FSR Fellowship Grant

FSR Sarcoidosis Research Fellowship Grants

Since the Sarcoidosis Research Fellowship program began in 2018, FSR has awarded $2 million in FSR Fellowship Grants, directly supporting the research of ten fellows to build the pipeline for the next generation of sarcoidosis researchers. The FSR Fellowship Grant provides an opportunity for early-stage investigators to develop specialized skills and gain direct experience within the field of sarcoidosis. This opportunity also allows for mentors to apply with an existing or new project that would require work from a fellow.

FSR is pleased to extend funding to two extraordinary research projects. Dr. Waldrop and Dr. Hagner will each receive $150,000 towards each of their research projects, aimed at advancing the understanding of sarcoidosis and improving patient outcomes.

Congratulations to FSR’s 2024-2026 FSR Fellowship Awardees: Dr. Greer Waldrop, University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Miles Hagner, University of Iowa

Dr. Greer Waldrop’s research aims to study RNA to help identify potential causes and strategies for generating therapies targeted to individuals in advancing the opportunity and effectiveness of treatment of neurosarcoidosis. “I am thrilled for the generous support from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research and eager to focus attention on improving clinical and molecular understanding of neurosarcoidosis,” said Dr. Waldrop. “I am particularly excited about the opportunity to standardize and validate definitions of disease activity within neurosarcoidosis and the possibilities for more informed pathophysiology (understanding of the disease progress) and targeted therapeutics from my cerebrospinal fluid transcriptomic analyses.”

Dr. Miles Hagner will be exploring the role of airway epithelial responses (respiratory cells critical in immunological defense) in creating the immunological responses which lead to sarcoidosis. The goal of this research would be to try to identify in these cells a biomarker that can expediate diagnosis and/or help streamline the identification of impactful therapeutics. “Having my research project recognized by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research feels incredible. I found my ‘WHY’ when I started caring for and researching people with sarcoidosis,” said Dr. Hagner. “Receiving the FSR Fellowship Grant to pursue my research project means so much to me! My team and I are so appreciative of the support and can’t wait to continue this exciting research.”

Read the full announcement.

Watch our recent Grant Writing Webinar to receive exemplary tips, techniques, and examples from past fellowship awardees. Speakers include: FSR CEO, Mary McGowan, Dr. Paula Barreras, 2021-2023 FSR Fellowship funding recipient from Johns Hopkins University, and mentor of Dr. Barreras, Dr. Carlos Pardo-Villamizar of Johns Hopkins University.

Fellowship Eligibility Criteria

FSR will fund fellowships for a two-year period. Total funding is $75,000 per year per fellow ($150,000 per Fellow over a two-year period).
- Applicant must include a detailed budget, as well as a budget justification.
Applicants must provide a personal statement which includes their career development plan as well as a description of their career goals relating to a long-term commitment to sarcoidosis research and clinical care.
Fellow and Mentor’s NIH Biosketch must be included in submission
The funding, restricted to the compensation package of the Fellow, will be provided directly to the hosting institute in two payments for each year. Funding does not allow overhead.
As funded by FSR, host will provide stipend or salary for a year, at a locally competitive rate, payable directly to the Fellow
There is no obligation by a potential Host Institution to make an offer or by a Fellow to accept an employment offer beyond the Fellowship agreement.
Applicants must include description of institutional environment and demonstrate the institutions commitment to training.
Applicants must include their research project summary.
Letter of recommendations must be included, as well as a letter of support from mentor. If mentor is the one applying, any fellows working on the project or wish to work on the project, must include a personal letter.
Applicants may submit only one grant application per fellowship cycle
Applicants must submit proof of IRB submission or IRB approval before funding is provided.
All applications must follow NIH Fellowship Grant formatting and page limit guidelines, where applicable.
Formatting and page limits follow NIH Early Career Investigator (K) Grant guidelines. These guidelines can be found here.

