IWMF funding for research has helped to provide insight into understanding the basic biology and genetics of WM. This research in turn has played a significant role in the development of treatments and treatment guidelines in current use, as well as potential new drugs still in the pipeline. The goal of our research program is to improve quality of life for WM patients, and ultimately, discover a cure.
You can find general information about many of these drug treatments here and fact sheets about several drugs currently being used here. Additional discussion about recent research discoveries and their impact on new drug development can be found here. Clinical trials are also an essential part of medical research, and patients may want to consider participating in clinical trials where appropriate. More information about clinical trials can be found here.
Our grant process carefully evaluates research proposals through a Scientific Advisory Committee composed of outstanding global researchers in the WM community. All research proposals and existing IWMF grants are reviewed and administered through a volunteer Research Committee and ultimately subject to IWMF Board approval. Researchers who receive grants must submit periodic reports, including a layman’s summary, reflecting progress and developments in their funded research projects to the Research Committee. Interim and final results of research projects are periodically communicated to our membership in the IWMF Torch newsletter.
In addition to funding grants, the IWMF helps to support medical workshops and conferences, including the biennial International Workshops on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, administered for several years by the Bing Center for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These Workshops have produced important insights into understanding the disease and have resulted in Consensus Panel guidelines that physicians can use in their clinical practice for the care of WM patients. The IWMF also helps fund attendance at the International Workshops for up-and-coming researchers through the Young Investigator Award (YIA) program.
The IWMF research strategy, including the recent IWMF-LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative, our sponsorship of medical workshops and conferences, and the YIA program are discussed in Research Strategy.
Researchers who are interested in learning more about our grant process can go to Applying for a Research Grant application guidelines and review criteria and download a grant application.
Current IWMF grant recipients and summaries of their research projects are listed here, while past grant recipients are here.
Guidelines
Purpose: The IWMF Research Grant Program is pledged to promote and support basic research leading to improved understanding of the cause, diagnosis, treatment, and cure for the disease Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM). Based on this strategy, the IWMF-LLS Research Roadmap Initiative was recently developed to further our knowledge in four specific areas of WM research. The Initiative includes a Request for Proposals, the most recent of which can be viewed here.
Submissions: The plan for the IWMF-LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative is to issue an RFP each year and to award grants for 2-4 new research proposals, depending on funding availability. Each project shall be 2 years in length, at a cost of up to $200,000 per year per project. The specific deadline to receive proposal applications will be noted in each RFP. Following a review process that may take up to 4-6 months, funding for successful applicants for each year is anticipated to begin in the 4th quarter. An application is submitted via email. The project description, significance, aims, and scientific approach should not exceed 12 pages in length. Additional pages should include references, biographical sketches, detailed budget with justification, and appendices as necessary.
Who Can Apply: Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and work in domestic or foreign non-profit organizations, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, or laboratories. Applications may involve multiple such institutions, and the applicant should have an independent research or academic position. Applicants need not be U.S. citizens, and there are no restrictions on applicant age, race, gender, or creed. Applications from non-academic facilities, postdoctoral positions, and the National Institutes of Health are not eligible.
Range of Grant Awards: The IWMF anticipates funding grants for up to $200,000 per year for each project under the Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative.
Project Length: Research projects shall be up to 2 years in length. A project may be extended by filing an additional grant request which must be approved by an independent review committee and the IWMF Board of Trustees.
Payment Policy: IWMF research payments are made on a six-month basis. The IWMF Treasurer will pay a pro rata amount for six months at the start of the project. Future payments will be made every six months after receipt of a satisfactory six-month Progress Report. Ten percent (10%) of the last payment will be withheld until the IWMF Research Committee approves a Final Report. The payment schedule will be listed in the contract for the research project.
Reporting Requirements: Progress Reports are required to be submitted to the IWMF by the Principal Investigator every six months for the duration of the project. Progress Reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the six-month period ends. Progress Reports will describe the activities and findings of the previous six months and provide a plan for the next six-month period. A Final Report, which shall describe the results and findings as they relate to the stated goals of the project for the full term of the project, is required no later than two months after the project ending date. The Principal Investigator should expect on occasion to receive requests for clarification of Progress Reports. A layperson summary shall accompany each Progress Report and the Final Report.
Request Research Grant Application
Click here to download PDF of application form.
Review Criteria
An application will be judged on these criteria by an independent review committee:
- The probability of an advance in prevention, diagnosis, or treatment in the near-term.
- The conceptual basis upon which the proposal rests.
- The novelty of the concept and strategy.
- The overall plan for bringing the research findings to clinical application.
- Experience, background, and qualifications of investigator(s).
- Adequacy of resources and environment (facilities, data management, data analysis, etc.).
- Adequacy of provisions for protection of human subjects.
For more information, please visit: http://www.iwmf.com/research and https://www.iwmf.com/research/applying-research-grant