Releases

REMINDER: 10 February deadline to submit Expressions of Interest for WADA’s first round of Special Topics for Scientific Research Funding

scientist

Further to our 13 December 2022 Call for Proposals, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to remind stakeholders that the deadline to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the first round of Special Topics for Scientific Research Funding is 10 February 2023 (23:55 GMT). We kindly ask all applicants to submit their EOIs via the Agency’s WADAGrants platform.

The Special Topics for Scientific Research Funding are intended to complement the topics in the annual Call for Proposals for the 2023 Scientific Research Grant Program and will be updated and communicated throughout the year.

The first two special topics, which opened in December 2022, aim to advance the development of dried blood spot (DBS) testing:

1. Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) activating agents in DBS samples

Eligible projects should:  

  • evaluate the stability of HIF activating agents in DBS samples; and 
  • include an administration study of HIF activating agents and the comparison of their stability in DBS and urine samples, generating data to support the definition of a Minimum Required Performance Level (MRPL) in DBS samples.  

2. Detection of small peptides in DBS samples

Eligible projects should: 

  • validate an analytical method for the detection of small peptides (e.g., growth hormone-releasing peptides) in DBS samples, based on previously published work;  
  • focus on small peptides known to be unstable in urine samples; and  
  • support the establishment of a DBS 'small peptides' analytical menu, including proposed MRPLs that can be transferred and implemented in a harmonized manner across WADA-accredited laboratories. 

EOIs that are aligned with the specified research priorities and submitted by teams with relevant expertise will be invited to submit full applications on the WADAGrants platform, including complete project descriptions. Where applicable, additional guidance from subject experts may be provided to inform applications from eligible applicant teams. 

For further information regarding the Special Topics for Scientific Research Funding, please refer to our Scientific Research web page.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to direct them to science@wada-ama.org.