Network Grant V.2

Grant Criteria

Purpose

The purpose of the Hillblom Foundation Network Grant is to facilitate interaction between a network of researchers. It is anticipated that these investigators will be independently funded and have demonstrated productivity in their own field. While it is anticipated that the principal investigator of the network will have a strong background in one of the two areas of stated interest of the Hillblom Foundation, the network might be strengthened by inclusion of investigators with expertise that can enhance the overall focus of the group on the disease process of interest. The overall aim is to have multidisciplinary teams that usually cannot work together, collaborating to advance science at a faster speed. The project should involve new, groundbreaking research that would initially be considered too risky for NIH funding but would eventually be a vehicle to secure a more conventional NIH grant program.

Grant Making Procedures

The Network Grant shall be made directly to and administered by the office of contracts and grants at the Qualified Institution, which shall be responsible for the expenditure of grant funds, appointment of researchers and the overall network grant project. Annual renewal of a Network Grant shall be subject to the Foundation’s approval.

Expectations of the Research Network

The proposed network must be led by an established researcher in the field of interest. In addition to the principal investigator, there must be at least two co-investigators on the project. All three investigators should be based in the state of California. The proposed Network Grant must be focused on the benefits that the network will bring to the overall research effort. The grant should identify research objectives and/or milestones as well as a time line for achievement of same. If appropriate, indicate whether recognition of the Network Grant will include naming in honor of the Donor, Larry L. Hillblom or the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation. The principal investigator will be required to submit an annual report to the host institution and the Foundation (submitted electronically via the LLHF Grant Management System). Additionally, the principal investigator will be required to attend the Annual Hillblom Scientific Meeting to give a presentation on the findings of their research to date. The annual renewal of any Network Grant for the four year time period will be contingent upon a satisfactory annual report and presentation at this forum. Renewal / non-renewal decisions by the Board of Directors of the Hillblom Foundation are final and not subject to appeal or review.

Research Costs

The Network Grant can seek support in the following categories:

  • Personnel costs, which are restricted to those named and justified in the budget.
  • Cross-training of network personnel.
  • Operation of the research project, including project administration.
  • Purchase of supplies and equipment for the conduct of the proposed research, both items must be itemized and justified in the budget.
  • Travel expenses, which shall include mandatory attendance at the Annual Hillblom Foundation Scientific Meeting.

Grant Restrictions

  1. No scientific or monetary overlap is allowed. The network investigators cannot be currently funded to perform the stated research.
  2. In addition to the PI, there must be at least 2 co-investigators on the network (also from the state of California). The co-investigators should have collaborated in some capacity in the past with the PI, but currently none of the investigators should have any funding together.
  3. Annual progress reports that are submitted in the second and fourth year should include a detailed report on the research progress and list the publications that directly stem from LLHF network funds.
  4. The network should aim to apply for independent funding by year 4 and show proof that they have applied in their progress report.
  5. There is only 1 opportunity for competitive renewal. The PI will apply for renewal at the beginning of year 4, so that there would not be any gap in funding, if selected.
  6. Once the grant ends and is totally closed (either year 4 or year 8, depending on the outcome of the renewal), the PI and co-investigators must wait 2 full years before applying for another network grant, and it must be an entirely new research project.

    Note: If anyone has an active LLHF network grant, is collaborating on one, or recently ended a network grant, you are not eligible to apply for this new “Network Grant V.2” until 2 full years have passed. You must wait 2 full years from the date the grant ends to apply for a network grant (this includes NCE end dates as well). For example, if the LLHF grant ends on December 31, 2022, you cannot apply again until January 2025. And it must be an entirely new research project with a new team of investigators to be eligible for consideration. This new “Network Grant V.2” program supersedes any network grant criteria from previous years.

Acknowledgements

All publications and presentations related to the Hillblom Grant should cite support by the Hillblom Foundation.

Network Grant Details

  • Qualified Institutions: The PI’s lab must be affiliated with an institution within the state of California
  • Funding Areas: Diabetes or Aging
  • Maximum Funding: $600,000 per year
  • Duration of the Award: Up to four (4) years, subject to annual Foundation approval; thereafter, one possibility of renewal & only by a new competitive application
  • Maximum Allowable Indirect Costs: 10%, included in the total grant
Important Dates to Remember
  • LOI Submission Start Date: December 29, 2023
  • LOI Due Date: January 31, 2024 at 5PM PST
  • Full Application Invitation: June 2024
  • Full Application Deadline: August 30, 2024 at 5PM PDT
  • Funding Decisions Announced: November 2024
  • Anticipated Start Date: January 2025

Initial Letter of Intent (LOI)

The first step to a Network Grant is submitting an LOI. If your LOI is approved, the Foundation will invite you to submit a full application later in the year.

Please use the following information as a guide to help you prepare your LOI. NOTE: This is just an overview of what to expect in our online application form.

Please sign in or create an account to view complete application instructions.

Requirements of the Principal Investigator

  • LLHF Cover Page
  • Summary of Proposal in Lay Terms
  • Compatibility to LLHF Goals
  • Preliminary Data/Research Plan
  • Program Description/Area of Research Interest
  • References Cited
  • Qualifications of Network Participants
  • Qualifications of the Organization/Facilities
  • Published Papers
  • Budget Form (note: we only require an estimated budget for the LOI)

Start an LOI

Your LOI must be submitted via our online grant management system.

Please sign in or create an account to start a new LOI.

Funded Research

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Pam Taub, MD

Feasibility and Efficacy of Time-Restricted Eating in Diabetes Management

Ronald Evans, PhD

Adipose PDE4D: a New Druggable Pathway to Overcome Insulin Resistance

John Reynolds, PhD

The Marmoset as a Model of Aging and of Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disease

Mark Anderson, MD, PhD

Next Generation Analysis of Type 1 Diabetes

Peter Adams, PhD

Autophagic Control of the Epigenome in Senescense -From Mechanism to Senolytics

Gene W. Yeo, PhD, MBA

Stress granule components as potential modulators of protein aggregation in ALS

John Glass, PhD

Insulin Producing Organoids to Treat Type I Diabetes

Kenneth Kosik, MD

Networking Assay Development to Remediate Age-Related Memory Impairment

Jeffrey Bluestone, PhD

Antigen Specificity of Regulatory T-Cells in T1D

Michael Weiner, MD

The Hillblom California Brain Health Registry Network

Joel Kramer, PsyD

Hillblom Network for the Prevention of Age-Associated Cognitive Decline

Daniel Schwartz, MD

Establishing New Benchmarks for Measuring Progression of Macular Degeneration