Women in Transplantation Research Fellowship in Gender and Sex

Overview

In collaboration with the Women in Transplantation, Sanofi will provide funding to support research focusing on sex and gender issues in solid organ transplantation and immunology. The spectrum of studies includes basic, clinical and translational. Eligible applicants should be trainees undertaking research training (pursing MSc, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in solid organ transplantation (and/or immunology relating to solid organ transplant). Applicants must be supervised by a mentor with expertise in transplantation or immunology, but the mentor need not have prior expertise in gender or sex in transplantation.


This initiative was made possible with support from:


General Information
  1. The grant provides one research grant for two years at $25,000 per year. Research must commence on July 1st 2024 and conclude on June 30th 2026.
  2. Any deferral of the research start date must be adequately justified and approved by the WIT Executive and the sponsor.
  3. Applications must be submitted in full by April 1st 2024 in order to be reviewed.
  4. The recipient will sign a letter of agreement with WIT. Payments will be issued to the recipient’s institution by WIT, and the recipient will report to the WIT Pillar 2.
Research Focus
The 2024 Sanofi / Women in Transplantation Research Fellowship Grant will fund research that contributes to our understanding of the impact of sex and/or gender transplantation. Such work includes, but is not limited to: studies of the impact of sex on transplant outcomes, sex differences in the immune response in organ transplantation, the influence of sex hormones on inflammatory responses, sex differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of immunosuppressive medications, disparities in access to transplantation based on gender or sex, the complex challenge of HLA sensitization in women following pregnancy, and the influence of gender on organ donation. Epidemiologic, clinical, translational, and basic, studies are all necessary and will be considered.
Eligibility
  1. The Applicant
    1. The applicant must be a trainee undertaking research training (pursing MSc, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in solid organ transplantation (and/or immunology relating to solid organ transplant).
    2. Throughout the period of the grant, the applicant may not hold an independent faculty level position or a salaried senior staff position (or equivalent) or have institutional support that includes independent lab space and/or start-up funds to allow independent research. Women in Transplantation defines an independent faculty level position as any ranked faculty position (i.e. Lecturer, Assistant Professor, etc).
    3. The applicant’s fellowship must commence prior to or on the start of the grant term (July 1st 2024).
    4. The minimum protected time for research is 75% for the applicant.
  2. Applicant’s Sponsor and Institutional Support
    1. The applicant must have a sponsor/mentor with expertise in transplantation or immunology. The mentor need not have prior expertise in gender or sex in transplantation.
    2. Applicants who have a substantial relationship with Sanofi that would present a real or perceived conflict of interest if awarded this grant should review this concern with the Women in Transplantation to declare the conflict before applying.
    3. Only one Sanofi / Women in Transplantation fellowship will be awarded per sponsor per year. If more than one grant from a given faculty member is submitted and deemed competitive, Women in Transplantation will make the final determination of which grant to fund.
    4. If the applicant’s sponsor departs or is planning to depart the institution prior to the commencement of the grant (July 1st 2024), the following applies:
      1. If the departure occurs after the submission deadline, the applicant will not be eligible for funding and their grant withdrawn, as an evaluation of the sponsor is part of the scoring procedure.
      2. If the departure occurs after a grant has been awarded and the grant has commenced, funding will be suspended. Reinstitution of the grant will be at the discretion of the Women in Transplantation, contingent upon satisfactory replacement of the sponsor and other factors. Awardee will be responsible for notifying Women in Transplantation of these circumstances as soon as they are aware.
    5. Women in Transplantation membership: The applicant’s sponsor must be an active member of both Women in Transplantation and TTS or have submitted a completed membership before the application deadline.
  3. Previous Funding/Funding from Other Sources
    1. The applicant may be a past or current recipient of other foundation fellowship research grants.
    2. The applicant may currently hold career development awards, or mentored scientist award.
    3. If the applicant is currently receiving funding for a project similar to the topics described in this RFA, the applicant should explain how the funds of the Sanofi / Women in Transplantation grant would not overlap with the funds of the other research support.
  4. Miscellaneous
    1. Citizenship: There is no restriction on citizenship.
    2. Laboratory: there is no restriction on laboratory location/country.
Specific Application Requirements

Applications that do not conform to these guidelines will be returned without review.

  1. Name, title, and institution of principle investigator, co-investigator(s), and/or key co- collaborator(s)
  2. Abstract of the proposed research plan: This document should concisely summarize the project in 400 words or less. The abstract should introduce the project and note its relevance to transplantation. It should describe the long-term objectives and specific aims, research design, and methods for achieving these goals.
  3. Applicant’s biosketch (maximum-5 pages, 12 font, Times News Roman, single space, 2x2 cm margin; use template provided) to include all usual and pertinent information, particularly describing other past and current research funding and prior published work.
  4. The biosketch of the mentor (use template provided).
  5. 5. Complete proposed research plan: This document is limited to five pages (12-font, Times News Roman, single space, 2 cm margins); the page limit does not include references. The following sections MUST be included:
    1. Introduction: provide the rationale for the research
    2. Aims: include the key questions posed or hypotheses to be tested
    3. Preliminary Results (if any): show preliminary results supporting the research plan
    4. Research Plan: explain how the questions or hypothesis will be studied, with emphasis on experimental design over the details of the specific methods to be used. Anticipated results and potential pitfalls and alternative approaches should be briefly discussed. Specific research (and, if applicable, training) goals to be reached at the end of the grant should also be provided.
    5. The research plan should include a description of relevant facilities/capabilities
  6. Mentor narrative: should not exceed three pages and should include:
    1. A concise description of the overall research plan.
    2. A description of the training program in addition to research project itself.
    3. A description of the mentor's background in supervising the research and training of students and postdoctoral fellows.
    4. The role of the applicant in the project.
    5. A description of the role of the applicant in preparing the application. A significant role in writing the application is highly encouraged, although input from the mentor is expected. For international applicants not yet in the lab, it is understood that the PI will play a large role in writing the application.
    6. The mentor’s description of the applicant's experience and performance, future potential, and the degree of previous interaction with the applicant.
    7. An explanation of any mitigating or additional factors that need to be considered in terms of eligibility (e.g. account of extra years or a change in research field).
    8. The mentor must specify whether they are a recipient or sponsor of another Women in Transplantation fellowship grant
    9. A guarantee of minimum of 75% of the applicant’s time protected for research.
  7. Budget: The grant is intended to provide salary support for the researcher and supplies/materials. No other costs are permitted, including institutional overhead or travel.
Review Process and Notification
  1. Proposals are due by April 1st 2024
  2. Funding decisions will be made by an expert review committee from the WIT peer members. Grants will be scored based on novelty, research approach, feasibility of obtaining relevant data, prior work, and the qualifications of the mentor, including prior productivity and mentoring experience.
  3. All applicants will be notified of their application status in May 2024 (one month post submission).
  4. For the selected individuals, the term of the grant will begin July 1st 2024. (three months post submission).
Support

It is envisaged that the Grant Recipient payment of $50,000 USD be paid in 2 payments of $25,000.00 USD across a 2 year period, upon receipt of the invoice or on another convenient date agreed upon by both parties, and receipt of signed agreement.

  1. The first payment is due on or before July 1st 2024
  2. The second payment is due on July 1st 2025.

Payments shall be wired to the Grant Recipient using the coordinates provided on the invoice.