Research Grants

SFA Research Grants

The Sarcoma Foundation of America has developed a program to provide grants to investigators interested in translational science Sarcoma research.  Funding of up to $50,000, allowing up to 10 percent indirect costs, is available to cover equipment and supplies in support of research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human Sarcomas.  Interested parties may begin submitting grant applications on October 1, 2011.  Grants will be reviewed by the SFA Medical Advisory Board immediately following the application deadline of January 31, 2012. Applicants will be notified on or before April 10th as to the award decision for their proposal. The funds awarded will be then available for research by June 1, 2012.

In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, research involving the development of novel agents against Sarcoma, or research that could potentially lead to the development of novel agents against Sarcoma, is eligible for this funding.  Preference will be given to proposals on promising molecular targets and new or uncommon therapeutic approaches.  These approaches include, but are not limited to:   

    METABOLIC TARGETS: c-Met, HDACs, WNT pathway signaling, rank ligand, IGF2; PI3 kinase, Akt, Hedgehog pathway (Ihh, Shh, Dhh),
    PARP, Notch, and Beta-catenin.

    THERAPEUTIC CLASSES APPLICABLE TO SARCOMA: Immunotherapy, Metabolomics, miRNAs, Cytokines CCL2, and CCL3.
 

In compliance with IRS instructions, grants cannot fund clinical trials, but all other areas of research can be considered for funding.

The goal of the grant application process is to be “user-friendly.” Applicants should review the submissions instructions that outline the procedures for the funding process.

Grant Submission Instructions

Applications must be submitted using the official SFA Grant Application. The entire application, consisting of the application form, bio sketch, proposal, and references, must not exceed 10 pages. Biosketches, not CVs, are specifically requested to minimize submission length.  Do not submit manuscripts or journal articles.  Please note that the SFA does not permit funds to be used for PI salaries. 

Application submissions exceeding 10 pages in length will not be considered. 

Proposals received on time meeting the submission criteria will be presented to the SFA Medical Advisory Board for merit grading.  Those that arrive after January 31st, or which do not fulfill the required criteria, will not be considered.  Interested parties may view the SFA Medical Advisory Board constituency to review the committee.  The merit grading will be unbiased and based solely on the scientific merits of the proposal.

Click here for the official 2012 SFA grant application.

Proposals are to be submitted electronically to the following address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  When are grant applications due?
A: Grant proposals, which must be submitted electronically using the official SFA application form, are due by January 31.

Q: Are researchers located outside of the United States eligible for SFA research grants?
A: Yes.  The SFA does accept applications from researchers outside of the US.  However, grant awardees must be able to accept funds in US dollars.

Q: Are there any duration restrictions for projects applied for under this grant?
A: SFA grants are for a one year period.  This period typically runs from June to June.

Q: Is it true that my grant application can only be 10 pages in length?
A: Yes, that is correct.  The SFA does NOT accept any applications that exceed the 10 page limit.  The entire application, consisting of the application form, bio sketch, proposal, and references, must not exceed 10 pages.  Biosketches, not CVs, are specifically requested to minimize submission length.  Do not submit manuscripts or journal articles. 

Q: Do you require that proposals be submitted in a certain format?
A: The SFA does not have any formatting requirements for grant applications.  We do require that proposals be submitted using our official SFA grant application form,  that applications do not exceed 10 pages, and that a biosketch, not a CV, is included in the application package.

Q: Can awarded grant money be used to fund PI salaries?
A: No, we do not allow SFA grant money to be used to pay for PI salaries.  However, you are permitted to allocate some of the money for the payment of salaries for non-faculty post-docs, fellows, and technicians.  We do not, however, allow 100 percent of the $50,000 award to be used to fund salaries.

Q: Can any of the funds be used for indirect costs?
A: We do allow for up to 10 percent in indirect funds.  However, $50,000 is the total award for both direct and indirect costs.  Up to $5,000 of the $50,000 can be allotted for indirect costs.

Q: Is there a requirement to submit a final report to the SFA at the end of the one-year grant period?
A: Yes, the SFA does require that all grant awardees submit a final report.

Programs & Resources