Handlungsfeld RARE DISEASES

HANDLUNGSFELD <LIFE SCIENCE >

programme

RARE DISEASES – NEW Approaches

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.

Programme Objectives
The initiative aims at developing and implementing innovative technologies or approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of Rare Diseases. The knowledge gained should lead to a better understanding of the genetic, molecular and biochemical processes underlying these diseases and pave the way towards new forms of treatment or diagnostics. A further aim is to improve the transfer of basic research findings into clinical practice. The focus must be on innovation, feasibility and effectiveness, while attaining high scientific and technological standards.

Call for projects 2010

Launch in March 2010

–	By the end of March the promotion material (brochures and posters) has been distributed to all the institutions of higher education.
–	Detailed information is given on this website.
–	The final date for submission for applications is July 31, 2010. After the evaluation and selection will the final decisions be communicated in early November 2010.

Support Criteria

–	The grants will be 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 primarily at a Swiss university, university hospital, federal institute of technology, at research institutions affiliated with Swiss universites or at a university of applied sciences.
–	Support is not restricted to research groups already working in this area, new groups may also be eligible.
–	The programme will finance the costs of salaries, consumables and equipment; infrastructure costs must be covered by the host institution.
–	Preference will be given to independent 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 is July 31, 2010.

Project Evaluation and Monitoring

–	The projects will be evaluated by the Advisory Board of the programme.
–	The Foundation’s decision will be communicated in early November.
–	Managers of the successful projects will be 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, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG
–	Prof. Dr. Susan Gasser, Member of the Board of Trustees of GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG
–	Prof. Dr. Josef Jiricny, University of Zurich
–	Prof. Dr. Denis Monard, Swiss Academy of Sciences
–	Prof. Dr. Marc Schapira, University of Lausanne
–	Prof. Dr. Jürg Schifferli, Member of the Board of Trustees of GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG
–	Prof. Dr. Mehdi Tafti, University of Lausanne

Contact

–	GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG: Dr. Pascale Vonmont, Deputy Director pascale.vonmont@grstiftung.ch, Fon +41 61 270 88 24

RESULTS OF CALL 2009

5 Finalists out of 58 Applications

–	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

>For detailed project information see our database

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