Awards - Berlex Scholar Award in Clinical Research


Berlex Scholar Award in Clinical Research

Purpose

The Berlex Scholar Award in Clinical Research is intended to support studies that are specifically focused on clinical research in obstetrics and gynecology. Its goal is to promote excellent clinical research by young investigators in the areas of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. This award is not intended for support of basic science research or animal studies. More than one of these awards may be presented annually.

Eligibility

As this award is intended to support early career development, the applicant must be in the last year of fellowship training or should be junior faculty. If not yet faculty, the individual should have reasonable assurance of such a position within a department of obstetrics and gynecology, as evidenced by a Letter of Endorsement from the department head.

Selection, Presentation, and Terms

Selection of award recipients will be made by a Selection Committee composed of members of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

Proposals for randomized controlled trials should cover all elements recommended by the CONSORT guidelines (JAMA. 1996;276:637-639). Further requirements and application procedures are identified under the section labeled Application Requirements. Institutional IRB approval will be required.

Support of up to $50,000 for one year will be awarded to the institution in which the recipient will conduct the research. The recipient must identify the total amount required to complete the study and designate the specific allocation of funds. It is expected that the candidate will devote a minimum of 50% of his/her time to the research activity. A progress report, six months after the receipt of the award and a final year-end report are required. It is expected that the candidate will prepare a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Application Requirements

Awardees

Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research
Berlex Scholar Award in Clinical Research
Berlex Junior Faculty Development Workshop
Reproductive Scientist Development Program
C.D. Christian Lectureship

Back to the top of the page

^*Requires Java/JavaScript

⁺

2006 Clinical Research Award Recipient
Frank F. Tu, MD, MPH
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, IL

“My ongoing research focus is on pelvic pain and related female neurosensory disorders. Through this funding from the Berlex Clinical Research Award, I will evaluate a new treatment approach for overactive bladder (OAB). As a recent Cochrane review concludes, current pharmacological approaches to OAB (such as anticholinergics) provide only modest improvements over placebo, require chronic dosing, and often do not yield immediate relief. Drawing on well-established approaches for neuropathic pain, we will compare short courses of bladder instillation of alkalized lidocaine vs. placebo saline instillations to decrease urge symptoms in women with OAB. In small studies, intravesical administration of selected therapies has suggested efficacy for symptom relief in both OAB and its closely related condition, interstitial cystitis. This study may even prove effective in curing a proportion of OAB patients. Simultaneously, we plan to assess potential determinants of treatment responsiveness, in order to further our understanding of potentially modifiable disease mechanisms.”