Newswise — GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is pleased to announce a call for applications for its 2004 Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program. GSK will award $250,000 in grants for innovative HIV/AIDS drug research in recognition of the need to produce new alternatives and hope in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Since the inception of the program in 2001, GSK has awarded $1.25 million and honored 14 researchers for their groundbreaking work toward new pharmaceutical strategies to combat the HIV virus.
Applications are now being solicited for 2004 research grants and must be submitted by July 31. For detailed information about the GSK Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program, as well as an application, please call 1-888-527-6935 or visit http://www.dddresearchgrant.com.
The one-time research grants range from $25,000 to $150,000 and are intended to further the development of inventive treatments for HIV/AIDS, including: * therapies aimed at treating infection, * prophylactic vaccines, or * microbicides designed to prevent transmission of the virus.
"As we enter the fourth year of the program, it's rewarding to witness the progress that the first grant recipients have made. The grants have enabled researchers to improve testing processes, submit research for publication, experiment with new hypotheses and strive to develop medications and vaccines for patients worldwide," said Doug Manion, M.D., vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for GSK. "We are pleased to help researchers in their quest to unlock the mysteries of HIV."
The research grant carries no obligation to the recipient's organization for licensure, patenting or transfer of confidential information, although GSK may discuss the possibility of future collaboration with some applicants.
An Expert Review Board composed of acknowledged leaders in the field of HIV/AIDS will independently judge and choose the grant recipients. Although GSK will have access to the applications, including proposals, it will not be involved in the selection of recipients.
For purposes of the grant program, the judges will define "drug discovery and development" as one or more of the following: * The development of an assay against a novel and specific HIV target.* Screening of compounds against an established assay.* Pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo potency and toxicology studies.* Translational studies of novel therapies.
Judges will employ the following definition of "novel" and "innovative research" :* Uses new paradigms to approach clinical problems.* Develops techniques or assays to new targets.* Adapts existing methods or models developed in other disciplines to solve clinical problems in HIV/AIDS.
The research proposals will be considered according to: potential importance to the field and health in general, originality, appropriateness of the methodology and scope of the project, and the researchers' ability to conduct the proposed research.Projects submitted for consideration likely will be in an early stage and not yet sufficiently developed for a major research grant, but if successful, may qualify for major funding in future years. The Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant is to be awarded for research that is independent of any affiliation with or funding from other companies. The applicant must declare other funding or sponsorship sources in the Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant application.
Research grant recipients will be announced in October 2004 at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington, D.C. The grants will be paid Dec. 1, 2004.
GlaxoSmithKline is a pharmaceutical industry leader in HIV research and therapies. The company is engaged in basic research programs designed to investigate new targets to treat HIV. In addition to GlaxoSmithKline's Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program, the company also provides grants to community based organizations that provide services to those whose lives are most affected by HIV.
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