FLAD Grants on Portugal-USA collaborative projects:
Basic Project Grant / Translational Project Grant
FLAD is launching a call for 3-4 year project grants on basic and translational health
sciences for researchers working in Portugal developing a collaborative effort with
researchers in USA.
1. OBJECTIVE
The objective of the FLAD grants is to increase the competitiveness of Portuguese
research groups, by providing support for collaborative research projects with
leading USA groups. All research areas in biomedical sciences will be considered
eligible for funding.
2. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
A scientific committee provides FLAD with independent scientific coordination and
advice. It is composed by the following experts:
• Maria Manuel Mota, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal;
• Rui Costa, Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal;
• Sangeeta Bhatia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
3. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY/INDEPENDENCE
At the time of application:
• The applicant must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree, and must be
employed by a Portuguese institution (public non-profit, private non-profit, or
government) engaged in health care and/or health related research.
• The applicant must have attained independence as a researcher, and sufficient
information must be provided in the application to demonstrate the autonomy
and scientific quality of the Portuguese research institution.
• The applicant’s research institution must declare its support for the project, and
describe the available resources to develop the project.
• Detailed information will also be required on the proposed co-applicant from US
research institutions.
• Eligibility is not restricted by citizenship.
4. PROPOSAL ELIGIBILITY\RESTRICTIONS
• Each Portuguese research institution can only submit, per call, up to two
applications to the Basic Project Grant and up to two applications to the
Translational Project grant.
• Applicants can only submit one application per call either for a Basic Project
Grant or for a Translational Project Grant.
5. REVIEW PROCESS
FLAD grants applications are reviewed by the Grants Review Committee. Each
application is assigned to (at least) two reviewers, who will prepare a written
evaluation of the application, addressing the following Selection Criteria:
• Relevance to human health: It is the applicant's responsibility to explain the
scientific/clinical relevance of the proposal.
• Scientific Merit: This includes the underlying scientific hypothesis, experimental
design, and the likelihood of the proposed research to produce significant new
information that will enhance human health.
• Excellence of Investigator: Investigator qualifications to be examined are
academic background, research experience, achievements and publications.
• Research Environment: availability of appropriate space and equipment, quality
and commitment of the supporting institution, etc.
• Each criterion will be scored from 0 to 5 (with decimal increases).
• The final score will be the arithmetic mean of the scores from the four criteria.
6. TERMS OF THE GRANTS
a) Duration
• Grants are awarded for one to three years, with a possible extension for one
more year.
• FLAD retains the right to renew each year only if a satisfactory progress report
is received.
b) Amount
• The total amount for grant per project is € 300.000 or € 400.000, in case of
extension.
• The maximum total amount given per year is €100.000, of which €10.000 per
year may be allocated to indirect costs, i.e. 10% of the total award.
• The first year grant is made available upon execution of the Contract
Agreement.
• The following year grants are disbursed after a positive evaluation of the
annual progress report, which must be sent to FLAD until the end of
September of each year.
• All amounts are transferred to the Portuguese institution.
7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
a) Progress Reports
Recipients of FLAD grants are required to submit a progress report, outlining the
project’s accomplishments during the first nine months of the grant. Second and
third year funding (and fourth year, in case of extension) is contingent upon
favorable evaluation of the previous year’s progress report.
b) Final Scientific Report
The final scientific report, a brief summary of progress toward the achievement of
originally stated aims, is due 60 days after the end of the project.
c) Financial Reports
Annual financial reports will be due two months after the end of each project year.
8. PUBLICATIONS
Publications resulting from research activities supported by FLAD grants (or other
public/private project presentations) must contain the following acknowledgement:
“Supported by (Insert project title of the grant and reference number) from the
Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento”.
9. PATENTS
Grants are awarded with the understanding that FLAD will receive written
notification from the applicant of the filing of any letters of patent for any discovery
made based on work funded by FLAD. (Please see FLAD Patent and Intellectual
Property Policy).
10. HOW TO APPLY
a) Applications must be sent to FLAD by email – [email protected] – with the
following documents:
• Application Form (template provided);
• Applicant and Co-Applicant Biosketchs (template provided);
• Co-Applicant declaration (acceptance and collaboration).
b) Deadline for applications: October 20, 2014; 11:59 PM (GMT)
c) Results are announced by December 15, 2014.