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The ROTRF supports important and innovative research projects relevant to solid organ transplantation, particularly where there is an unmet medical need.

Our priority is to support research which uses either human organ transplant material and/or experimental models which simulate pathological states and mechanisms operating in human organ transplantation. To be considered for a grant award, applications should have demonstrable applicability to human organ transplantation.

ROTRF Grant Awards

Conventional Research Grants   Clinical Research Grants  
For research projects relevant to solid organ transplantation.  For clinical research projects (e.g. projects proposing work with human clinical material, organ transplant patients, human organ preservation, human transplant pathology, and other human transplant problems) with a realistic potential for near term clinical application.

Please note that the ROTRF cannot fund interventional clinical trials and projects involving interventions that would add risk to the patient or alter patient management. However, the Trustees may consider for funding scientific studies associated with a completely separated clinical trial.  

Research Areas Funded by the ROTRF

  • Improvement of long-term graft survival and prevention of chronic organ dysfunction
  • Relevant immune recognition, regulation and effector mechanisms
  • Histocompatibility
  • Inflammation and tissue injury in transplantation
  • Development of new agents for use in transplantation
  • Prospective and specific analysis of human organ transplant populations
  • Induction of antigen-specific unresponsiveness
  • New clinical trial methods and surrogate endpoints
  • Tissue injury and organ preservation relevant to transplantation
  • Cell or tissue transplantation relevant to organ transplantation
  • While the ROTRF does not support operating costs for registries, it will consider providing limited support for unique initiatives such as international databases of general interest to transplant researchers.

* OF NOTE:
Research in human cloning is not considered for funding.
Applications for funding of research into transplantation of solid organs that are not yet transplanted in the clinic will not be considered.

Eligibility

The ROTRF provides funding for established faculty members of academic staff at universities, transplant centres and research institutes.

The Grant

The maximum amount awarded per grant is 300,000 Swiss Francs distributed over 3 years. Depending upon the decision of the Board of Trustees and the SAC progressive, innovative and promising projects of high risk may be supported as proof-of-concept studies. Grants are awarded biannually.

Application Procedure and Submission Deadlines

2-step procedure:

How to Apply for a Research Grant Click for enlargement

  • Submission of a Letters of Intent (LOI) at one of our deadlines, 1 April and 1 October of each year.
  • Top-ranking LOIs are invited to submit a Full Paper Application (FPA). The applicants will have about 6-7 weeks for the preparation and submission of the FPA. The Full Paper Application will have approximately a 50% chance of success to receiving funds.

Evaluation

Applications are evaluated by the 3-4 Members of the ROTRF Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for:

  • Relevance to solid organ transplantation
  • Originality
  • Scientific excellence
  • Realistic potential for near term clinical application. (for clinical research applications only)

Grant Awards

The ROTRF Board of Trustees takes the final decision on the number and size of the grants based on the overall evaluation of the SAC. The decision is taken approximately 6 months after the submission deadline of the LOI.

Agreement for ROTRF Grant Awards

Awardees will receive an official copy of the Agreement signed by ROTRF Trustees. Please make sure that your institution has been familiarized with the Agreement. Please note that ROTRF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DEDUCT FROM THE GRANT ANY EXCESSIVE GRANT NEGOTIATION COSTS.

Agreement for ROTRF Gant Awards [28 KB] PDF-Download