This is the home page for the ASTS-Natera cfDNA Faculty Research Grant.  Please visit the Grants Home Page to apply for a different grant. 

Please review these eligibility, submission and other requirements carefully before submitting your application.   

We are pleased to announce that this year ASTS has partnered with Natera to continue the commitment to provide research funding designed to support ASTS members. The focus of this request for applications is donor-derived cell free DNA (dd-cfDNA).   

Dd-cfDNA has been used to detect allograft rejection in kidney transplant recipients and may predict long-term outcomes.  Dd-cf-DNA levels at hospital discharge after the initial transplant event correlate with one-year serum creatinine levels.  Early, persistently elevated dd-cf-DNA levels predict graft dysfunction at one year post-transplant.

This research grant is intended to further explore the use of cfDNA and the ability to predict organ allograft function and outcomes.  Competitive applications for this grant could include, but are not limited to, investigations that explore early dd-cfDNA levels in recent kidney transplant recipients and correlation with subsequent outcomes including but not limited to graft function, rejection, and survival. Applications that include a variety of organ types such as living, deceased, high KDPI, DCD, etc, are highly recommended. 

Amount: $50,000 per year for 2 years

Funds Support:  direct research and educational costs. No salary support for applicant, and no indirects will be paid.

Eligibility

• ASTS Member (Regular or Candidate Member).
• Junior faculty member at a UNOS approved (or Canadian equivalent) transplant center in the first 5 years of faculty appointment.
• Completed a post-residency fellowship or post-doctoral fellowship at an ASTS approved fellowship training program or foreign equivalent.
• Applicant must reside in North America.
• Awardee may not concurrently receive any other financial support for proposed research from ASTS, AST, ACS, SUS, AAS or other society or foundation granting similar support.

Submission Requirements

• A brief synopsis of your research (250 words maximum)
• Narrative: 3 page maximum plus 1 page of graphics permitted. State the reason for applying for the grant, specific objectives for the duration of the grant, and future plans and goals. References must be included and count towards the 3 page maximum.
• Budget: 1 page maximum
• Autobiography: 1 page maximum explaining your educational background, choice of career, and interest in transplantation and research
• Department Chair Nomination Letter
• Member Sponsor Letter
• CV

Other Requirements

• The Awardee must attend the ASTS Grant Ceremony at the American Transplant Congress (ATC) to formally accept the grant.
• An abstract must be submitted for presentation at an ATC or ASTS Winter Symposium during the grant period or within 6 months of completion.
• A mid-report to the ASTS National Office must be submitted in the spring of the first year.
• A final report to the ASTS National Office must be submitted in the spring of the last year of funding.

Other

• 1 grant is available in 2022.
• By submitting an application, you confirm that you understand any funding received may be subjected to any relevant Sunshine Act reporting. 

The 2022 grant funding is provided via a restricted grant from Natera, Inc.

Once you have read the requirements and have determined you are eligible, please Click Here to Submit your Application.