2023 HTRS/Spark Therapeutics Mentored Research Award (MRA)
 for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A

Award Overview

The HTRS/Spark MRA for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A provides funding for MDs, PhDs, and/or a collaboration between two applicants (e.g. one MD and one PhD) carrying out mentored research for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A. Fellows or junior attendings/junior faculty (MDs, PhD postdocs, DOs, MBBSs or the equivalent) pursuing careers in clinical, translational, or basic science research – specifically for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A – are encouraged to apply.
 

Program Goals

• Increase the number of skilled physician-scientists in the U.S. medical workforce dedicated to long-term research careers for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A
   
• Support innovative research by pairing talented young physician-scientists and researchers with experienced mentors, many of whom are recognized leaders in clinical and/or basic science research for Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A
   
• Provide fellows or junior attendings/ junior faculty an accessible “on-ramp” into the NIH research pipeline by funding initial research programs that can spark and support K-award applications in these therapeutic areas
   

General Eligibility Requirements

• Eligible applicants must hold a PhD, an MD, MD/PhD, DO, MBBS, or an equivalent medical degree
   
• Only applicants and mentors employed by academic, non-commercial institutions are eligible.  Applicants must declare their intent to pursue an academic research career in hemostasis or thrombosis (or an academic research career that will have a substantial component of, or overlap with, hemostasis and/or thrombosis)
   
• Applicants may propose collaborative research projects between two researchers (e.g. a PhD researcher and MD physician-scientist or two PhD researchers), provided the two applicants and mentor(s) fulfill eligibility criteria
   
• Note to Canadian Applicants:  Due to restrictions imposed by some pharmaceutical companies who provide grant support to support the MRA Program, HTRS may not be at liberty to fund Canadian fellows or junior attending/junior faculty for this award cycle. Interested Canadian applicants should email Jennifer Ziegler, HTRS Director of Awards Programs and Career Development, at [email protected] to confirm eligibility prior to taking the time to submit a pre-proposal
   
• U.S. or Canadian citizenship is not required to apply; however, award recipients must agree to live and work in the U.S. or Canada for the tenure of their HTRS/Spark MRA-funded project. J1 visa waiver applicants – even those in their first faculty positions – are encouraged to apply
      
• HTRS requires recipient institutions to protect no less than 20% of an awardee’s total time for the HTRS/Spark MRA Project
   
• See the HTRS/Spark MRA Request for Proposals for complete eligibility requirements

HTRS Diversity Notice

HTRS encourages applicants from historically excluded and underrepresented populations to apply, understanding that a diverse scientific workforce will, according to NIH research: foster scientific innovation, contribute to robust learning environments, improve the quality of the research, and advance the likelihood that underserved or health-disparate populations will benefit from this research. This includes individuals from racial and ethnic groups who have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented and/or historically excluded in health-related sciences on a national basis, as well as individuals with disabilities, students from low socioeconomic (SES) status backgrounds, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women.

HTRS bases our diversity policy on the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity.