The Rosenau Family Research Foundation (RFRF) grant program is vital to the foundation’s mission of finding better treatments and a cure for Krabbe disease and Cystic Fibrosis.
Please thoroughly read and understand the background, application, and funding process.
Grant Program Goals, Objectives, and Overview
To support RFRF’s mission and vision, the foundation will consider grant funding for basic science research, translational research, and clinical research that can lead to or enhance treatments and cures for Krabbe disease and Cystic Fibrosis. In addition, programs that promote, through education and awareness, the expansion of Newborn Screening, Krabbe disease, and Cystic Fibrosis, will be similarly considered.
Each full grant application will be evaluated by RFRF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for alignment with RFRF’s goals and objectives, as well as the proposal’s scientific merit, significance, robustness, and feasibility (scientific, technical, and financial).
Only grant applications that address specific scientific question(s) or applications that address specific educational/awareness goal(s) and that are aligned with RFRF’s mission and vision will be funded.
Each year, RFRF will donate approximately one million dollars to support RFRF’s grants program. This funding will support both new projects as well as ongoing, previously approved programs. To help expand the scientific reach of RFRF’s funding, only one new grant will be awarded per applicant per year, and beginning with the current grant application cycle, there will be two grant application categories:
- Up to two grants will be awarded exclusively to new investigators.
- To be eligible for a new investigator grant, the applicant must attend, study, or work at an accredited non-profit, or not-for-profit institution located in the United States (i.e., recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity under 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) and be either:
- an undergraduate student, or
- a graduate student or medical student, or
- a post-doctorate fellow, or
- a medical resident or fellow.
- The scope of the proposed project must align with the research, education, or awareness objectives outlined above.
- Applicants will be eligible to receive up to $60,000 per year for up to two years.
- Overhead funding cannot exceed 5% of the total award.
- Full grant applications for Investigators must be accompanied by the investigator’s CV/resume as well as institutional letter(s) of support:
- The mentor/supervisor letter of support should include a description of the type of support and mentorship the investigator will receive during the proposed project and should also address the applicant’s character and qualifications relative to the proposed project.
- The two letters of recommendation should attest to the applicant’s character and qualifications relative to the proposed project.
- The institutional letter(s) of support should indicate the institution’s support of the proposed project and proposed funding agreement (i.e., letter(s) of support or summary letter of support from the institution’s Research Office confirming support from all relevant institutional parties e.g. Research Office, Contracts Office, IRB/Ethic Committee, Institutional Animal Safety and Biosafety Committees, etc.)
- It is anticipated that up to approximately 3-4 investigator grants will be awarded.
- The applicant must work at an accredited non-profit or not-for-profit institution located in the United States (i.e., recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity under 501©(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code).
- The scope of the proposed project must align with the research, education, or awareness objectives outlined above.
- Applicants will be eligible to receive up to $125,000 per year for up to three years.
- Overhead funding cannot exceed 5% of the total award.
- Full grant applications for Investigators must be accompanied by the investigator’s CV/resume as well as an institutional letter(s) or letters of support:
- The institutional letter(s) of support indicating the institution’s support of the proposed project and proposed funding agreement (i.e. letter(s) of support or summary letter of support from the institution’s Research Office confirming support from all relevant institutional parties e.g. Research Office, Contracts Office, IRB/Ethic Committee, Institutional Animal Safety and Biosafety Committees, etc.)
Stages of the Application Process
Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
The Rosenau Family Research Foundation conducts two grant funding cycles in a year, with a call for Letters of Inquiry in the Fall and Spring. All interested applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to the Foundation regarding their research project no later than January 31st for the Fall grant funding cycle, or July 31st for the Spring grant funding cycle. Letters of Inquiry may be submitted at any time but are not sent for review until after the respective cycle’s deadline.
Learn more about our LOI on the Letter of Inquiry page.
Please send any questions to grants@rosenaufoundation.org.
Stage 2: Scientific Review of LOI
Each LOI will be reviewed for the proposal’s merit and significance, as well as alignment with RFRF’s vision and mission. A formal decision will be made on which grants will be invited for full application submission. An invitation to full application submission does not represent approval of the proposal or its budget. As the LOI is a high-level synopsis of the proposed project, a complete and comprehensive evaluation of the proposed program’s robustness, and feasibility (scientifically, technically, and financially) can only be made once the full application is submitted and thoroughly reviewed. Final scientific review and approval may, therefore, come with suggested modifications to the proposed program and/or budget.
Stage 3: Full Funding Application
Each Letter of Inquiry will receive either a formal invitation for submission or a denial letter by February 16th for the Fall grant funding cycle, or August 16th for the Spring grant funding cycle.
Full grant applications are due at the RFRF office no later than June 1st for the Fall grant funding cycle, or December 1st for the Spring grant funding cycle.
Each full grant application will be evaluated by RFRF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for alignment with RFRF’s goals and objectives, as well as the proposal’s scientific merit, significance, robustness, and feasibility (scientific, technical, and financial). The SAC will provide recommendations and will grade each proposal. As this is a competitive process, final funding decisions will follow a review of the final ranking, grade, and recommendations for each grant application. Applicants will be notified of their full grant application status in early October for the Fall grant funding cycle, and early April for the Spring grant funding cycle.
Stage 4: Progress and Financial Reports
All awarded grant recipients are required to complete a progress and financial report twice a year. Progress reports are due to the RFRF office on May 1st and November 1st of each funded year. In addition financial reports must be submitted to the Foundation on May 1st and December 1st of each funded year.Progress reports provide RFRF with insights into how the project is progressing against its goals and objectives. It’s vital that the foundation stays aware of delays or changes to a project. Continued funding is contingent on the research plan, methods, and milestones of the original funding application.
If you have any issues with the PDF format for either of these documents, please contact grants@rosenaufoundation.org for a Word version.
Letter of Inquiry
Submit your Letter of Inquiry by January 31st for the Fall grant funding cycle, or July 31st for the Spring grant funding cycle