Stimulating Innovative Research in Anaemia

Why RoFAR was created RoFAR Mission: “The Roche Foundation for Anaemia Research is a registered Medical Research Charity with the mission of “encouraging innovative research that will open new avenues of exploration in the study of anemia, its mechanisms, erythropoietic agents and outcomes.”

About the foundation RoFAR is an independent, charitable, non-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging innovative research that will open new avenues of exploration across a wide range of anaemia related research interests. The Roche Foundation for Anaemia Research (RoFAR) was established by F. Hoffmann-la Roche (Roche) in 2004 and funded by the company with an initial sum of 16 million CHF to support the Foundation’s activities. The Foundation is legally independent from Roche and is guided solely by a board of eight Trustees and an independently appointed Scientific Advisory Board whose role is to review all applications.

RoFAR stimulating research Two cycles of grant applications occur each year with each individual grant worth up to 200,000 CHF. To date RoFAR has awarded 4.1 mio Swiss Francs ($USD 3.35 mio) to 20 research projects. The successful projects, now ongoing, are exploring key scientific questions in fields including nephrology, neurology, diabetology, haematology, oncology and cardiology.

Eligibility Grant applications are open to established members of academic staff at universities, dialysis centres and research institutes. Research projects considered relate to areas such as: –anaemia of chronic disease –anaemia related to congestive heart failure and stroke –erythropoietin or erythropoietin-like substances as protective agents for various target organs –the biology of anaemia and its outcomes

Convenience with on-line applications For more information on award winning projects, and how to apply please visit All applicants must initially provide a Letter of Intent. Deadlines for these are in June and November of each year, and grants are awarded within six months of the deadline. A special grant of up to 2.4 mio CHF will also be awarded in 2006 to a single research group or institution to enable it to pursue a research topic of outstanding importance.