Under this RFA, the PKD Foundation solicits research grant applications in the following areas:

• Basic research - to enhance understanding of molecular bases of PKD and its pathobiology
• Translational research - to accelerate development of predictive and therapeutic strategies for PKD
• Clinical research – such as small pilot studies
• Epidemiology/data analysis research – to conduct secondary data analyses utilizing existing database resources, or to develop new statistical methodologies or test hypotheses using existing data

Topic Areas

• The PKD Foundation encourages proposals in the following topic areas:
  • Autosomal Recessive PKD (ARPKD)
  • ADPKD in children
  • Innovative approaches to machine learning
  • Lifestyle interventions (e.g., in dietary habits)
  • Epidemiology/ data analysis (e.g., using existing datasets)
  • Extra-renal manifestations of PKD, including but not limited to congenital hepatic fibrosis, polycystic liver disease and intracranial aneurysms
  • Clinical care disparities (e.g., race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, rural versus urban)
  • Drug delivery mechanisms

Funding Information

• Award amounts will equal $120,000 direct costs per year for two years, for a total grant award of $240,000 (or $360,000 for a three-year Young Investigator Award).

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree and hold a faculty appointment or equivalent at the institution where the research will be conducted at the time of award. Applicants do not need to be United States citizens. No fellowships will be awarded under this RFA, although salary support for personnel working on the project may be requested. Applicants may only submit one grant proposal per funding cycle.
• Young Investigator Award (YIA) An optional third year of support will be available to a young investigator(s) to support the transition of a junior scientist to an independent investigator.
• Specific eligibility criteria not necessary at the time of application, but required by start of funding include:
  • Primary faculty appointments are not required at time of application but must be held by start of funding
  • A letter of support is required from the department/division chair outlining the applicants’ path to independence and institutional/divisional commitment to the candidate's research career development (commitment to the candidate having ability to devote required effort to activities under the award, access to appropriate office/laboratory space etc.,). If the applicant is a post- doctoral fellow at time of award submission, the letter needs to provide assurance of promotion to a faculty appointment at time of award initiation.
  • No other career development award may currently be held (e.g., NIH K-award or equivalent)
  • No major research award may currently be held (in the role of lead investigator) (e.g., NIH R01 or equivalent)
  • No more than 7 years from completing post-doctoral or clinical fellowship training
  • Does not include parental leave or FMLA

Application Requirements

• Pre-application requirements:
• Letter of Intent:
  • Abstract (3,500 characters with spaces)
  • Significance, Innovation, Specific aims and approach, Scientific team and environment (4,500 characters w/spaces)
  • Tables and Figures (one page limit, PDF upload)
• References (one-page limit)
• Biosketch (five-page limit): new style NIH Biosketch format. Include relevant details of applicant’s career trajectory as related to this proposal

For more information, visit PKD Foundation.