Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance

Request for Letters of Intent

The ECD Global Alliance is soliciting Letters of Intent for funding of research projects focused on the study of Erdheim-Chester Disease.

Number of Grants to be Awarded: At least 1
Maximum Amount of Monies to be Awarded: Up to $100,000 USD
Duration of Grant: 1 Year
LOI Deadline: April 2, 2015
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all qualified researchers (international proposals welcomed)
LOI Submission Form: Download Form

The purpose of the ECD Global Alliance is to help those affected by Erdheim-Chester Disease. As such, the Alliance’s mission is to provide support, promote research, raise awareness and share educational material related to ECD.

Erdheim-Chester Disease is an extremely rare multi-system, non-Langerhans Cell histiocytosis. ECD can affect many different organs of the body, with each patient having a different combination of organs attacked. The disorder is characterized by an excessive production and accumulation of histiocytes that infiltrate the loose connective tissue of the body. As a result this tissue becomes thickened, dense and fibrotic. Unless successful treatment is found, organ failure can result. Erdheim-Chester Disease usually affects adults, although childhood cases have been documented. It can affect both men and women. Disease involvement may include long bones of the legs and arms, skin, tissues behind the eyes, lungs, brain, pituitary gland, kidney, abdominal cavity, heart, adrenal glands and more rarely other organs.

All investigation proposals will be considered and all qualified and interested investigators are encouraged to submit. As appropriate, submitted studies should consider inclusion of the following:

Collaboration among investigators from different institutions
Translation of findings into the clinical setting

The ECD Global Alliance is interested in receiving LOIs for any study that can lead to an increase of knowledge related to the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis or treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease. Some specific projects of high interest to the organization include: