Research

Requests For Proposals

NORD Announces
2009 Funding Opportunities

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has announced funding opportunities for 2009 through its clinical research program. Grants are available through this international program for the study of five rare diseases. The deadline for submitting abstracts and letters of intent to NORD is May 15, 2009.

The NORD Research Grant Program provides seed-money grants to academic scientists for clinical research. The hope is that these studies will ultimately lead to new diagnostics or treatments for rare diseases.

NORD’s program provides grants for the study of diseases for which there are few other sources of funding. In all, seven grants are available at this time for the study of the following five diseases:

• Arteriovenous Malformation of the Brain and/or Spinal Cord (1)
• Cat Eye Syndrome (1) (Matthew Cohn Fund)
• Essential Thrombocythemia (1)
• Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and closely related diseases (2)
• Psuedomyxoma Peritonei (2) (PMP Research Foundation)

Grants provided through the NORD program are made possible by donations from individuals and organizations to restricted research funds at NORD. Each year, requests for proposals are announced in the spring, with grants being awarded in the fall.

All medical decisions guiding the NORD Research Grant Program are made by NORD’s Medical Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Sami I. Said, MD, Distinguished Professor of the State University of New York. The program is administered by Stefanie Putkowski, RN, of the NORD staff.

Information and application forms for the 2009 NORD Research Grants are available on the NORD website or from Ms. Putkowski. Questions or requests for application forms may be directed to her at (800) 999-NORD or research@rarediseases.org.