The Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program demonstrates Bayer's commitment to the bleeding disorders community and to advancing the state of the art of hemophilia care.

Special Project Award

The Special Project Award is designed to support a wide range of research projects in the field of hemophilia. Examples of the types of projects that might be considered for these awards include, but are not limited to, those related to:

• Clinical research
• Basic research
• Assessment and intervention in psychosocial issues facing patients and their families
• Assessment of quality of life and other health economic outcomes in patients with bleeding disorders, and the effects of treatment modalities on such outcomes.

The Award is designed to encourage hypothesis-driven research, where the investigator is attempting to prove or disprove a set of assumptions. It is not designed to support studies such as the collection of epidemiological data.

Any individual affiliated with a facility that provides care to hemophilia patients - including medical universities, hospitals, blood centers and other laboratories - may make requests for grants. Each grant will be reviewed on its merit.

Applicants will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Scientific merit
• Innovation
• Clinical/medical impact
• Quality of research environment
• Alignment with program mission and objectives.

The funding will be awarded to allow the project to run for one or two years. Around 5 new awards will be made annually from a total fund of US$900,000. The maximum grant is US$200,000. Part of the Award may fund salary support. The candidate must spend at least 25% of his/her time on the project in order to request salary support.

Eligibility

Any individual affiliated with a facility that carries out research in inherited bleeding disorders, or provides care to patients with those disorders, may make a request for these grants. Such facilities may include medical universities, hospitals, treatment centers, blood centers and other laboratories.

Early Career Investigator Award

This award will fund salary support and research funds for a junior faculty member who wishes to undertake a mentored basic and/or clinical research project in the bleeding disorders field. The applicant would be expected to dedicate a significant amount of time to the project. Examples of topics for research projects that might be considered for these awards include, but are not limited to:

• Clinical studies
• Properties and delivery of clotting factor proteins
• Assays and models
• Genetics and epidemiology
• Molecular aspects and mechanisms of clotting factor inhibitor formation.

The criteria by which applications will be judged include:

• Scientific merit of hypotheses and experimental approach
• Innovation in design, methodology and objectives
• Impact on future clinical or scientific understanding of bleeding disorders
• Mentor and research environment.

Early Career Investigator Awards will provide funding of US$100,000 annually for two years. Up to five new awards will be made each year. Part of the Award may fund salary support. The candidate must spend at least 25% of his/her time on the project in order to request salary support.

Eligibility

The applicant should have an entry-level academic or clinical appointment within his or her institution. This award is open to applicants with a medical degree and/or PhD. Applicants should have earned their terminal degree within the previous 10 years. Special dispensation may be considered for extenuating circumstances such as maternity leave, military duty, sickness, etc.

Clinical Training Award

This award is intended to facilitate the development of specific clinical expertise in the field of hemophilia for applicants who have completed medical training and have an interest in pursuing a career as a hemophilia clinician. The award will support a mentored physician in training for two years. Clinical duties will encompass diagnosis, evaluation and the planning of management strategies for patients with hereditary bleeding disorders.

The criteria by which applications will be judged include:

• Merit of applicant and approach
• Design and rationale of the proposed clinical experience, including stated benchmarks and timelines for completion of specific training.
• Potential for successful development of the applicant as a clinical expert in the treatment of hemophilia
• Mentor and learning environment.
• Commitment of applicant and mentor to hemophilia

Clinical Training awards will provide funding of up to US$100,000 annually for two years. Four new awards will be made each year. Unlike other categories within the Bayer Awards Program, applications will be considered and funding awarded twice per calendar year.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant should have earned his/her medical degree within the previous eight years.
• The applicant may not have received previous funding from this award category.

Hemophilia Caregivers Education Award

This award recognizes the essential role of caregivers and allied health professionals in the care of patients with hemophilia. It is designed to support their role by promoting continuing education.

Awards will be provided for education activities in the field of hemophilia. This may include, but is not limited to, the development of educational seminars/symposia, mentored experiences or training workshops. The Award is not designed for the development of materials for patients and parents.

The criteria by which applications will be judged include:

• Educational merit of the proposed initiative
• Innovation of study rationale and techniques
• Impact on the development of the professional and his/her ability to deliver care
• Educational environment.

The duration of the award is one year. Up to 6 Awards of up to US$25,000 will be made annually. Part of the Award may fund salary support. The candidate must spend at least 25% of his her time on the project in order to request salary support.

Eligibility

Requests for these grants must come from caregivers and allied health professionals involved in the care of patients with hemophilia. These may include nurses and nurse practitioners, physical therapists, pharmacists, psychiatrists, psychologists, genetic counselors, social workers, clinical dieticians, dentists and dental hygienists, among others. The Award is not designed for medically qualified hematologists who treat patients with bleeding disorders.