The Single Ventricle Research Fund (SVRF) is an annual research award program that supports foundational research to improve our mechanistic understanding of single ventricle congenital heart disease and improve patient care and therapeutics through multi-year, high-impact grants. The SVRF is a program of Additional Ventures, a nonprofit established to identify and address the critical gaps in understanding and treating SV heart disease. This year, the SVRF will consider applications to both the Independent Investigator and Career Development Tracks, providing up to $600,000 and $300,000, respectively, to support direct costs over a three-year award period. In its fifth cycle, the SVRF is hosting an open call, and welcomes any research with relevance to SV, including genetics, basic cardiovascular development, tissue engineering, and computational modeling. Resubmissions from previous cycles will be accepted.

KEY DATES 

Letter of Intent Due November 21, 2024, 5 pm PT 

Invitation to Submit Full Proposal By December 12, 2024 

Full Proposal Due February 12, 2025, 5 pm PT 

Awardees Announced By June 1, 2025 

Award Begins July 1, 2025

DESCRIPTION 

The SVRF supports foundational research efforts aimed at advancing the understanding of and treatment paradigms for SV heart disease. Historically, award cycles have selected 14-17 proposals each year and have collectively awarded over $38M to support SV research. In this 2025 cycle, we anticipate funding up to fourteen (14) research grants across application tracks; however, we reserve the right to fund any number of grants based on the quality, number, and diversity of applications received. Each grant will provide funding to be utilized over three (3) years to support research projects lead by doctoral-level investigators (e.g. PhD, MD, PsyD) at qualifying research-based institutions. Indirect costs up to 10% will be provided in addition to the total funded amount (select international institutions may qualify for an indirect rate of 15%; please consult our policy for more information). See below for details on the application and review processes.

PROGRAM FOCUS 

Through the SVRF program, Additional Ventures aims to accelerate foundational research that will lead to both improved care and novel treatments based on a mechanistic understanding of SV. We have developed a Research Roadmap in partnership with investigators across disciplines that identifies strategic solutions to address these gaps and challenges, which is intended to guide a decade’s worth of research efforts and serve as a framework for coordinating global resources to advance SV research and clinical care. For more information, visit our website. The 2025 SVRF welcomes research efforts relevant to SV heart disease and aligned with any specific focus areas and strategic topics in the Roadmap, listed below. If your team has a compelling topic to propose that is not currently represented in the Roadmap, we encourage you to contact our team and submit an LOI.

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA 

When evaluating the overall impact of submissions, Additional Ventures may consider the following: 

 Collaborative projects led by PIs across multiple institutions, disciplines, or scientific arc (e.g. collaboration between clinical and basic research scientists) 

 Proposals led by women and underrepresented minorities 

 Proposals from investigators new to SV and associated conditions 

o For the purposes of this RFP, “new to SV and associated conditions” identifies a principal investigator who has not authored a publication relating to SV and associated conditions and has not been the PI on a grant related to SV and associated conditions awarded from a grant-making agency, non-profit, foundation, or other grant-awarding organization. 

 Proposals from early career investigators 

o For purposes of this RFP, an independent “early career investigator” is an individual who has had an independent lab or clinical research position for no longer than seven (7) years past their postdoctoral position or medical fellow position OR is currently in a mentored training position and meets eligibility criteria for the SVRF Career Development Track. If an investigator has achieved independence directly following graduate school, “early career investigator” status applies if an independent research position has been held for ten (10) years or less. 

o Applications to the SVRF Career Development Track from mentored early career investigators will be reviewed separately from applications received from independent investigators.

