Grant Proposal Guidelines

The A-T Children's Project^® provides competitive grant awards for basic and translational research grants related to ataxia-telangiectasia. One- and two-year projects are funded up to a maximum total direct cost of $75,000 per year.  Grants of $75,000 per year, however, are rare; grants in the $25,000 - 50,000 per year range are much more common.

The Project strives to assist respected scientists in developing a clearer understanding of A-T. We are determined to find a timely cure, or life-improving treatments, for this serious disease. Grant awards are made through a careful and detailed selection process. The members of our Scientific Advisory Board examine each proposal and make their independent recommendations to our Board of Directors which then votes on each proposed project. Proposals from junior investigators, from scientists in related disciplines, and from individuals with innovative new ideas for A-T research are particularly encouraged, as are laboratories and teams working together from industry as well as teaching universities.

Submission Information and Deadlines

Applicants must submit an electronic copy of the proposal in PDF format to grants@atcp.org. Applicants must also submit three copies of the proposal to:

Brad Margus, President
A-T Children's Project
668 South Military Trail
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 USA
Phone: (954) 481-6611 / Fax: (954) 725-1153
 

Grants are reviewed and awarded quickly compared to most other grant-giving organizations.

There are no deadlines for submission of proposals. In most cases, a grant decision will be made and communicated to the applicant within 30 days after the proposal is received at the A-T Children's Project's offices.
 

Guidelines

A. Each application should be no more than ten pages (not including attached articles and CVs), but should have the quality of an NIH proposal.

B. Budgets for up to $150,000 for a two-year project are acceptable. We do not pay for administrative overhead and indirect costs. We do not pay for institutional construction or renovation; purchase of major capital equipment other than directly needed for proposed experiments; office equipment or furniture; travel (except as required to perform the project); tuition fees; journal subscriptions; dues or memberships; printing or publishing costs.

C. All applicants funded will be required to provide six-month informal progress reports, as well as formal twelve-month and final progress reports. These reports must include financial reports. Three black and white photos will also be required upon notification of the grant award, for use by the A-T Children's Project in fund-raising brochures and literature.

D. The following order and instructions should be followed in detail:  Title of research project. Name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of principal investigator responsible for project. Total funds requested for grant. Name, title, address and telephone number of institution's financial officer who is responsible for reports of expenditures and proposed grant funds. Also, indicate to whom (and where) grant payment checks should be paid. Proposed grant period (one year or two years). Name, address and telephone number of the institution and/or performance sites where research will be conducted. Abstract of project. Describe briefly and clearly the nature, objectives, methods of procedure and significance to A-T of the proposed research project. Summary for lay persons. Rewrite the abstract in abbreviated form and in terms suitable for presentation to lay persons (200 word limit).
Note that this summary should clearly explain the proposed work to non-scientists, but will not necessarily be presented to individuals with any emotional connection to A-T. Therefore, there is no need to interject hoped for but unrealistic long-term results or references to "potential therapies" in an attempt to "sell" the grant.

Body of proposal (begin on separate page) and limited to ten pages:

a. Overall objectives.

b. Hypothesis and specific aims.

c. Background (previous work by other investigators and applicant).

d. Rationale for current proposal.

e. Methods and procedures.

f. Anticipated problems and limitations.

g. Data analysis.

Detailed budget (begin on separate page):

Budget justification. Other financial support of principal and co-investigators. Description of scientific environment. Names, titles, telephone numbers of co-investigators. Letters of agreement of co-investigators. Curriculum Vitae for investigator and co-investigators (include recent, relevant publications). If human subjects will be used in the proposed research, include copies of IRB approval, consent forms and statement of "compliance with government requirements." If animals will be used in the proposed research, provide a statement of compliance with American Veterinary Medicine Association and NIH guidelines.