Discovering the causes of sarcoidosis, and ultimately a cure, can be uncovered through rigorous and collaborative scientific research.
Our initiatives and grants focus on collaborations which advance the understanding of sarcoidosis and address the causes of the disease, the suffering of patients, and the potential for a cure for sarcoidosis. FSR has provided annual Research Awards, Abstract Awards, and Research Support to select programs. Clinically applied research is critical to achieving our mission and our grants have been critical is supporting many studies. Collectively we have awarded and planned for $4 million in grants to support innovative research projects leading to additional millions of dollars in subsequent awards to our researchers.
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Our current and past grants include:
HTORR Pilot Award Program
This Pilot Award Program is intended to facilitate the generation of preliminary data necessary for an investigator to obtain subsequent funding, and will support individuals that meet at least one of the following three high priority areas:
1. Individuals from underrepresented populations in the U.S. biomedical workforce, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. Early-stage investigators that are within 10 years of a terminal degree or completion of clinical residency.
3. Established investigators that are transitioning to use human biospecimens.
The 2-year awards provided through our Pilot Award Program will include up to ~10 biological samples per awarded investigator, covering all costs associated with obtaining the biospecimens, including tissue preservation reagents and shipping costs. Beyond the service period and experimental analysis phase, the awardee will also receive supplementary support to develop grant applications to the NIH Institute that supported their award, and only applications that fall into the fields covered by these institutes will be reviewed. The institutes currently included are the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP).
Key dates for the first round of applications are:
Request for Applications Open: June 1, 2024
Application Deadline: October 1, 2024, 5 p.m. US EST
Anticipated Award Decision: December 2024
Anticipated Earliest Start Date: January 2025
For more information, please visit https://ndriresource.org/pilot-award-program/ or reach out to Grants@ndriresource.org.
FSR Pilot Grant
Applications for the 2024 Pilot Grant are now closed.
The FSR Pilot Grant aims to support smaller scale or pilot research projects, which can be supported either singularly by FSR or through a partnership with additional funders. FSR will award a limited number of grants, totaling $100,000 for the first time. In assessing applications, we look for strength in overall strategy, methodology, and analysis. Proposals are encouraged from investigators across a variety of disciplines, submitting projects which will lead to direct and significant impact upon sarcoidosis research. This grant funds various field-initiated proposals in clinical and basic science settings.
The 2024 FSR Pilot Grant is the latest of FSR’s pilot grant program, which began in 2018. FSR is excited to announce that the Pilot Grant Award has now increased to $100,000 in support of innovative sarcoidosis research. This opportunity allows for researchers to apply with an existing or new project and aims to support smaller scale or pilot research projects, which can be supported either singularly by FSR or through a partnership with additional funders. The FSR will award one grant over a three-year period.
Cardiac Sarcoidosis Grant
Applications for the 2024 Cardiac Sarcoidosis Grant are now closed.
This is an opportunity to drive research in a manifestation of sarcoidosis that severely impacts the community. FSR is excited to provide $100,000 for the first time in support of innovative approaches to cardiac sarcoidosis research. This opportunity allows for researchers to apply with an existing or new project.
The 2024 FSR Cardiac Sarcoidosis Grant aims to support research conducted in cardiac sarcoidosis. This grant, which can be supported either singularly by FSR or through a partnership with additional funders, is open to all investigators wishing to apply. The FSR will award one grant over a three-year period to either a single institution or a multi-institution project. This funding has increased to $100,000 for the first time.
FSR Fellowship Grant
The FSR Early Career Fellowship Grant provides an opportunity for early-stage investigators to develop specialized skills, gain experience within the field of sarcoidosis, and contribute directly to advancing knowledge about sarcoidosis and enhancing medical care for sarcoidosis patients. Each candidate must apply with a proposed study that is innovative and likely to add significant knowledge to the field. International applicants are welcome to participate in the FSR Fellowship Grant process.
The FSR Early Career Fellowship Grant is designed to increase clinical and/or scientific engagement and commitment within the sarcoidosis field. The intent of the funding opportunity is to ensure medical and/or research-dedicated professionals interested in sarcoidosis can succeed in the field. FSR prefers that applicants are those hoping to utilize this funding opportunity to transition from Fellow to faculty appointment by enhancing their academic credentials.