 Applicants are not required to provide demographic information. Responses will be visible only to Additional Ventures; outside reviewers will not have access to this information.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES 

All applicants will submit their completed LOI and Full Proposal application materials through the Additional Ventures online grant portal (see below for submission details). All application materials should be single-spaced and formatted in a sans-serif, 11-point font with 0.5-inch (or larger) margins as a PDF file, except where provided templates or fillable forms apply. Please visit the application portal for the most up-to-date information and log in to start your application. Login to ProposalCentral by visiting www.proposalcentral.com and select the Single Ventricle Research Fund in the Grant Opportunities tab, or access the portal via this direct link. To revisit an application already in progress, select your draft under the Proposals tab. Applicants will first submit an LOI; full proposal submissions are by invitation only. LOIs will be evaluated for completeness, competitiveness, responsiveness to the call, portfolio impact, and potential impact of the work to further knowledge and mechanistic understanding of single ventricle and/or treatment options and outcomes. 

LETTER OF INTENT 

LOIs will be submitted through the online grant portal. The LOI will require the applicant organization’s legal name, PI name, degree, position, and contact information. If the proposal is a collaboration, information including the coinvestigator(s) name, degree, position, and organization will also be collected. 

 LOIs are due on Thursday, November 21, 2024 by 5 pm PT. 

 On the Title Page within Proposal Central, select the appropriate Program Track (see Eligibility). 

 Within the portal, information about the applicant team and associated institute(s) will be collected, including financial and signing official contact information.

 Applicants will be asked to provide a selection of keywords relevant to the project and to select the primary Research Roadmap category addressed by the proposed work. 

 The LOI includes responses to the following prompts (submitted within ProposalCentral): 

o Project Summary (500 characters maximum) 

▪ Provide a lay summary of your proposed research project. o Scientific Goals & Strategy (2500 characters maximum) 

▪ Describe the central question that your project seeks to address and the methods that will be used to interrogate your hypotheses. Describe whole-animal models, primary human datasets, and/or primary human experimental paradigms you will use and what features you will measure. Provide information (references, rationale, or preliminary data) to justify your selected experimental model(s)/paradigm(s). Describe research tool and model (animal, IPSC, human tissue, etc.) availability and status (e.g., source, breeding programs, tool compounds, viral vector generation). If using genetic methods, indicate the approach (e.g., siRNA, viral vector overexpression, knockdown). If using single cell analyses, indicate type and rationale for use (e.g., snRNAseq, ATACseq, etc.). If using pharmacological methods, provide information on the intended molecular target and readout to indicate the ability of the compound to reach and engage the target in vivo. 

o Statement of Impact and Alignment with SVRF Focus (500 characters maximum) 

▪ Explain how the proposed work will advance our treatment or mechanistic understanding of single ventricle congenital heart disease (including but not limited to: disease etiology, outcomes, treatment of comorbidities and complications, and/or cures). Describe what unique value your proposed research will add to the field that does not already exist, and further, how this proposed research aligns with the RFA goals and scientific focus areas.

 Applicants will be notified via email by December 12, 2024 of the decision to invite a full proposal.

 FULL PROPOSAL 

If invited, a formal proposal outlining the intended project should be submitted to Additional Ventures by February 12, 2025, 5 pm PT, via the online grant portal. The proposal must contain the following elements, following appropriate formatting guidelines, entered into the grant portal fillable forms, or using downloadable templates (available within the portal) where applicable. Required elements should not exceed the page or character limit, where applicable. Detailed application instructions will be made available to invited applicants within the portal, and will include the following major elements: 

 Title Page 

 Principal Investigator 

o Including PI name, institution, degree(s), academic rank, and contact information o PI biosketch 

 Institution information 

 Key Personnel 

o Including co-investigator, collaborator, or contractor name, institution, degree(s), academic rank, and contact information 

o Co-investigator biosketch (not required for other personnel)

 Project Summary

o Lay summary (written for the general public) describing the project’s aims and goals, including how the completion of the study will impact single ventricle research and/or care (up to 2100 characters) 

o Technical abstract (up to 2100 characters) 

 Team and Community 

o Team Contributions (up to 6000 characters) 

▪ List the key personnel associated with your project (including open roles to be filled if the project is funded) and provide 1-3 sentences for each individual/role describing their expertise/expected contributions. If students and postdocs comprise a portion of the research team, describe how their involvement will support their future career goals. 

