Novartis Gene Therapies wants to ensure that physicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals have access to complete, up-to-date, and balanced scientific information regarding gene therapy treatment, research and investigational therapies.

Research requests

Novartis Gene Therapies supports investigator-initiated trials (IIT), research collaborations and consortia.

This research can provide valuable information regarding the safety, efficacy, pharmacology, and tolerability of products and supplement the comprehensive data generated in registration studies.

Novartis Gene Therapies provides grants exclusively in our therapeutic areas of expertise (i.e. rare and life threatening neurological genetic diseases) and based on the scientific merit of the investigator’s proposal. The research must be intended to contribute knowledge to the medical community with a reasonable and appropriate budget for the proposed work.

In considering applications for support, Novartis Gene Therapies will also assess the expertise of the proposed principal investigator and any subinvestigators, including their experience in the relevant therapeutic area, demonstrated ability to successfully conduct clinical trials, and available resources.

Novartis Gene Therapies reviews research proposals seeking financial or material support. Investigators from the United States and all other geographies may use this process.

  • Investigator-initiated trials are completely managed by a sponsor-investigator, who independently performs all the necessary work on the study, including creating the concept and design, developing the protocol, following necessary regulatory and legal requirements, collecting data, conducting the statistical analysis and publishing the study
  • Novartis Gene Therapies is not responsible for writing, submitting or conducting the study. Sponsor-investigators are required to follow their local regulatory requirements for investigational studies
  • Research collaborations and consortium activities are undertaken by Novartis Gene Therapies with one or more external organizations to advance specific, shared objectives. The nature of involvement in the collaboration must be documented and disclosed. Novartis Gene Therapies may provide funds, resources, or expertise to the collaboration

The following topic areas are currently in scope for SMA-specific research requests:

  • Biomarkers
  • Methods/ Processes to reduce time to diagnosis & speed to treatment
  • Expansion of treatment access for our gene therapy
  • Demonstrating or validating care needs for SMA populations post-gene therapy treatment
  • Value of gene therapy: cost of care, quality of life, and caregiver burden

The following organizations are eligible to submit requests for research funding:

  • Academic medical centers
  • Hospitals
  • Medical/professional associations
  • Medical schools and other health science schools
  • Patient support/advocacy groups
  • Universities/colleges
  • Tax-exempt organizations (for example, in the U.S., 501(c)(3) entities)

If you are interested in applying for support for research, please review the submission process and apply online:

Submit Research Request

The application and proposal form must be completed in full and is required in order to help us evaluate your funding request.

Independent medical education grant funding

As part of our mission to further the advancement of medicine and healthcare, Novartis Gene Therapies provides support for independent accredited and non-accredited medical education for healthcare professionals.

Funding requests including for live presentations, written enduring materials, online courses, and conference symposia from organizations (e.g. hospitals, universities, societies, medical-education vendors) will be reviewed and assessed in conjunction with our goal to help physicians and other healthcare professionals to obtain information and insights that contribute to the improvement of patient care and the advancement of medicine.

Novartis Gene Therapies supports medical education grants that address:

  • Education of health care providers including trainees, allied health professionals and payers
  • Advancing the understanding of the SMA disease state and gene therapies addressing rare, life threatening diseases
  • Improving health care providers' understanding of the diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and comorbidities of SMA
  • Quality, reimbursement, access to care

Disease states and areas of interest:

  • Gene therapy and AAV
  • SMA Diagnosis and management
  • SMA Treatment landscape

Novartis Gene Therapies supports organizations, activities and initiatives that satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

  • Broadens health care professionals' knowledge and understanding of disease states and treatment options
  • Supports a documented educational need
  • Enhances the understanding of emerging therapies and incorporates evidence-based medicine where applicable
  • Supports general activities of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or global equivalent
  • Supports patient advocacy programs for quality health care

The following organizations are eligible to submit a request for grant funding:

  • Academic medical centers
  • Hospitals
  • Medical education communication companies
  • Medical/professional associations
  • Medical schools and other health science schools
  • Patient support/advocacy groups
  • Universities/colleges
  • Tax-exempt organizations (for example, in the U.S., 501(c)(3) entities)

Novartis Gene Therapies will consider funding any of these types of eligible programs for education grants:

  • Continuing medical education (CME)
  • Satellite symposia
  • Visiting professorships
  • Grand rounds
  • Patient education events
  • Regional seminars
  • Fellowship support
  • Society meetings
  • Enduring material (print, audio, digital)

If you are interesting in applying for support for independent accredited and non-accredited medical education for healthcare professionals, please review the submission process and apply online:

Submit Medical Education Grant Request.

The application form must be completed in full and is required in order to help us evaluate your grant request.