Request for Applications: New Grant Period for FSR Clinical Studies Network

The application for this grant period is now closed.

Learn more about the CSN.

The FSR-CSN is a collaborative network of sites facilitating multi-site trials and studies in sarcoidosis research. The Network is focused on highly innovative projects with the intent of advancing the sarcoidosis research field toward new and improved therapies and increased disease knowledge.

Purpose
To address research needs in the sarcoidosis disease space, in 2015 the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research launched the world’s only Sarcoidosis Clinical Studies Network (FSR-CSN), bringing together an international partnership of world-renowned medical institutes and researchers for unprecedented collaboration in drug trials toward the treatment of sarcoidosis.

The development of a sarcoidosis Clinical Studies Network provides a forum to address a range of important but unanswered questions in sarcoidosis, facilitate a move towards broader consensus about clinical endpoints, and enables pharmaceutical industry entrance into the sarcoidosis space with less perceived risk. The initial phase of the CTN was 2015-2017 (with an extension to August 2018), and includes 8 national and international partners who collaborate in multi-site studies, trials, and data-sharing.

The Grant Award
This RFP invites applicants to apply for the grant award (inclusion and funding) via this competitive process. The initiative is open to sites seeking renewals for first grant period as well as expanding to consider additional partners who can fully demonstrate major impact in the sarcoidosis research field. The award grant period is July 2018 – June 2020 and funding is $40,000 per year (total $80,000). Funding is unrestricted and does not allow overhead.

FSR Clinical Studies Network: FSR-CSN
The FST Clinical Studies Network is charged with:

1. Developing a core set of shared protocols and clinical outcomes measures that can be used to address various questions
2. Conducting multicenter clinical research experiments or observational studies that are unlikely to be addressed by industry or government funding priorities
3. Serving as a mechanism for rapid recruitment of centers for pharmaceutical trials

Structure
The FSR Clinical Studies Network (FSR-CSN) is led by a Steering Committee composed of the Principal Investigators from each participating institution. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to formulate and perform clinical studies. The FSR Research Manager facilitates the committee and will collect progress reports from sites on a quarterly basis. FSR will report quarterly to the FSR Scientific Advisory Board and will include information about the level of commitment and the participation (e.g. recruitment) of each participating site, as well as information about ongoing and planned projects.

Continuing participation in the Network is contingent on an annual basis on the performance of each individual site. FSR-CSN will meet at least four times annually by teleconference, and at least once annually in person, typically in conjunction with a scientific meeting. Additionally, there will be at least one mandatory in-person meeting at the outset of the funding period.

Funding
The anticipated date for selection of site is by January 15th, 2018, and the funding period will commence in July 2018. Centers will be funded for a two-year period, but continued inclusion in the Network will be contingent annually on performance. After two years, a new round of applications will be needed to continue in the Network. The Network will be funded as a contract, with 50% of the funds designated for core costs (i.e., coordinators), and the other 50% of the funds designated for capitated quarterly payments for the studies. It is expected that some of these funds will be used to cover costs for non-standard-of-care testing that is included in the protocol. The award will be $40,000 per site annually (no indirects are included in the award).