Falk Medical Research Trust Catalyst Award Program
The Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust was created in 1979 to support biomedical research “to improve treatments of the past and eventually find cures for diseases for which no definite cure is known.”
The Catalyst Research Award Program provides seed funding for over one to two years to support high-risk, high-reward translational research that addresses critical scientific and therapeutic roadblocks and can be transferred to clinical practice in the near term. The award supports planning and development of projects, teams, tools, techniques, and management infrastructure necessary to lay the foundation for a subsequent 24 to 36 months of funding of up to $1M under the Trust’s Transformational Award program. Projects eligible to apply for a Transformational Award must have achieved Catalyst Award Program milestones and aim to move their healthcare innovation toward the next step in commercial development.
Research Focus:
This program is designed to support high-risk, high-reward projects that address critical scientific and therapeutic roadblocks. If successful, these projects will open new avenues for treating and curing disease. The Program has three principal areas of focus:
1. Identification of biological markers of disease activity and progression,
2. Identification of targets for therapeutic interventions, and
3. Development of therapeutic agents that will disrupt, arrest, or prevent the disease process.
In addition to preclinical research studies, proposals for investigator-initiated trials (human clinical studies that are initiated, managed, and sponsored by the investigator or investigator’s institute) may be considered.
Collaborations:
The Falk Trust encourages investigative teams with synergistic collaborations between industry, government, academic and disease-advocacy organizations. Collaborations are encouraged to integrate teams horizontally across different disciplines, to involve both PhD and MD researchers, and to integrate teams vertically in terms of investigator seniority.
Collaborations should combine complementary expertise capable of addressing roadblocks and
accelerating achievement of critical research objectives. Proposals may extend or apply such ongoing collaborations or establish new ones.
See the 2025 guidelines for full details.
AWARD AMOUNT
$350,000 (inclusive of 10% indirect costs) over 12 to 24 months
$350,000 (inclusive of 10% indirect costs) over 12 to 24 months
LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PROPOSALS PER ORGANIZATION
Northwestern is invited to submit up to two applications.
KEY DATES
Internal Proposals Due: April 3, 2025 (by 11:59 PM)
Internal Proposals Due: April 3, 2025 (by 11:59 PM)
Sponsor Proposals Due: June 3, 2025 (by 1:00 PM)
ELIGIBILITY
· Principal Investigator must hold a full-time faculty appointment at Northwestern University with specialized space and facilities available to conduct the proposed research.
· Applicants and key personnel may not have funding support for a similar project.
· United States citizenship is not required.
INTERNAL PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
Proposals should be prepared with 0.5-inch margins all around, 11-point font size, and are required to contain the following components:
Proposals should be prepared with 0.5-inch margins all around, 11-point font size, and are required to contain the following components:
- Cover page with descriptive title, your name, title, and department as well as project duration. List Northwestern key personnel and external partners (1-page limit).
- Introduction (ONLY if you previously submitted an internal proposal to this program) that includes the following components (0.5-page limit):
- Summarize how your research proposal differs from your previous submission(s).
- Summarize how your application as a whole differs from your previous submission(s) (i.e., publications, honors, awards, accomplishments, etc.).
3. Lay summary that states the project’s broad, long-term objectives and specific aims (0.5-page limit).
4. Research Proposal (2-page limit including figures; references can be included on a third page) that describes succinctly how the proposed research project addresses critical scientific and therapeutic roadblocks that may open new avenues for treating and curing disease. Include the following components:
4. Research Proposal (2-page limit including figures; references can be included on a third page) that describes succinctly how the proposed research project addresses critical scientific and therapeutic roadblocks that may open new avenues for treating and curing disease. Include the following components:
a. Background and Significance: Provide a rationale for the entire Transformational research program, while providing a context for the proposed Catalyst Research Award.
b. Preliminary Studies/Preliminary Data (if available)
c. Specific Aims: These should be specific, measurable, and necessary preliminary steps for the overall research effort. These aims will form the basis of the Catalyst Award milestones.
d. Research design, experimental methods and analytical plan. Include a brief description of the role of each key investigator. Multi-PIs may be proposed for projects that involve a team science leadership approach. The proposal should describe the need for multiple PI management.
e. Research limitations and contingencies.
f. Catalyst Project milestones and research plan table. Create a summary table that shows each milestone, the associated benchmark measure(s) of success, estimated timeline; it may also include other explanatory material (including key personnel or collaborators). The successful completion of these activities will form the basis of subsequent Transformational Award applications. Please include specific data, methods, and benchmarks that will demonstrate achievement of each milestone.
5. NIH biosketch (5-page limit; PI only).
b. Preliminary Studies/Preliminary Data (if available)
c. Specific Aims: These should be specific, measurable, and necessary preliminary steps for the overall research effort. These aims will form the basis of the Catalyst Award milestones.
d. Research design, experimental methods and analytical plan. Include a brief description of the role of each key investigator. Multi-PIs may be proposed for projects that involve a team science leadership approach. The proposal should describe the need for multiple PI management.
e. Research limitations and contingencies.
f. Catalyst Project milestones and research plan table. Create a summary table that shows each milestone, the associated benchmark measure(s) of success, estimated timeline; it may also include other explanatory material (including key personnel or collaborators). The successful completion of these activities will form the basis of subsequent Transformational Award applications. Please include specific data, methods, and benchmarks that will demonstrate achievement of each milestone.
5. NIH biosketch (5-page limit; PI only).
The Limited Submission Advisory Committee will be asked to use the Catalyst review criteria in evaluating the proposals:
· Translational potential: The project moves a basic science insight toward a solution, technique, or tool that can be transferred to clinical practice in the near term.
· Impact: The proposed research project addresses a critical scientific or therapeutic roadblock, will open a new avenue for treating or curing disease, and will have high impact on improving the lives of patients, if successful. May be high risk.
· Investigative Team: The right combination of expertise exists to successfully carry out the project; there is access to necessary infrastructure. Collaboration with synergistic industry, government, academic, or disease-advocacy organizations is an additional, but not required, positive factor.
· Project: The proposed research project is based on sound precedents and has a clear rationale. Objectives are technically feasible. Research methodology is realistic and sufficiently powered. Catalyst Award milestones and benchmarks should have potential to demonstrate that the innovation warrants further investment.
CONTACT AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For questions about this funding opportunity, please contact: Catherine Cotter, Director, Foundation Relations
For questions about the limited submission process, please contact: Katya Klyachko, Director, Research Development
For questions about this funding opportunity, please contact: Catherine Cotter, Director, Foundation Relations
For questions about the limited submission process, please contact: Katya Klyachko, Director, Research Development