Gaucher Generation Grant Program Overview

The Gaucher Generation Program distributes grants on a competitive basis to scientists and clinicians engaged in Gaucher disease research. The program is intended to stimulate and support the advancement of medical knowledge and practice in Gaucher disease through innovative investigator-initiated research. It represents Genzyme’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the care of Gaucher patients and supporting the Gaucher community. The ultimate goal of the program is to improve the lives of Gaucher patients.

Your Ideas. Our Support.

Two winners will be selected each year. Each winner will receive a two-year annual grant of up to $75,000 for a total grant of up to $150,000. All proposals are considered proprietary and confidential, and are not reproduced except for purposes of program administration.

Research Topics for 2008

For the inaugural year of the Gaucher Generation program, we will consider a wide range of research proposals for the award, including basic research, clinical research, ICGG Gaucher Registry-based research, and public health and patient education research. Higher consideration will be given to those proposals that can contribute to improving the lives of those with Gaucher disease.

Application Process and Timeline

[ Submission for Letter of Intent is now closed ]

Step 1. Letter of Intent Submission:

The Letter of Intent is a brief summary, not to exceed three pages, outlining the research intent and approach. Download instructions for the Letter of Intent here. Your completed Letter of Intent documentation should be uploaded using the WEBCARGO secure link. The Letter of Intent must have reached Genzyme by April 30, 2008.

Step 2. Letter of Intent Review:

The independent committee of Gaucher Disease experts will review all Letters of Intent in a blinded evaluation to determine if the proposed research is appropriate for the program.

Step 3. Request for Proposals:

All applicants will be notified via email by June 15, 2008 whether or not the committee recommends they submit a full research proposal.

Step 4. Proposal Submission:

Requested Proposals must reach Genzyme by July 31, 2008. Download the Research Proposal Instructions here. Completed proposals should be uploaded using the WEBCARGO secure link.

Step 5. Research Proposal Review:

The independent committee of Gaucher disease experts will review all Research Proposals in a blinded evaluation to determine the grant recipients.

Step 6. Grants Announcement:

Grant recipients will be announced at a satellite forum during the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) annual meeting in Philadelphia in November.

Step 7. Research Agreements Signed:

A research agreement will be signed and payments made in semi-annual installments beginning in January 2009.

Review Criteria

An independent, internationally diverse committee of Gaucher disease experts, will review, evaluate, and score all Letters of Intent and Research Proposals. Membership on the committee will be rotated to ensure a broad range of scientific representation over time. Members of the committee will not be permitted to submit Letters of Intent or Research Proposals. In addition to the scientific merit of the proposed research, the committee of Gaucher disease experts considers the following criteria when evaluating proposals:

Adequacy of the experimental design to answer the proposed question of interest

Feasibility of the proposed study design, budget, and duration

Clinical importance and potential impact on patients

Innovation of the proposal

Qualifications and experience of the principal investigator for the proposed research

Research Agreement

Should an applicant be awarded a Gaucher Generation Program grant, the recipient and Genzyme will sign a research agreement. This agreement will contain the terms and conditions of the research study, including obligations for the recipient to report study progress every six months, publication rights, confidentiality and first option rights for Genzyme when an industrial application is anticipated.

Downloadable documents:

Instructions for Letter of Intent – Submission is due April 30, 2008

Instructions for Research Proposals – After acceptance of Letter of Intent, proposal is due on or before July 31, 2008

Download the Sample Evaluation Form

Upload your Letter of Intent and/or your Research Proposal by using the WEBCARGO secure link.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the Gaucher Generation program or grant application process, please email gauchergeneration@genzyme.com. You may also call within the US 1-800-745-4447, x16608, or +1-617-768-6608 outside the US, and speak with Julia Feuerer, Grant Program Coordinator.