Project SOS, in collaboration with The Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types (FIRST) has set up the FIRST/PROJECT SOS Lamellar Ichthyosis Research Grant (“Grant”) program to encourage and support the investigation into the causes, treatments and potential cures for Lamellar Ichthyosis.
The second year of the Foundation's Research Grant Program was met with a total of ten worthy research projects in the categories of Lamellar/Congenital Ichthyosiform Erythorderma (CIE) and Ichthyosis-related research. We are overwhelmingly grateful for the involvement of Dr. Leonard Milstone, Research Review Committee Chairman and Drs. Phil Fleckman and William Rizzo, who all worked tirelessly to evaluate each project. The Research Review Committee's caliber of knowledge and dedication to the ichthyosis community is commendable. Outside reviewers, comprised of scientists and physicians, volunteered their time and talents to assist the committee in review. The decision to fund two of these projects was approved by the Board of Directors.
The 2007 First/Project SOS Lamellar Ichthyosis Research Grant
Congratulations Dr. Heiko Traupe, at University Hospital, Muenster, Germany, who has been selected to receive $75,000 for his project titled, "Liposomal packing of recombinant transglutaminase-1 as an essential step toward enzyme replacement therapy of transglutaminase-1 deficient lamellar ichthyosis." Dr. Traupe's objective of the project states that "enzyme replacement therapy has greatly benefited genetic skin diseases such as Fabry disease and holds great promise for transglutaminase-1 (TGase-1) deficient lamellar ichthyosis (LI) and for other genetic types of Ll.The current therapeutic situation for LI is deplorable. We want to change this by developing an enzyme replacement therapy for TGase-1 deficient Ll.The general idea is to develop a cream containing the missing enzyme.
The 2006 First/Project SOS Lamellar Ichthyosis Research Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Judith Fisher of the Centre Nationale de Genotypag in Evry, France for her project entitled "Genetic & Clinical Studies in Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyoses Belonging to 12(R) -Lipoxygenase Pathway."
For more information regarding gene therapy, please read Gene Therapy, by Joann Boughman, PhD and Ichthyosis Research, by John McGrath.
Program Funding
Project SOS will be funding this annual grant in the amount of $75,000.00 annualy. Multiple-year funding of grant awards is expected, including renewal beyond the initial project period, as long as the recipient's tenure status is unchanged. Funding provided by Project SOS will be provided on an annual basis subject to availability of funds. It is expected that the selection of awards will be announced in June.
The Project SOS Lamellar Ichthyosis Research Grant will be awarded, after careful consideration by the Foundation’s Scientific Review Committee, to the applicant whose proposed research most closely meets the stated objectives of FIRST and Project SOS. Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria:
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High priority will be given to proposals that focus on the translation of known genetic information and established pathogenic pathways into curative therapies or new therapies with significant impact;
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Novel approaches to management and treatment of Lamellar Ichthyosis;
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Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
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Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
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Competency of applicant's personnel and adequacy of proposed resources;
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Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.;
The evaluation will emphasize the quality and impact of the recent research of the principal investigator, and will include issues related to the feasibility of carrying out the proposed research, such as technique, other commitments, competition and timing.