The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation strives to foster research that will have the greatest potential impact on Sjögren’s syndrome patients, ensuring new therapeutics are developed and a cure found. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation focuses on encouraging and funding the best and most innovative research grants and student fellowships and advocates for increased research from U.S. government sources and medical centers around the world.

A high priority is placed on both clinical and basic scientific research into the cause, prevention, detection, treatment, and cure of Sjögren’s syndrome, with support provided to investigators at every career level from student to junior investigator to senior-level leader.

2008 Request for Proposals for
SSF Innovative Concept Research Grant
Supported by the Leach Family
The SSF Innovative Concept Grant is intended to nurture the development of hypotheses that reach beyond the current paradigms of their topic area. Grants are made in the amount of $50,000 annually for two years, the second year being dependent on satisfactory grant progress.

Thanks to a special donation from the Leach family, the Foundation is issuing in 2008 an RFP for an Innovative Concept Grant specifically in salivary gland research. The research will be targeted toward finding better therapeutics for dry mouth in Sjögren’s syndrome and may include proposals on salivary biomarkers that will aid in diagnosis and treatment of Sjögren’s.

Applicants will send in the standard research grant application. The application that meets the criteria of the RFP and is deemed most innovative by reviewers will be awarded the SSF Innovative Concept Grant. At that time, a new budget for the $50,000 grant will be requested.

Applications for SSF Research Grants
In addition to the Innovative Concept Grant, SSF offers research grants in the amount of $35,000 annually for two years, the second year being dependent on satisfactory grant progress. In 2007, four $35,000 Research Grants were awarded.

All SSF research grants are open to basic and clinical scientists holding an advanced degree (MD, DDS, DMD, or PhD) at any U.S. university or research institution. Both junior and senior investigators may apply. For physicians, advanced clinical training in a specialty related to Sjögren's syndrome, such as rheumatology or ophthalmology, is desirable.

The application receipt deadline is February 1 each year. The grant funding period is July 1 through June 30.

Research Grant Application

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