RFA for Training Awards
CEGIR recognizes a growing need for physicians trained in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) and the need for a greater focus in the clinical research enterprise focused on these diseases. CEGIR grant (U54 AI117804) releases this RFA for Training Awards to physicians (fellows-in-training and junior faculty) interested in developing expertise in performing research in and providing outstanding clinical care for EGIDs.
Download guidelines for application
Questions? Email:
- Dr. Jonathan Spergel (spergel@email.chop.edu); or
- Dr. Sandeep Gupta: (sgupta@iu.edu)
New Federal Funding for EGIDs
On October 8 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it would be funding research totaling about $29 million in fiscal year 2014 for more than 200 rare diseases, including eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.
Physician scientists at 22 consortia will collaborate with representatives of more than 98 patient advocacy groups to advance clinical research and investigate new treatments for patients with rare diseases. The collaborations are made possible through awards by the NIH to expand the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). The RDCRN was established in 2003 by the NIH Office of Rare Diseases to advance medical research on rare diseases by facilitating collaboration, study enrollment and data sharing, and is now led by NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
Learn more at https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/about/index.htm
About the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR)
A portion of this new NIH funding — $6.25 million — will be dedicated to the research of eosinophil-associated gastrointenstinal diseases. The 5-year grant will allow for the formation of the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR) to research eosinophilic and allergic disorders and to train investigators in how to conduct clinical research.
- CEGIR will focus on research projects involving patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), eosinophilic gastritis (EG), and/or eosinophilic colitis (EC).
- CEGIR is a multifaceted, collaborative effort between academic medical centers, the NIH scientists, and patient advocacy groups, who will help ensure the needs of the patients are recognized and met.
- C-EOS members are active participants in this collaborative effort, and have been involved since the application stage, representing the patient.
- This Consortium collaborative agreement will include longitudinal (long-term, over years) follow-up of patients with EoE, EG, and EC, to help researchers understand the natural history of these diseases, which treatments work for which diseases, and more. Additional pilot and clinical trials will also help scientists learn more about how to diagnose and treat these different EGIDs. Patient participation and feedback will be critical to the success of these research projects.
- An educational component to the collaborative consortium includes education of researchers, young scientists, clinicians in training, and patients.
- To quickly notify eligible patients of clinical trials once enrollment begins, the Consortium will be developing and launching a patient contact database, which will be announced as soon as details are available, along with inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Learn more about CEGIR at https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/CEGIR/index.htm