LIFE SCIENCE
Programme Rare Diseases – New Approaches:
since 2009
Call 2013 launched
The research programme «Rare Diseases – New Approaches», started in 2009, invests CHF 2 mio. p.a. There is a yearly call open to researchers at Swiss universities, university hospitals, federal institutes of technology, research institutions affiliated with Swiss universities and universities of applied sciences. Calls are launched in early spring, application deadline is in summer, decisions are taken in autumn.
The Programme
Objectives of the programme
The goal of the current initiative «Rare Diseases – New Approaches» is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases.
The programme is aimed at bridging the worlds of basic and clinical research: projects with new approaches or technologies will be supported that focus on a clinical or diagnostic application. The project results should lead to a better understanding of the genetic, molecular and biochemical processes underlying these diseases and pave the way towards new diagnostics and new forms of treatment. The ideal project scenario would show concrete compounds and diagnostic tests from which patients suffering from a rare disease could benefit.
The focus must be on innovation, feasibility and effectiveness, while attaining high scientific and technological standards. The call is directed at researchers developing and implementing innovative approaches or technologies to address currently unresolved needs.
Call for projects 2013
Launched in March 2013
- At the beginning of March promotion material (brochures and posters) has been distributed to all institutions of higher education.
- Detailed information is given on this website.
- Deadline for applications: August 9, 2013. After evaluation and selection the final decisions will be communicated early November 2013.
Support Criteria
- The grants are awarded to projects that develop and/or implement novel approaches or technologies for the diagnosis, characterisation and/or treatment of rare genetic diseases.
- To qualify for support, the project must be rooted at a Swiss university, university hospital, federal institute of technology, at research institutions affiliated with Swiss universites or at a university of applied sciences or at a research institution affiliated with Swiss universities.
- Support is not restricted to already existing research groups but also to new groups.
- The programme finances the costs of salaries, consumables and equipment; infrastructure costs must be covered by the host institution.
- Preference is given to clearly defined projects with a maximum budget of CHF 500’000 for a period not exceeding three years.
- The project may also be concurrently supported from other sources (e.g. Swiss Confederation, cantons, foundations, industry), however, the programme is not going to support gap financing.
- Projects must comply with the regulations commonly in force in the research sector and have the necessary authorizations.
Submission of Applications
- The application form can be downloaded.
- The documents must be submitted by a member of the project management team.
- The applications should include also a letter of recommendation from the Institute/Department Head.
- The final date for submission will be August 9, 2013.
Project Evaluation and Monitoring
- The projects are evaluated by the Advisory Board of the programme.
- The Foundation’s decision is communicated in early November.
- Managers of the successful projects are invited to negotiate contracts with Gebert Rüf Stiftung, which will define the deliverables and reporting requirements.
- All copyrights, patent rights and rights of use remain with the project management.
Advisory Board
- Prof. Dr. Rudolf Marty, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Prof. Dr. Susan Gasser, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees
- Prof. Dr. Josef Jiricny, University of Zurich
- Prof. Dr. Denis Monard, Swiss Academy of Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Marc Schapira, University of Geneva
- Prof. Dr. Jürg Schifferli, University of Basel, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees
- Prof. Dr. Mehdi Tafti, University of Lausanne
Programme Management
- Gebert Rüf Stiftung
Dr. Pascale Vonmont, Deputy Director, Bäumleingasse 22/4, 4051 Basel
pascale.vonmont@grstiftung.ch, Fon +41 61 270 88 24
The winners of the calls 2009 – 2012
Call 2012: 5 finalists out of 54 submissions
- Molecular Basis of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Persistence during Chronic Infections of Cystic Fibrosis Airways, Prof. Dr. Urs Jenal, University of Basel, CHF 370’000
- Transient Neonatal Diabetes and ZFP57 as a Paradigm for the Exporation of Imprinting Disorders, Prof. Dr. Didier Trono, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CHF 400’000
- Inducing Immunological Tolerance to Galsulface as an Example in Enzyme Replacement Therapies, Prof. Dr. Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CHF 300’000
- Uromodulin-associated Kidney Diseases, Prof. Dr. Olivier Devuyst, University of Zurich and UniversitätsSpital Zurich, CHF 490’000
- Optogenic Vision Restoration and Neuroprotection in Retinitis Pigmentiosa, Dr. Botond Roska, Friedrich Miescher Institute, CHF 500’000
Call 2011: 6 finalists out of 32 submissions
- Prodrug Platform for Rare Colonic Diseases, Prof. Dr. Jean-Christophe Leroux, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, CHF 300’000
- Treatment for Dysferlinopathies, Prof. Dr. Michael Sinnreich, Universitätsspital Basel, CHF 480’000
- Vaccination for the Prevention and Cure of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Prof. Dr. Anne Müller, Universität Zürich, CHF 190’000
- Host- and Pathogen-Derived Factors in Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidadiasis, Prof. Dr. Salomé Leibundgut-Landmann, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, CHF 500’000
- Rational Targeting of FOXC2 Haploinsufficiency, Ass. Prof. Dr. Tatiana Petrova, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudoise (CHUV), CHF 500’000
- Role of snoRNAs in the Development of Prader Willi Syndrome, Dr. Shivendra Kishore, Universität Basel, CHF 110’000
Call 2010: 5 finalists out of 48 submissions
- Towards a better mechanistic understanding of Friedreich's Ataxia, Ass. Prof. Dr. Marc Bühler, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, CHF 498’000
- Role of macroautophagy in CGD and correction of the defect, PD Dr. Janine Reichenbach, Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich, CHF 390’000
- Consanguinity and rare recessive disorders, Prof. Dr. Stylianos Antonarakis, Université de Genève, CHF 500’000
- Rescue of dysfunctional RNA processing in spinal muscular atrophy through PGC-1-alpha, Prof. Dr. Christoph Handschin, Universität Basel, CHF 400’000
- Novel mechanisms causing Lafora disease, Dr. Oliver Kötting, ETHZ, CHF 250’000
Call 2009: 5 finalists out of 58 submissions
- Towards Preventing Nodule Formation in Hyaline Fibromatosis Patients, Prof. Dr. Gisou van der Goot, EPFL, CHF 450’000
- Genetic Screening for Disease-Causing Mutations in Familial Polycythemia Using Next Generation DNA Sequencing, Prof. Dr. Radek Skoda, University of Basel, CHF 300’000
- Gene Hunting for Recessive Hereditary Peripheral Neurophaties by Recent and Highly-Paralell Technologies, Dr. Carlo Rivolta, University of Lausanne, CHF 440’000
- Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type 1 - Pathomechanism and Therapie, Dr. Thorsten Hornemann, University of Zurich, CHF 340’000
- Identification of New Factors Implicated in Genetic Gonadal Disorders, Dr. Serge Nef, University of Geneva, CHF 450’000
