This year we have advertised in two biomedical journals with high visibility among physicians and scientists. Our main goal is to support the best possible research initiatives. Eight applicants from Canada, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Oklahoma have expressed interest in submitting grants to work on VHL and have already sent summaries of proposed work. It is likely that other investigators will apply between now and the deadline for applications April 1, 2000. We would like to fund at least two from among these applicants.

This year, we introduced two important modifications to the grants, in response to the requests of past years’ applicants: The limit for funding is now up to $30,000 per year and the length of funding is up to three years. In previous years, we awarded funding for up to $40,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years.

As ever, the number and size of grants we can actually award will depend on your generosity. Donations to date will fund the basic VHLFA programs for the year. For the rest of the year, every dollar of donations will go toward research grant funding. Keep those donations coming from now through June to add to the pool of funding for research!

1999 recipients and the VHLFA Annual Report are listed in the Research Report or at http://www.vhl.org/research.

Researchers will find the application form for the 2000 Research Grants can be found at that same location.

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 8:1, March 2000. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.