Early-Stage Professionals: How to Develop Competitive Proposals for Securing Independent Research Fu

ABOUT THE WEBINAR

Are you seeking to unlock funding opportunities for your projects but unsure of where to start? Register for the ISCT Early-Stage Professionals’ informative webinar designed to equip you with essential skills in grant writing. Whether you’re new to grant writing or looking to refine your skills, in this interactive session, we will cover the essentials of navigating the world of grants and funding opportunities from USA and EU perspectives.

You will learn the ins and outs of the grant application process, from understanding different funding sources to crafting compelling proposals that resonate with funders. In addition, you will receive guidance on developing a funding plan, along with career strategies that can significantly improve your chances of securing competitive research funding.

Our expert speakers will share their knowledge and experiences, helping you navigate common challenges and pitfalls in grant writing. Take charge of your career development and don't miss an opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical tips that can help you navigate the grant writing process with confidence.

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. Understanding Grant Fundamentals: Introduce the basics of grant writing, including types of grants and funding sources.
  2. Developing a Winning Proposal: Provide step-by-step guidance on crafting compelling grant proposals that stand out to funders.
  3. Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Discuss frequent mistakes made in grant writing and how to prevent them.
  4. Effective Budgeting and Reporting: Highlight the importance of budgeting and accountability in grant applications.
  5. Learn how to navigate your career effectively and develop strategic approaches to increase your chances of securing competitive research funding.
 WEBINAR CO-CHAIRS

Dr. Monica Klein, MD
Senior Associate Consultant
Mayo Clinic
United States

Dr. Monica Klein currently serves as the Medical Director of the Components Laboratory and Associate Medical Director of the Human Cellular Therapy Laboratory within the Division of Transfusion Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Klein completed fellowships in Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine at Mayo Clinic and medical school and residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of South Alabama.  Dr. Klein is a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology, certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine.  Dr. Klein is passionate about advancing the fields of Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine through clinical practice, research, and mentorship.  

Dr. Mikey Creane, BSc, MSc, PhD
Translational Research Manager
HAON Lifescience
Ireland

Dr. Mikey Creane obtained his BSc in Physiology, MSc in Regenerative Medicine, and PhD in Translational Cell Therapy in University of Galway between years of 2005-2016. After his Postdoctoral research training Dr. Creane worked for many years as a Research Fellow and Programme Manager in the Regenerative Medicine Institute in University of Galway where he worked on translating stromal cell therapies from laboratory studies to first in human testing. Dr. Creane has also worked as Strategic Lead for the Centre of Cell Manufacturing Ireland which is an academic Good Manufacturing Practices facility located in University of Galway. Dr. Creane recently joined HAON Lifesciences as Translational Research Manager where he is leading the preclinical development of novel cell therapies for rare diseases.  

 WEBINAR SPEAKERS

Suzanne Glass, MBA
Grants Manager
Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Mayo Clinic
United States

Suzanne currently serves as the Grants Manager in the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics at Mayo Clinic. She has worked for Mayo Clinic for the past 26 years in various leadership capacities, including operations coordinator for a Regenerative Medicine and Histology Core Laboratory, and as a member of the Executive Committee (non-voting) for the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM). In addition, she was a senior program coordinator with responsibility for grant writing, budget development and maintenance of internal/external funding sources (e.g., National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense, Advanced Research Project Agency for Health), strategic initiatives, human resources, intellectual property and clinical trial management within research and the clinical practice.

Jon Zurn, MBA
Program Manager – Research Operations
Mayo Clinic
United States

Jon Zurn is the director of the Strategic Funding Office for Research at Mayo Clinic. The office works to advance the priorities of Research, working to bring funders and research collaborators together. Jon focuses on program development, extramural fund planning, and expanding the scope of Mayo Clinic’s $700 million annual federal, state, and international portfolio. Jon Zurn holds an MBA with a focus on business development. He has been involved in research development and business planning for nearly twenty years and has been with Mayo Clinic since 2007.

Prof. John Pius Dalton, BSc, PhD
Science Foundation Ireland Professor in Molecular Parasitology
University of Galway
Ireland

Prof. John Pius Dalton carried out his BSc and PhD in Zoology/Parasitology at University College Dublin, Ireland. Over the last 35 years he has researched in the USA (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, and National Institutes for Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD), Australia (Queensland Institute for Medical Research, Brisbane, and University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney), Canada (McGill University, Montreal) and Ireland (Dubin City University and Queen’s University Belfast).  He has published >245 manuscripts, edited Fasciolosis 1st/2nd Edition and has been involved in two start-ups (Ildan Biotech, Ireland, and Helmedix, Australia).

Over the last 20 years he has drawn funding from industry, Europe (FP3, FP4, FP7 and Horizon 2020) and was part of several major vaccine collaborations including  PARAGONE and PARAVAC Vaccines Consortium. He was recipient of a Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Chair Tier 1 (2009-2014) and a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant (2013-2018). He won the NSW Government award in Biotechnology in 2009, Queensland Institute for Medical Research Bancroft Medal in 2012 and the UK Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award in 2013 for his work in parasite immunology and vaccine development.

He is currently a Science Foundation Ireland Professor in Molecular Parasitology (2019-2024), and an established Professor in the School of Natural Science at the University of Galway. His goal is to understand the fundamental biology of parasites and their complex relationship with their hosts, both animal and human. With this knowledge he is designing new strategies to diagnose zoonotic parasitic infections and developing new protein and nucleic acid vaccines.