Since its founding in 1987, the CFIDS Association of America has supported research into the biological basis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) through direct grants to investigators, sponsored scientific symposia and meetings, fostered collaborations and, most recently, established the SolveCFS BioBank. CFS has received increasing attention from the scientific and general media, generating both increased interest and unprecedented opportunities for progress.

To meet the unequivocal need for a more robust scientific enterprise for CFS, in late 2007 the Association’s Board of Directors announced the Campaign to Accelerate CFS Research to fuel a more intensive search for biomarkers, better diagnostics and more effective treatments. The current purpose of the Association’s research program is to build, support and link a critical mass of innovative and credible researchers focused on early detection, objective diagnosis and effective treatment and to create, identify and leverage new private and commercial funding sources and opportunities for CFS investigators.

As a private, non-profit foundation authorized under Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3), the CFIDS Association of America awards grants in furtherance of its mission, including providing support for scientific research on CFS. Grant decisions rest with the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Association, acting upon the recommendations of peer reviews that evaluate the scientific and strategic merit of applications submitted to the Association’s Research Grants Program. To date, the CFIDS Association of America has awarded nearly $5 million in direct research support.

The most recent Request for Applications (RFA) was issued on April 6, 2011. (See http://www.cfids.org/research/rfa-2011.asp) The deadline for Letters of Intent was June 3, 2011 and has now passed. To be included on the mailing list for the next RFA, please send your full name, professional affiliation, and postal and electronic mailing addresses to research@cfids.org.

Only investigators invited to submit Research Grant Applications will be eligible for review of their applications. Applications must be made on the CFIDS Association of America’s Research Grant Application form and applicants must read and adhere to the Policies Governing the Award of Research Grants when completing the application form.

The Policies Governing the Award of Research Grants outline the CFIDS Association of America’s policies, practices and expectations for administering its research grants program. Click here to access a complete copy of the Policies, updated most recently in July 2011. This document is intended to provide all interested parties with information about their respective rights and responsibilities. Over nearly 25 years of supporting research, we have found that the most productive relationships with grantees are based on shared goals and mutual trust, and we strive to cultivate a positive experience with applicants and grantees in furtherance of our mission to make CFS widely understood, diagnosable, curable and preventable.

The CFIDS Association is committed to ensuring that the outputs of the research it funds accrue to the public benefit. This is important to donors who financially support the organization, participants in the research, the larger community of people affected by CFS, and the general advancement of biomedical research. We have developed these policies as a means to maximize the value of our sponsored research program that includes the SolveCFS BioBank, as well as the individual projects we support. They are based on best practices across a wide array of innovative, ethical, conscientious and lawful organizations engaged in patient-centered research and scientific discovery.