1. PURPOSE: The objective of the award is to support a junior investigator who is on the path to developing an independent research program relevant to renal or urological disease. The award is intended to support the advancement of research related to all aspects of genitourinary and kidney diseases by investigators developing a research program without significant external grant support.


2. Applicants who have more than $100,000 of additional grant funding at the time of award activation will not be considered for the Professional Development Award. Preference will be given to applicants who do not have another career development award. If the applicant receives another award prior to initiation of the NKF-MD Professional Development Award, he/she must notify NKFMDDE. An NKFMDDE PDA and an NIH K-series or R-series award cannot be held concurrently.


3. APPLICANTS: Applicants must have a full-time faculty appointment at the instructor level or above. The applicant may hold a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, or equivalent degree. Applicants outside the state of Maryland or Delaware are not eligible for Professional Development funding.
   
   
4. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: There is no page or character limit for any of your application answers or attachments.


5. DEADLINE: Applications and supporting documents must be received by 5:00pm, Monday, December 4, 2023.

MATERIALS SENT VIA U.S. MAIL OR FAX WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE MATERIALS WILL BE ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS.

6. REVIEW: Based on a 4-point scale [1 (best) – 4 (least)] each of the following areas will be scored and used to evaluate the grant:
   • Significance of research question
   • Originality, innovation, and creativity
   • Study design and evaluation methods
   • Goals, expectations, and likelihood of success
   • Record of Investigator
   
   
7. REVIEW PROCESS: Each grant will be scientifically reviewed by qualified internal and external reviewers and the grant review committee. Final funding decisions will be made by the NKFMDDE.


8. ELIGIBILITY: Researchers with current NIH grants are not eligible for professional development awards. Members of the Medical Advisory Board of the NKFMDDE are eligible to submit applications, but they may not participate in review of their submissions. Grantees must conduct their NKFMDDE funded research at institutions within the State of Maryland or Delaware.


9. SCIENTIFIC SESSION: Each grant awardee is required to present his/her research at the following year’s Spring Scientific Session of the NKFMDDE, which occurs each year in May.

The NKFMDDE research Mini-Grants are designed to support research related to all aspects of genitourinary and kidney diseases. The mini-grant award is up to $10,000. In addition, among successful mini-grant applicants, the NKFMDDE will select projects for designation in accordance with the requirements of the grant process.

1. APPLICANTS: Grant applications may be submitted by anyone who holds a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, or equivalent advanced degree. Applicants may be either faculty members or trainees in an accredited post-doctoral program. A faculty sponsor is required if the applicant is in postgraduate training. Sponsors are required to sign and submit the Sponsorship Form. Applicants outside of Maryland or Delaware are not eligible for funding.
   
   
2. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: There is no page or character limit for any of your application answers or attachments.


3. DEADLINE AND APPLICATION DETAILS: Applications and supporting documents must submitted in PDF format by 5:00pm on Monday, December 4, 2023.
   
   MATERIALS SENT VIA MAIL OR FAX WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE MATERIALS WILL BE ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS.


4. REVIEW: Based on a 4-point scale [1 (best) – 4 (least)] each of the following areas will be scored and used to evaluate the grant:


• Significance of research question


• Originality, innovation and creativity


• Study design and evaluation methods


• Goals, expectations and likelihood of success


• General writing style and composition


5. REVIEW PROCESS: Each application will be evaluated by one or two qualified reviewers and a grant review committee.


6. ELIGIBILITY: Members of the Medical Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland & Delaware are eligible to submit applications; however they may not participate in the review of their submissions.


7. SCIENTIFIC SESSION: Each grant awardee is required to present his/her research at the following year’s Spring Scientific Session of the NKFMDDE, which occurs each year in May.

As a condition of receiving funding from the NKFMDDE, grant recipients are required to:

1. Participate in the NKFMDDE annual Scientific Session in the Spring of the year following the award. Date to be determined in May 2023;


2. Submit a progress report to the NKFMDDE by March 1, 2025. Progress reports should mention any publications (poster, talk, manuscripts, able to obtain other funding such as an NIH grant, etc.);


3. Give written acknowledgement to the NKFMDDE in any publications, or pending publications (poster, talk, manuscripts) that resulted from NKFMDDE funded research;


4. Diligently pursue the project for which grant monies are received and make appropriate application for any exception or extension during the grant period;


5. Return any monies received from the NKFMDDE if the project fails to start or is terminated without full expenditure of funds; and


6. Notify NKFMDDE of any additional grants awarded during the Application Process and/or Award Period.

Attach pages describing research proposal. This should include the following:

1. Title
2. Specific aims or objectives
3. Introduction, rationale, or background for the project
4. Preliminary data
5. Methods, experiments, and protocols
6. Methods for data evaluation

Please also attach your bibliography and any Appendices necessary. Cited references may be included on this separate sheet. References in the project’s summary must be made by number alone.

*All uploaded files must be in either PDF or Microsoft Word format

• These letters should explicitly document the experience and capability of the investigator/applicant to successfully complete the research program described in the grant on the basis of the author’s specific experience and knowledge of the applicant.


• One reference letter must be submitted by the Department or Division head who completes the Institutional Commitment Form and must describe the institution’s commitment to the researcher.


• All letters must be on letterhead, signed by the author, and submitted in PDF format.