Important updates to the 2008/2009 cycle

Research priorities

For 2008/2009, the program has been enhanced in areas of research identified as offering the greatest potential for advancing the understanding and treatment of hemophilia. They are as follows:

• Surveys and/or clinical studies focusing on treatment modalities for hemophilia, e.g. prophylaxis
• Development of experimental in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate therapeutics for the treatment of bleeding disorders
• Clinical studies focusing on the treatment of adverse events associated with hemophilia, e.g. inhibitor development
• Discovery or development of new recombinant molecules with potential therapeutic value in bleeding disorders
• New delivery options for these molecules, including gene delivery
• Research to define a molecular basis for inhibitor development in hemophilia
• The function and regulation of platelets in the context of hemostasis deficiencies
• Health outcomes and quality-of-life research related to hemophilia
• Studies designed to increase the diagnosis and recognition of hemophilia in underserved areas.

Caregiver Award

In this category, the Grants Review and Awards Committee has decided to more accurately define the requirements for this award, in terms of both who is allowed to apply, and the structure of the full proposal form.

Applicants must be a direct clinical care provider, e.g. nurse, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, pharmacist, psychiatrist, psychologist, genetic counselor, social worker, laboratory worker, clinical dietician, dentist, dental hygienist, etc. The Award is not designed for medically qualified hematologists who treat patients with bleeding disorders, or for administrators.

The full proposal form will ask for applications to be structured under the following headings:

1. Purpose: What is the main or major purpose of this project?
2. Scope and environment:
   a) What area of care will the project impact?
   b) What are the unique features of the project location and who will benefit?
3. Rationale: Why is the project important and what long-term impact will it have?
4. Objectives: What will be accomplished by the end of the project?
5. Process: What is the plan for accomplishing the project's goals and objectives?
6. Outcomes:
   a) What goals or outcomes will be achieved?
   b) How will they be measured?
7. Impact:
   a) What is already known about this subject?
   b) What will this project add to hemophilia care?
8. Knowledge dissemination: How will information about the project be shared with other caregivers?

By structuring the application form in this manner, the GRAC will be better able to compare competing proposals in this category, which often attracts applications from diverse groups from many different regions and backgrounds.