Allowable Costs

Budget Expenditures- Direct Cost Only

Salaries *mentor efforts are NOT covered

Fellow (50-80% effort requested) salary + fringe benefits

Materials and Supplies

This can include cell reagents, arrays, kits, and other lab supplies. Categories must be detailed and explained when supplying the budget. If research includes animals, budget should include number of animals expected to be used, price for the animals, and per diem for animal care, as well as details on the length of time the animals will be used for.

Grant Writing Webinar

Watch our Grant Writing Webinar on YouTube.

Speakers included: 2020-2022 FSR fellowship funding recipient: Dr. Shu-Yi Liao of National Jewish Health and FSR’s Scientific Advisory Board member and mentor of Dr. Liao – Dr. Lisa Maier of National Jewish Health, and FSR CEO Mary McGowan.

FSR-Funded Fellows Research Update Webinar

Watch our Fellowship Update Webinar on YouTube.

Speakers included: 2018-2020 FSR fellowship funding recipient: Dr. Bryan Young of Yale University and 2018-2020 FSR fellowship funding recipient: Dr. Changwan Ryu of Yale University, and FSR CEO Mary McGowan.

Fellowship Grant Webinar – 2021

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) hosted a webinar in 2021 on how to write a successful proposal for FSR’s Fellowship Grant. This webinar highlight’s FSR’s 2021-2023 fellowship program, what a good grant application looks like, and tips and tricks from a fellowship awardee and their mentor.

Speakers included: Dr. Elliott Crouser from Ohio State University and FSR’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Erica Herzog from Yale University and mentor to grant awardee, Dr. Changwon Ryu from Yale University and 2018-2020 FSR Fellowship Recipient.

To view the recording of this webinar, click here.

Past Fellowship Awardees

FSR’s 2023-2025 FSR Fellowship Awardee

Dr. Christen Vagts, University of Illinois Hospital and Clinic

Immune Mediators of Active Advanced Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

“I am so honored to be the recipient of the FSR Fellowship grant,” said Dr. Vagts. “Improved understanding of how sarcoidosis-related inflammation drives pulmonary fibrosis is critical for new drug development and the creation of clinical strategies to help mitigate the risk of advance lung fibrosis.”

2022-2024 Fellowship Program Awardee(s):

Dr. Nancy Lin, National Jewish Health

Defining MicroRNA Biomarkers in Sarcoidosis

“I am so appreciative of being awarded the FSR Fellowship Grant. This grant will allow me to continue developing my expertise in complex cases of sarcoidosis and will assist me in achieving my goal of becoming an expert [in sarcoidosis]. Additionally, this grant enables me to continue my research in genomic biomarkers in sarcoidosis. With support from the FSR, I hope this research will lead to improvements in the clinical management of individuals with sarcoidosis.”

2021-2023 Fellowship Program Awardee(s):

Dr. Paula Berreras, Johns Hopkins University Hospital

Discovering pathogens in neurosarcoidosis: using next generation immunological and metagenomic methods for unbiased pathogen detection and antimicrobial antibody profiling.

2020-2022 Fellowship Program Awardee(s):

Shu-Yi Liao, National Jewish Health- Mentored by Dr. Lisa Maier

An omics precision medicine approach to explore the susceptibility and phenotypes of sarcoidosis

2018 – 2020 Fellowship Program Awardee(s):

Dr. Ozioma Chioma, Vanderbilt University Medical Center- Mentored by Dr. Wonder Drake

Microbiome and transcriptomic analysis of sarcoidosis pulmonary biopsies aiming to signify disease outcome.

Dr. Lori Garman, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation- Mentored by Dr. Courtney Montgomery

Studying how genetic and environmental factors affect immune cells that possibly predispose individuals to sarcoidosis.

Dr. Changwan Ryu, Yale University – Mentored by Dr. Erica Herzog

Understanding the racial disparities of sarcoidosis by elucidating the mechanistic relationship between innate immune mechanisms driven by DNA derived from mitochondria (mtDNA) and clinical phenotypes

Dr. Bryan Young, Yale University – Mentored by Dr. Edward Miller

Novel patient-centered research in imaging and biomarkers of cardiac and thoracic sarcoidosis