nPOD aims at supporting innovative research projects with seed funding and encourages scientists from any discipline to engage in T1D research if they can contribute novel ideas, hypotheses, approaches and technologies. To this end, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has endowed nPOD with the George S. Eisenbarth nPOD Award for Team Science. This award has been named in honor of the late Dr. Eisenbarth, a pioneer in T1D research who inspired the nPOD concept. His recognition of T1D as a chronic autoimmune disease has advanced the field toward prediction, prevention, and clinical trials. Sadly, Dr. Eisenbarth was taken from us before he could see his goal fully accomplished, but he came very close and left a clear path for the next generation to follow.
Funds from this award are dedicated to support the research activities of nPOD investigators to catalyze progress in critical areas of T1D. Such funding for new studies will help address questions that we recognize as important yet are not currently being pursued. We believe new findings generated from such efforts could then garner independent funding and can also be integrated in nPOD working groups.
We accept applications at any time. You can apply using the Investigator Application. Applicants should indicate at the time of submission whether they would like to be considered for pilot funding. Up to $50,000 may be requested for a pilot study. Funding decisions are made by the nPOD Tissue Prioritization Committee and the Helmsley Charitable Trust. While fully explained in the application form, criteria for consideration are:
- Conceptual innovation
- Methodological innovation
- Lack of dedicated funding
- Relevance to nPOD main research themes/working groups
Funded pilot projects are required to submit a final report upon completion of research, deposit data in DataShare, and acknowledge support in publications and presentations.