To learn more and apply, click here.
FSR Clinical Studies Network
FSR launched our Clinical Studies Network – the world’s first clinical research network specific to sarcoidosis – in 2015 with 8 inaugural sites. This consortium brings together an international partnership of world-renowned medical institutes and researchers for unprecedented collaboration in studies and drug trials toward the treatment of sarcoidosis. In its first two years, the network has conducted two internal studies and multiple industry-initiated trials. The second grant period of the FSR-CSN opened in Fall 2017, with total investment of $1,280,000 since the CSN was formed.
Sarcoidosis Disease Model
A major limiting factor in discovering new insights into the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is the lack of a viable disease model. In a two-phase plan, FSR is funding early stage research in this area. The FSR Sarcoidosis Disease Model grant opportunity serves to ignite additional research and will help bridge funding for much-needed larger investments into the disease model space. The first grant amount totaled $750,000 for five awardees, and FSR recently awarded an additional $300,000 to bring the total investment in finding a sarcoidosis disease model up to $1,050,000 to date.
| 2019-2020 | Ohio State University – Elliott Crouser, MD, Landon Locke, PhD, Mark Julian, MS Ex Vivo Human Granuloma Model of Sarcoidosis: Phase 2 Yale School of Medicine – Erica Herzog, MD, PhD Medical University of Vienna – Thomas Weichhart, PhD |
| 2017-2019 | ·Medical University of Vienna – Thomas Weichhart, PhD Characterization and Improvement of a Novel Mouse Model that Spontaneously Develops Progressive Sarcoidosis by Chronic Activation of mTORC1 ·Ohio State University – Elliott Crouser, MD, Larry Schlesinger, MD, Wolfgang Sadee, Dr.rer.nat, Peter White, PhD ·University of Freiburg – Peggy Engelhard, PhD, Gernot Zissel,PhD, Joachim Müller-Quernheim, MD, Marina A. Freudenberg, MD ·University of Hull, York Medical School – Simon Hart, MBChB, PhD ·Yale School of Medicine – Erica Herzog, MD, PhD |
Abstract Awards for Excellence in Sarcoidosis Research
Abstracts are brief summaries designed to succinctly communicate complex research projects. At scientific conferences, these are often presented in both text summary and poster form. FSR selects outstanding abstracts submitted to select medical and scientific conferences in order to provide an opportunity for young investigators to travel to meetings and present their data.
|
Year |
Investigator, Institution & Project Summary |
|
2010 |
Dia Beachboard, Vanderbilt University |
|
2009 |
Ali A. Kanchwala, East Carolina University |
|
2008 |
Takeshi Hattori, MD (First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University) |
|
2007 |
M. Gabrilovich, MD, PhD (Case Western Reserve) |
|
2006 |
W.P. Drake, MD (Vanderbilt University) |
|
2005 |
Andrew Shorr (Washington Hospital Center) |
ATS Research Grants
Through FSR’s partnership with ATS, we have funded $795,000 since 2005 in research grant funding, which has led to even more significant funding post-award. Below are the details of the funding:
| 2005-2020 |
FSR has supported over $20,000 to support emerging researchers via the ATS Travel Grants to ensure up-and-coming investigators, many of whom submitted abstracts to ATS, can attend the annual conference to be included in the progression of education in lung disease. |
| 2011 | Nabeel Hamzeh, MD (National Jewish Health) Studies have already shown that antioxidant therapy reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic beryllium disease, a disease that resembles sarcoidosis. The Effect of an Antioxidant, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, on Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Pulmonary Sarcoidodsis is a pilot study to see how antioxidant therapy affects oxidative stress in sarcoidosis. Learn more. |
| 2010 | Kyra Oswald-Richter (Vanderbilt University) Striking disparities exist in sarcoidosis clinical outcome. The Role of Differential Cytokine Production in Sarcoidosis Disease Pathogenesis will evaluate whether inadequate adaptive immune response contribute to disease progression in sarcoidosis. Learn More. |
| 2009 | Lobelia Samavati (Wayne State University) Both environmental and genetic factors appear to play a role in sarcoidosis. The Role of Intracellular NOD-like Receptors in Sarcoidosis will investigate the role of specific proteins (cellular sensors which recognize pathogens) as well as to identify variants in the genes for the sensors. Learn More. |