▪ SVRF Career Development applicants may use additional space (up to 6000 characters total) to describe the role of their mentor(s) and/or advisors(s) in both the execution of the project and their anticipated career development.

o Community Participation and Engagement (check box to acknowledge) 

▪ Applicants will acknowledge that Additional Ventures requires as a condition of funding that SVRF research teams attend and participate in Additional Ventures-led activities, including our biennial Single Ventricle Investigator Meeting (October 2026; October 2028), progress report virtual meetings (Q2 of each funded year), and virtual Additional Ventures Speaker Series or other community programming held throughout the year. 

o Data Sharing Plan and Philosophy (check box to acknowledge) 

▪ Applicants will agree to comply with Additional Ventures’ open data-sharing policy as outlined in the Additional Ventures Terms & Conditions.

 Detailed Budget (fillable form) 

o A detailed budget in USD completed within the portal. 

o Acceptable expenditures include but are not limited to: salary (must adhere to current NIH cap), equipment, reagents, graduate student tuition, software, patient recruitment, fringe benefits, project-related or conference travel, publication costs, and up to 10% indirect costs in addition to the awarded amount (e.g. $60,000 in addition to an award of $600,000). See here for our institutional policy; select international institutions may qualify for an indirect rate of 15%. 

o If more than one institution will be involved in the project, one should be proposed as the applicant organization, and the other(s) included as a sub-grantee. 

o For non-US applicants: All grants will be made in USD, and SVRF is not responsible for any changes in conversion rates. Grants selected for funding will be made payable to the applicant organization; under no circumstances will payment be made to an individual. 

 Budget Summary (up to 4000 characters) 

o Provide justification of key budget items, specifying their relevance to the project and an estimate of the total costs/budget percentage associated with each proposed Aim. 

o If the application includes subcontracts, provide a brief description of the contributions of the subcontracted team/services, and list the total amount to be paid per budget period (direct and indirect costs listed separately). 

 Uploaded Documents (all to be included in PDF format): 

o Specific Aims page; a brief yet technical summary of the project’s scientific goals and expected products (e.g. publications, protocols, databases). One (1) page. Figures are permitted.

o Major milestones (including Aims) should include estimated timeline to completion. 

▪ Track-specific templates are available within the grant portal. 

o Scientific Approach 

▪ Outline of research methodology to be used in pursuit of the project, including discussion of expected results, statistical analysis of data (where appropriate), and possible alternative approaches. Figures are permitted. 

• Independent track applicants must adhere to six (6) pages or fewer. 

• Career Development SVRF applicants are limited to four (4) pages or fewer. 

o Clinical, Human, or Animal Protocol Synopsis (if applicable) 

▪ Proposals for clinical, basic human, or animal studies are welcome and must be accompanied by a brief protocol synopsis and timeline with milestones. IRB (for human studies) or IACUC (for animal studies) approval will be required before initial payments are made for any project that SVRF, at its sole discretion, selects for funding. If applicable, two (2) pages or fewer. 

o References cited; no strict page limit; submitted in PDF format. 

o Letters of support from additional collaborators or other sources, if applicable. 

o Resubmission Revision Statement (required for Resubmissions): 

▪ Applicants submitting applications that had been evaluated in prior award cycles are required to submit a one (1)-page document outlining the revisions made to their application since their last submission. Describe any new data, changes to approaches or techniques, and any other updates.

COVID-19 & DISASTER POLICY, SUPPORT 

As a foundation, Additional Ventures is deeply committed to supporting our scientific communities. We are sensitive to how COVID-19 and other disasters may affect the wellbeing of our grantees, and are dedicated to supporting scientists, clinicians, and academics through unprecedented times and experiences. We anticipate that COVID-19, global disasters, and other unforeseen challenges will cause delays and changes to planned research activities, through the introduction of both professional and personal difficulties. The Additional Ventures team is cognizant that no standard plan will work for all grantees or apply to all situations; as such, we are willing to work with our grantees on a personal basis to discuss options and find appropriate solutions. These may include, and are not limited to: budgeting revisions, revisions to timelines and due dates of deliverables, personnel changes, and allowances for child/dependent care or transportation. Please contact our team to discuss how we can help; we know that allowing flexibility means a greater chance of success. 

