declaration (acceptance and collaboration). b) Deadline for applications: October 20, 2014; 11:59 PM (GMT) c) Results are announced by December 15, 2014.