| 2008 | Elliott Crouser (Ohio State University) Some research has shown that nicotine suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation characteristic of sarcoidosis in the lungs. Modulation of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis by Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors is a trial that will assess whether nicotine treatment (in patch form) will reduce the severity of lung disease. Learn More or Join the Trial. |
| 2008 | Edward Chen (Johns Hopkins University) Recent studies have shown that genetic variations may be associated with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis. The Role of Serum Amyloid A and RAGE in Sarcoidosis is designed to determine whether SAA and RAGE are important in the development of granulomatous inflammation. Read the 2010 Press Release about Findings. |
| 2007 | Michael Falta (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center) T cell Ligands in Sarcoidosis focuses on understanding how immune blood cells, called T lymphocytes become overactivated in sarcoidosis patients and determining how they are involved in the formation of granulomas. This information might lead to an understanding of what causes disease and suggest new therapies for treating it. |
| 2006 | Richard Silver (Case Western Reserve University)* Abnormal TLR Responses in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis attempts to demonstrate that the response of specific infection recognizing molecules may be abnormal and contribute to the immune response in sarcoidosis. (*Received $50,000) |
| 2006 | Jan Wahlstrom (Karolinska University Hospital) Identifying an antigen may provide clues to a cause, and potentially better treatments for this disease. Antigen specificity in Sarcoidosis focuses on a specific group of sarcoidosis patients whose immune system response may be related to exposure to a specific antigen, or foreign substance. |
| 2005 | Dan Culver (Cleveland Clinic)* Matrix Metalloproteinases Contribute to Disease Progression in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and Are Inhibited by PPar-γ focuses on lung cells in sarcoidosis patients – specifically low levels of a molecule (PPAR-γ) that regulates immune responses. If this molecule can be regulated, inflammation from sarcoidosis and similar inflammatory diseases could potentially be controlled. (*Received $50,000) Learn More. |
Additional Research Support
National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI) Rare Disease Biospecimen Alliance (Ongoing)
This new alliance will facilitate tissue donation for research studies and accelerate the procurement and placement of sarcoidosis tissues with researchers.
Lecture Support for the 5th International World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disease (WASOG) Conference on Diffuse Lung Diseases (2009)
FSR provided financial support for this international conference focused on diffuse lung diseases.
Lecture Support for 2006 Aspen Lung Conference: Immunologic Diseases of the Lungs (2007)
FSR sponsored a lecture at this conference focused on the discovery of the cellular and molecular basis of immunologic lung diseases and the translation of these discoveries to novel treatment strategies.
WASOG Membership for Seven Young Investigators (2005)
FSR provided one year of WASOG membership with subscription to the scientific journal Sarcoidosis, Vasculitis & Diffuse Lung Diseases to seven investigators identified by abstract submission.
FSR Supports the University of Chicago (2004)
The University of Chicago Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is
comprised of a world-class group of physicians and scientists who treat and
investigate the underlying causes of sarcoidosis and other similar diseases. As part of the Foundation’s mission to provide direct support to critically needed sarcoidosis research, a portion of proceeds from our Spring 2004 fundraiser were shared with the University of Chicago.
FSR Awards Grants through WASOG (2002-2017)
FSR awarded their first grants to two researchers selected at the 7th World Congress of The World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG) Conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden. Helene Stridh, researcher at Karolinska Insitute, Stockholm, Sweden and Elske Hoitsma, researcher at University Hospital Maastricht, Holland, were chosen based upon questionnaires and abstracts they submitted to a peer review panel composed of some of the top sarcoidosis clinicians and researchers worldwide. Dr. Stridh’s work was focused on the study of the mechanisms of the overreaction of T-Lymphocytes in sarcoidosis patients and Dr. Hoitsma’s work was focused on small fiber neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction.
FSR has also supported WASOG and AASOG with sponsorship and research funding for its annual World Congress and U.S.-based meetings.