Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is the primary cause of long-term mortality in lung transplant recipients. Current understanding of pathogenesis is limited, contributing to the lack of targeted therapeutics.

Although CLAD is presumed to be the result of cellular and/or antibody-driven immune responses, airway infections, aspiration, and other mechanisms of airway injury, the mechanism(s) for bronchiolitis obliterans lung fibrosis after lung transplant remains poorly defined. Research projects may address the endotyping and mechanistic understanding of CLAD, identification and validation of biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of CLAD, and discovery of therapeutic targets for treatments that might prevent or treat CLAD. Please note: This is a one-time request for applications (RFA) with a letter of intent (LOI). Full applications will be solicited by invitation only. 

Applicants may request funding of up to $150,000 per year for up to two years, plus an additional 12% indirect costs for independent research; and up to $350,000 per year for up to two years, plus 12% indirect costs for collaborative research.

Industry-sponsored research projects are not eligible to apply through this program. Companies can learn more about how the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation makes investments and apply for an investment at Industry Funding Opportunities. For additional information, please contact grants@cff.org.

Areas of Interest

The objective of this RFA is to fund highly meritorious research projects that will aid in identifying biomarkers of CLAD that can function as detection, prevention, and/or treatment targets. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

• Improving the understanding of CLAD endotypes, particularly defining mechanisms underlying the development of obstructive, restrictive, or mixed CLAD
• Defining pathogenesis of CLAD with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets
• Identifying and/or validating physiologic or imaging techniques or biomarkers for early diagnosis and/or monitoring of CLAD
• Applying advances in lung transplant immunology and mechanisms of fibrosis to the identification and/or validation of biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat CLAD 

A goal of this RFA is to promote collaboration between investigators with complementary expertise and/or shared knowledge and common resources. Larger funded research awards are available for collaborative proposals, which are encouraged.

Policies and Guidelines

Please review the 2024 Policies and Guidelines for complete submission information.

Deadlines

All letters of intent and full applications for 2024 must be submitted online at awards.cff.org by 11:59 p.m. ET.

Letter of Intent: May 21, 2024
Full application: August 15, 2024

For More Information

For more information regarding the priorities of this program, please contact lungtransplant@cff.org.

Those who are interested in any funding programs offered by the Foundation may get further information or discuss the potential relevance of their studies or research by contacting the Grants and Contracts Management and Administration (GCMA) Office at grants@cff.org.

Please Direct Inquiries to:
GCMA Office
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
4550 Montgomery Ave.
Suite 1100 N
Bethesda, MD 20814
800-FIGHT-CF
301-841-2614