International Myeloma Society (IMS) and Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation Translational Research Award

The International Myeloma Society and Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation are proud to announce the fourth annual “IMS Translational Research Award,” funding grants focused on translational research in the field of plasma cell dyscrasias.

Goal: To foster and support state-of-the-art investigator-initiated translational research that will contribute to improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of plasma cell disorder. Although focused on finding a cure for multiple myeloma, the areas of research for this program are broad. This award will also encourage interaction between institutions to enhance collaborative research.

 Request for Application: Applicants should submit the research proposal by January 31, 2024.

Budget: The grant will be an award between $175,000 to $250,000 USD  including maximal allowable institutional overhead of 8%. This may include salary support, as well as laboratory supplies and services and travel allowance and a detailed budget justification will be required. Equipment purchase is not allowed unless a special justification is provided to confirm its essential requirement. Applicants may apply for an additional year of funding which will be evaluated based on research progress and available funding.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a faculty member or a scientist with an MD, and/or PhD, who is established as a researcher. Applicants with research experience outside of the field of plasma cell malignancies, who wishes now to apply their knowledge to developing translational research efforts focused on myeloma are encouraged. Women and underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.  The PI or Co-I should be an IMS member. The applicant should agree to acknowledge IMS and the Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation as the funding source in any publication or presentation resulting from this funding. The applicants should provide a progress report at 6 months and at the end of the funding year and respond to periodic surveys for IMS.

Previous awardees will be eligible to reapply for an additional year, if adequate progress is demonstrated, and a need for additional resources is clearly defined to reach the translational potential.

 Research areas: Translational research projects in all areas of plasma-cell dyscrasia are eligible for this proposal. The Translational Research is defined in its broadest sense to include molecular assays, imaging techniques, drugs, biological agents, and/or other methodologies applicable to the treatment of myeloma. The translational research projects may involve the use of any cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental approaches. By this definition, projects are permitted to move not only in the forward direction, toward clinical trials and studies in areas of prevention, early detection, treatment, and development of biomarkers, but also in the reverse direction, using human biospecimens, often from clinical trials, to study new phenomena, or to develop new targets and treatments based on results from human studies. The project must be focused on translational research that meets the definition provided above and results in clinical translation. Project must be dedicated to capitalizing on research opportunities that have the potential to change the current paradigm in the management of myeloma.

 Application format: The research proposal should be total of 5 pages including figures but not including references and should include the following details:  Use 0.5 inch margins, single-spaced, Arial 11 font

1. Completed IMS application
2. Research Plan (5 pages):
   1. Specific Aims: (maximum 1 page)
   2. Background & Significance
   3. Innovation
   4. Preliminary results
   5. Experimental Approach including methods and potential problems and solutions as well as statistical considerations.
3. References (25 maximum)
4. Progress in prior funding period if reapplying (1 page)
5. A statement of how the applicant meets the eligibility criteria and provide a rationale for how the research project will provide a translational endpoint (<200 words);
6. Applicant’s biosketch and if applicable Co-investigator’s biosketch – 5 page NIH style
7. Budget and Justification

The deadline for submitting applications is January 31, 2024. 

 Contact: For additional questions, please contact us at contact@myelomasociety.org