Board of Directors
Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
UCLA Medical SchoolNicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D.
Nevada Cancer Institute

Brian Loggie, M.D.
Creighton University Medical Center

Michael Harbut, M.D., M.P.H.
Royal Oak, MI

Roger G. Worthington, Esq.
Dallas, Texas

Mathew Bergman, Esq.
Seattle, Washington

Susan Vento
St. Paul, Minnesota

Mouzetta Zumwalt-Weathers
Cary, North Carolina

In Memoriam
Congressman Bruce F. Vento
Bill Powell

Science Advisory Board
Harvey Pass, M.D., Chairman
Karmanos Cancer Institute

Victor Roggli, M.D.
Duke University

Robert N. Taub, M.D.
Columbia University

Lary A. Robinson, M.D.
H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center

Steve Hahn, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania

Joseph R. Testa, Ph. D.
Fox Chase Cancer Center

Claire Verschraegen, M.D.
University of New Mexico

Eric Vallieres, M.D.
Swedish Cancer Institute

Dan Miller, M.D.
Emory University

Raphael Bueno, M.D.
Harvard/Brigham and Women's

Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D.
University of Chicago

W. Roy Smythe, M.D.
Texas A&M

Executive Director
Christopher E. Hahn
Santa Barbara, CA

MARF, inc.
1609 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel (805) 560-8942
fax (805) 560-8962
c-hahn@marf.org
http://www.marf.org

To: Interested Physicians and Scientists

Re: Call for Applications - Mesothelioma Therapy Research Grants, $100,000

Date: May 6, 2004

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Inc. announces the availability of its 2004 round of mesothelioma research grant funding.

Continuing its efforts to stimulate translational research for the treatment of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, MARF is again soliciting applications for funding of innovative developmental projects. Eligible projects may relate to either benchwork research or clinical research, must not be presently funded or pending review, and may be conducted through any not-for-profit academic, medical or research institution, in the U.S. or abroad.

MARF's ability to award grants results from the generosity of private donors, who give to MARF in order to make a direct impact on the tragedy of the disease. Therefore, MARF seeks exceptional projects for which MARF funding is demonstrated to be essential.

MARF's Science Advisory Board will review and score the research proposals, and make a recommendation to MARF's Board of Directors as to the relative ranking of the projects, and the extent to which they merit funding. Over the previous four rounds, the awards to applications ratios have been 2:7, 2:10, 2:10 and 5:25 respectively. Maintaining a at least a 20% award rate, even as the number of applications jumped drastically last year, reflects MARF's deep commitment to funding highly deserving research. This round, MARF will again endeavor to fund as many high quality projects as its resources allow.

The award for any project will be for two years up to $50,000 per year. MARF will closely review and monitor the study's progress and results, requiring quarterly financial and progress reports, and a presentation and full progress report at the close of each year. Funding will be continued for the second year only upon satisfactory progress obtained in the first year.

Please be advised that MARF does not pay institutional indirect costs. As MARF's endowment grows, and we are able to make larger grants, we will revisit this policy.

Proposed projects must address issues for the treatment of the disease.

MECHANISTIC INVESTIGATIONS THAT DEAL WITH CAUSATION WILL NOT BE FUNDED.

Encouraged projects include, but are not limited to, benchwork/clinical investigations of:

(1) Strategies for early detection of new or progressive disease;

(2) Definition of targetable differences between normal and transformed mesothelium and development of novel strategies for treatment taking advantage of these targets;

(3) Therapeutic intervention, including;

a. Gene therapy

b. Immunotherapy

c. Novel chemotherapeutic compounds

d. Novel radiation techniques

e. Novel mechanisms which inhibit angiogenesis or metalloproteinases;

(4) Determination of clinical/molecular determinants for prognosis;

(5) Pain management.

Applications will be scored on the following criteria:

(1) Scientific merit

(2) Originality

(3) Study design

(4) Technical parameters (reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, cost)

(5) Clinical or scientific impact

(6) Potential for multi-center collaboration

(7) Practicality and feasibility.

CLINICAL PROTOCOLS AND PROPOSALS INVOLVING ANIMALS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE IRB OF THE UNIVERSITY, HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTE BEFORE MARF FUNDS ARE AWARDED. A COPY OF EITHER THE APPROVAL LETTER(S) OR OF THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION.

Applications are due no later than August 15. It is anticipated that review will be completed by October 15 and any award(s) activated by November 30, 2004.

For instructions and a copy of the MARF Grant Application, please see download instructions at bottom of http://www.marf.org/marfFrames/GrantsFrame.htm. For additional information, including a listing and descriptions of prior MARF grants, please review the MARF website or contact MARF at the address above.