Sponsor a CCFA-Funded Research Grant

Many of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's cutting-edge research investigations funded throughout the world, are sponsored by donors. We invite you to become part of the cure by funding (in full or in part), one of the more than 150 research projects that are currently underway. In recognition of your generous support, we will be pleased to name a research investigation of your choice for you or in honor of a family member, loved one, or a physician. The following are the different levels of naming opportunities that are available:

Senior Grants Program
- Senior Research Award (Full Sponsorship: $150,000; Partial Sponsorship $50,000) – These grants are awarded to the principal investigators of projects that are conducted at hospitals, universities and research laboratories around the world.
Research Training Awards Program
- Career Development Award (Full Sponsorship: $100,000; Partial Sponsorship $35,000)
  – Candidates for these awards must have five to 10 years of post-doctoral experience, including two years of relevant research experience. The research project must be in the field of IBD.
- Research Fellowship Award (Full Sponsorship: $65,000; Partial Sponsorship $25,000)
  – Candidates must have at least two years of post-doctoral experience. The research project should be in the field of IBD.
- Student Research Fellowship Award (Full Sponsorship: $3,000) – Candidates for these awards are undergraduate, medical, or graduate students at accredited North American institutions. They conduct full-time research for a minimum of 10 weeks with a mentor investigating a subject relevant to inflammatory bowel disease.

Every year, CCFA's National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC), comprised of thought leaders in IBD, conducts a "blind" peer review. Grants are awarded on the basis of scientific merit and relevance to IBD. In fact, CCFA only funds the very best IBD research, no matter where that may be. By supporting the best and brightest researchers, your investment in CCFA is an investment in our quest for the cure.

These dedicated scientists are working diligently to unravel the clues to understanding IBD. Please remember, in gratitude for your generosity, we will list your name in our annual report, send you regular progress reports, and give you the opportunity to meet with the researcher(s) you support.

CCFA prides itself on playing an integral role in many of the discoveries that have improved the lives of those afflicted with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. In the past 40 years, we have funded over 1,000 research awards that have contributed significantly to the basic and clinical research geared towards finding a cure. Research awards have funded the current hypothesis of the cause of IBD; yet-unidentified agents (such as bacteria) trigger an abnormal immune response in people who are susceptible to the disease. Also, researchers have determined that the interplay of genetics, environment, and the immune system accounts for the intiation and perpetuation of Crohn's or colitis.

These theories have laid the groundwork for more focused research. Early research on TNF-alpha, which contributed to the development of infliximab, was funded by CCFA. Our funding has also provided early career training for many of the investigators involved in the discovery of the IL-23 gene's role in IBD. Comparative drug trials have been sponsored by CCFA in order to find new uses for existing therapies such as azathioprine, prednisone, and the combination of infliximab with methotrexate.

We hope you will join us in the battle to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by making a generous gift to support inflammatory bowel disease research. For more information on supporting CCFA's vital research, please contact your local chapter or the major gift department at CCFA National Headquarters, 1-800-932-2423, ext. 248.

We look forward to hearing from you.