REVIEW PROCESS 

The Single Ventricle Research Fund utilizes a two-step review process. First, LOIs are reviewed to assess eligibility and fit within the scientific focus and scope of the grant program. LOI submissions are evaluated by internal reviewers, and decisions will be communicated by December 12, 2025. Selected investigators will be invited to submit full proposals that will be reviewed by external committees, described below. Upon LOI assessment and invitation to submit full proposals, Additional Ventures forms review committees comprised of independent expert reviewers to accommodate the specific expertise required each year. External review committees evaluate full-length proposals based on scientific and technical merit, team capabilities and competencies, realism of cost, and the commitment to the scientific community. Independent Investigator and Career Development Track submissions are evaluated separately. While reviewers make recommendations to Additional Ventures for funding, all decisions are at the sole discretion of Additional Ventures. Decisions will be communicated by June 1, 2025. 

Additional Ventures will provide feedback for all proposals not selected for funding. Receipt of feedback is an important part of the scientific process, and we provide written critiques and comments as submitted by external reviewers for all applicants. While these evaluations constitute a critical element of our review process, please note that they may not reflect all aspects of decision-making. We often solicit further input on proposals from reviewers in discussion or from additional evaluators (particularly in cases of disagreement or bias) that occur beyond the scope of these written comments. 

REVIEWER RECOMMENDATIONS 

Upon invitation to submit full proposals, applicants are invited to submit reviewer preferences via Proposal Central by January 12, 2025 (1 month prior to the Full Proposal due date). Applicants may list suggested scientific peers who would provide a fair and equitable review of the proposal and who are well-matched with respect to expertise, or to list those to exclude from consideration. Each applicant may list up to three individuals in each category. Submitting reviewer recommendations does not guarantee inclusion or exclusion of the listed reviewers. Scientific review is blinded to applicants and is assigned and managed at the discretion of Additional Ventures only.

ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES Grantees funded by this effort will be expected to engage in the activities and provide deliverables described below: 

 Annual progress reporting, including updates given via teleconference, presentations at virtual meetings, and/or written reports. Regardless of format, progress reports may include the following: 

o Description of scientific progress towards project goals, 

o Annual description of milestones achieved or postponed, 

o Annual budget update and expenditure report, 

o A report of annual participation in community, leadership, and mentoring activities (template provided). 

 Attendance at the biennial Additional Ventures Single Ventricle Investigator Meeting (SVIM); presentations at SVIM are encouraged to be made by postdoctoral research associates or pre-doctoral students on behalf of the research team. 

 Active participation in Additional Ventures-led meetings or workshops that bring together grantees to share progress and results, or to promote leadership, professional, or community enrichment. 

 Response to reporting inquiries requested by Additional Ventures, relating and not limited to: publications and presentations, patents, collaborations, external award of additional funding, students and postdoctoral associates trained in association with work funded by Additional Ventures. 

SVRF Career Development awardees may be offered additional support throughout the duration of their award period, including career training, mentorship activities, and workshops, and are invited to attend and participate in monthly meetings with Additional Ventures early career awardees. These activities are not required. 

TERMS OF GRANT / USE OF FUNDS 

Each funded organization will be required to sign and agree to the SVRF’s grant terms within thirty (30) days from receipt of notice of the award and prior to the funds being released. The grant terms will be available upon submission of a full proposal. Please note that Additional Ventures does not modify award agreement terms for individual institutions; see our Terms & Conditions. Terms must be agreed to by the applicant’s host institution in full without modification.

FUNDING AWARDED AT ADDITIONAL VENTURES’ DISCRETION 

Responding to this RFP, submitting an LOI and/or submitting a full proposal does not entitle any individual or institution to receive funding from Additional Ventures. Funding, if any, would be provided at Additional Ventures’ sole discretion pursuant to the terms of a written grant agreement executed by Additional Ventures and the selected grantee organization, the terms of which Additional Ventures may require to be acknowledged by the PI.