Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This funder exclusively supports prevention, treatment and cure research for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Spectrum Disease. It funds prominent research facilities and institutions of higher education.
IP TAKE: With such a narrow focus, it is easy for grantseekers to determine whether they are eligible for this funder’s support. This is an accessible funder that not only accepts unsolicited applications according to the tranche model, “with ongoing funding contingent on evidence-based achievement of milestones specified in the prior project period,” but also welcomes contact. First submit a Letter of Inquiry at the address below of no more than 2 pages. This a responsive funder that accepts contact and is reasonably transparent though its website is less built out than that of other science research funders.
PROFILE: Like many disease-focused foundations, the Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation began with a family crisis. Victoria Jackson and Bill Guthy’s daughter was diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Spectrum Disease in 2008. This is an incurable, yet treatable, autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own healthy cells, often in the optic nerves and spinal cord. Since little research was available about the disease, they created a foundation dedicated to funding basic science research to find answers that will lead to the prevention, clinical treatment programs and ultimately a cure. GJCF is dedicated to “the quest to understand the pathophysiology and biochemistry of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Spectrum Disorder.”
Grants for Diseases and Science Research
The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF) works towards “enhancing the scientific and clinical knowledge base by supporting innovative research to accelerate solutions for NMOSD.” GJCF accomplishes this through Research Grants, as well as through Special Projects.
GJCF’s funding priorities “are those that advance understanding of the pathophysiology and immunology of this disease in a manner that enables translation to clinical benefit and betterment of the NMOSD patient community.”
GJCF awards Eureka Grants, which support high-risk research that aims to “uncover a fundamentally new concept in NMOSD.”
It prioritizes research that is “hypothesis generating, proof-of-concept establishing, pilot study, or equivalent.”
Grants are awarded in amount of up to $50,000 for one year.
GJCF’s Special Projects have evolved over time. The most recent program is the Collaborative International Research in Clinical and Longitudinal Experience in NMO Studies (CIRCLES) Biorepository of “longitudinally-collected data and bio samples from subjects with NMO,” and the International Clinical Consortium to “promote the discovery, development and delivery of improved medicines, therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools to ultimately cure NMO.” The foundation’s partners in this special project include Lab Corp and the University of Utah.
Important Grant Details:
GJCF’s research grants generally range from $50,000 to $100,000.
Letters of Intent (LOI) regarding interest in funding consideration are welcomed and must be focused on solving NMOSD. LOIs should be succinct and no more than 2 pages: state the unmet need or unanswered question, detail innovative concepts, methods or reagents, identify a PI and research team members, define research milestones and timeline, and specify a projected budget.
Submissions are reviewed by the GJCF scientific advisory team and eligibility requirements (as above). Formal research applications are allowed upon approval by GJCF. Send LOI to info@guthyjacksonfoundation.org.
A list of the individual researchers supported by the foundation can be viewed on Guthy Jackson’s website.
The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Interested grantseekers may submit a Letter of Inquiry of up to two pages via email.
Prospective grantseekers should review the foundation’s application guidelines prior to submission.
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