thought people would be interested in the following announcement, which is artificial pancreas related:
This announcement is provided as a service to the MGH research community by
the
Executive Committee On Research (ECOR)
Funding Opportunity
JDRF Soluble Glucagon Initiative
EOI Due Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012*
Application Due Date: Friday, April 27, 2012
JDRF is launching a major initiative to accelerate the development of
soluble
glucagon for use in infusion pumps for multi-hormone artificial pancreas
systems. JDRF is soliciting Expressions of Interest (EOIs). Based on these
EOIs, potential applications will be subsequently invited to be developed
and
submitted as full proposals.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this initiative is to accelerate the development and
regulatory
approval of a soluble glucagon drug/formulation for use in multi-hormone
infusion systems. JDRF hopes to significantly accelerate the clinical
evaluation of candidate drug/formulations, specifically in open and closed
loop
artificial pancreas systems in individuals with T1D. The ultimate goal is to
have a soluble pumpable glucagon approved and available for use in future
generations of artificial pancreas systems.
Examples of pertinent topics include, but are not limited to:
* Synthesis and assessment of in vitro stability and solubility of the
glucagon drug for at least one week at body temperature and extended periods
(months) in refrigerated condition
* Preclinical assessment of PK, PK-PD, efficacy and safety
pharmacology in
appropriate animal models of diabetes
* Methods to assess long term stability and safety of soluble glucagon
formulations
* Testing of glucagon formulations in animal models to be used for
preclinical evaluation and
* IND-enabling studies
* Assessment of acceptable glucagon formulation in clinical evaluation
2
MECHANISM
Research will be supported on a milestone based funding for up to 3 years.
ELIGIBILITY
Applications may be submitted by for-profit entities as well as nonprofit
organizations, public and
private universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and
local governments.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Expressions of interest proposals should be no more than two pages in length
including the
following information:
* Name, title and institution of principal investigator (PI),
co-investigator and/or key collaborator(s)
* Brief details of approach proposed, including hypothesis, scientific
rationale and references to published or preliminary data (preliminary data
need
not be presented in detail)
* Description of potential for translation into therapies including
short
and long-term development goals
* Biosketches of PI and co-investigators/collaborators (does not count
towards page limit)
For more information, please reference the RFA
<researchlist.partners.org/.../> . To apply,
please
submit your EOI via proposalCENTRAL
<researchlist.partners.org/.../> .
*Please note that an approved EOI is required for submission of a full
application.
Additionally, visit the Information For Applicants
<researchlist.partners.org/.../> section of the
JDRF
website regularly for more funding opportunities.
Thanks for sharing this Bruce. Not only would Soluble Glucagon make it possible to to develop dual reservoir artificial pancreas systems, it could offer better emergency kits for severe hypoglycemic reactions. I'm excited (and hopeful) for progress on this.