Vasculitis Association Switzerland Criteria for awarding research grants (VASAS Research Grant)

The following describes the criteria that applicants must fulfil in order to be considered for a VASAS research grant.

A) Eligibility Criteria:

To ensure that funding is awarded for impactful, high-quality research and is consistent with the mission of VASAS, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. VASAS membership:

• The main applicant must be an active member of VASAS at the time of application.
• If they are not already a member, potential applicants must join VASAS before submitting the funding application.

2. Research focus:

• The proposed research must focus on vascular diseases, including their underlying mechanisms, diagnoses, treatment options or patient outcomes.
• Research projects that address rare subtypes of vascular diseases, innovative therapeutic approaches, patient quality of life or translational research projects are particularly welcome.
• Projects that pursue a multidisciplinary approach are encouraged.

3. Research location:

• The research must be based in Switzerland, either conducted entirely at a Swiss institution or under the supervision of a principal investigator (PI) based in Switzerland.

4. Track record and collaboration:

• Applicants should have a proven track record in vasculitis research or clinical experience.
• If the applicant has a non-vascular research focus or is an early career scientist, they must be collaborating with an established research group within VASAS.
• For collaborative projects, the application must include a formal agreement detailing the roles and responsibilities of each research partner.

5. Ethical and scientific standards:

• Research must comply with ethical, regulatory and legal requirements in Switzerland.
• Ethical approval from an appropriate Swiss ethics committee should be obtained and submitted at the latest before the start of the funded project.

6. Scope of funding and accountability:

• Funding may be used for direct research costs, including personnel, equipment, consumables and participant-related costs. Overheads and administrative costs will not be covered.
• Recipients of VASAS funding must submit a final report detailing the results of the study. Reports should outline how the funds helped the project and should list publications or presentations that resulted from the project. VASAS support should be mentioned in all publications.

B) Evaluation and selection process:

Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel convened by VASAS and composed of leading vascular researchers, clinicians and patient representatives. The selection criteria will focus on the following:

1. Scientific merit: The innovation, rigour and potential impact of the research on vascular medicine.
2. Feasibility: The feasibility of the methodology, timeline and objectives of the project.
3. Relevance: The alignment of the research with the mission of VASAS and the needs of the vascular patient community.
4. Record of success: The experience and expertise of the research team or collaborative group in the field of vascular medicine.

VASAS is dedicated to funding projects that have the potential to improve the understanding and treatment of vascular disease and optimise outcomes for patients. By establishing clear funding criteria, VASAS ensures that its support promotes significant advances in this important area of medical research.

C) Application

Submit an abstract (maximum 1 page) and the full application with a maximum of 5 pages. The application should include the following points: Background, Objectives, Methodology, Significance of the Proposal, Budget Justification and Timeline.

Include the qualifications of the PI and collaborators, previous research accomplishments, and mention any institutional resources that will support your project, such as lab space or administrative support.

Provide the CVs of the PI and key team members. The complete application should be emailed to research@vasas.ch.

Contact information:
If you have any questions about the application process or admission criteria, please contact VASAS at research@vasas.ch or visit our website at www.vasas.ch.