IWMF Research Grant Program

The purpose of the International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) Research Grant Program is to support research that improves the quality of life for patients with WM. The request for proposals is to help further knowledge in the following five key areas of WM research: genomics and epigenomics, signaling, immunology/immunotherapy, bone marrow/tumor microenvironment, and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

The IWMF is happy to offer research grants in five categories:

IWMF-LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative

The goal of this initiative is to support basic research that provides a better understanding of the cause, biology, diagnosis, treatment, and possible cures for WM. This grant awards a maximum of $200,000 per year for 2 years ($400,000), plus 20% for indirect costs. Applicants should have an independent research or academic position.

More information can be found here.

Robert A. Kyle Career Development Award

The IWMF is delighted to announce the 3^rd year of the Robert A. Kyle Career Development Award for WM, which serves as a tribute to Dr. Robert Kyle's significant contributions to the field of plasma cell disorders and WM over the past 50+ years.

This award program supports the career development of next-generation researchers in WM. The IWMF will award a research grant of $75,000 per year for a 2-year project to young investigators, defined as junior faculty members (instructor or assistant professor) and/or postdoctoral fellows with a focus on basic research in the field of B-cell or plasma cell malignancies for at least 2 years; their program must have a teaching curriculum, a mentoring program, and senior investigators must have a track record in the B-cell or plasma cell malignancy field.

More information can be found here

IWMF Research Seed Money Initiative

This initiative gives investigators around the world the opportunity to define objectives and test pilot hypotheses in preparation for larger grant applications through the IWMF/LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative. The grant awards a maximum of $75,000 for a 1-year project, plus an additional 20% for indirect costs. Applicants should have an independent research or academic position.

More information can be found here

IWMF-LLS Enhanced Research Roadmap Initiative

This is essentially the same as the IWMF-LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative; however, it requires more effort, resources, and time, with a duration of up to 4 years; funding of up to $1.5 million (including indirect costs) is offered and applicants should have an independent research or academic position.

More information can be found here

IWMF-LLS Companion Initiative

This initiative supports a basic science project used as an adjunct in a clinical trial. The IWMF-LLS will award 1–2 new research proposals each year, with a duration of 1 or 2 years and a total cost of up to $100,000 per project, plus up to an additional 20% for indirect costs. Applicants should have an independent research or academic position.

More information can be found here

The submission and review process of all categories in the IWMF research grant program are outlined below:

Submission guidelines

Each project should be described in detail, including its significance, aims, 6-month timelines, and scientific approach; this must not exceed 12 pages. References, biographical sketches, a detailed budget with justification, a list of other projects, and appendices can be listed on additional pages.

The detailed budget with justification should itemize each major category for every year of the program. It can be summarized for year 1 and extrapolated for the remaining year, with all totals and subtotals included.

Direct costs can include the following:

• Personal expenses including salary, wage, or stipend with fringe benefits. No more than 40% of the direct costs may be requested for the salary and fringe benefit expenses of professional staff with a post-graduate degree (i.e., MD, PhD, DVM), regardless of function or role. This restriction does not apply to technical staff (lab assistants, nurses, etc.).
• Supplies and materials requests should be itemized by category.
• Equipment purchase requests must identify each item of equipment with an acquisition cost of more than $500.

Indirect costs are those incurred for common or joint objectives that cannot be readily identified with a particular project, including general maintenance, utilities, library, etc. If sponsoring institutions do not require the full amount, the funds can be applied to the Grantee’s/Principal Investigator’s stipend, fringe benefits cost, or they can request only their true indirect costs. Non-permitted costs include membership dues, tuition, books, journals, and publication costs.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree and work in domestic or foreign non-profit organizations, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, or laboratories
• Applicants need not be US citizens
• 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
• Multi-institutional or multi-disciplinary applications are encouraged for the IWMF-LLS Strategic Research Roadmap Initiative; this can either be a single application with or without other principal investigators or collaborators from different institutions, or different sections within one institution.
  • Alternatively, two or more institutions can submit separate standalone applications and indicate that the applications are linked should they be selected for funding

Review criteria

All applications will be judged on these criteria:

• The probability of a near-term advance in prevention, diagnosis, or treatment
• The conceptual basis of the proposal
• The novelty of the concept and strategy
• Thoughtful and clear presentation
• The overall plan for translating 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 the protection of human subjects
• Access to sufficient patient samples (if appropriate to the project), either from the investigator’s institution or from documented collaborations, must be adequate.
  • If an investigator does not have access to sufficient samples, the IWMF encourages them to collaborate with another researcher or bone marrow bank who will share samples with them pre-proposal. You may contact the IWMF before submitting the proposal to discuss obtaining samples. Failure to have adequate samples and therefore lack of scientific levels may result in cancellation of the project.

Review process and timelines

Firstly, proposals are reviewed by the IWMF Scientific Advisory Committee and other experts in the field who may respond with questions and/or request clarification regarding certain aspects of the proposal. The proposals are ranked according to National Institutes of Health review criteria, with a final decision made by the IWMF Board of Trustees. The review process may take up to 6 months, but applicants will be notified as soon as a decision has been made.

Reporting requirements

Progress reports in Microsoft Word or PDF file format are required to be submitted to the IWMF by the principal investigator every 6 months for the duration of the project. Interim progress reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the 6-month period ends. Such progress reports will describe the activities and results with respect to each specific aim that has been outlined during the preceding 6-month period. Each progress report will include a proposed path forward over the next 6-month period.

A final progress report, describing the results and findings concerning the goals of the project, should be submitted no later than 45 days after the project ends, and a final detailed expenditure report must be sent no later than 90 days after the project ends.

Progress reports should provide a lay summary for both interim and final reports. The principal investigator must demonstrate that they are performing the obligations stated in the submitted and approved research proposal for each reporting period.

Payment policy

At the start of the project, the IWMF Treasurer will pay a pro-rata amount for 6 months. Future payments will be made at designated 6-month intervals after each interim or final progress report and accompanying lay summary has been received, and the IWMF Research Committee considers that it satisfactorily meets the IWMF reporting guidelines above. Payments will be made after all guidelines have been met.

The application form for all research grant programs can be found here.

All applications and other correspondence regarding the research grants should be sent via email to the following two individuals:

• Dr. Tom Hoffmann, IWMF Research Committee (thoffmann@iwmf.com)
• Robin Tucker, IWMF Finance Manager (rtucker@iwmf.com)

The deadline is  March 29, 2024 at 15:00 U.S. ET

The IWMF Office will acknowledge receipt of each proposal within one business day via email. If you do not receive such an acknowledgment, please contact Robin Tucker at rtucker@iwmf.com or call the IWMF Office at 941-927-4963.

'The International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) and the Lymphoma Hub are working in collaboration for patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. This initiative aims to increase awareness of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia among healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and the patient advocacy community.

This initiative is funded by Cellectar Biosciences and BeiGene. All content is developed independently by SES in collaboration with an expert steering committee; funders are allowed no direct influence on the content of the hub.’