Sharpe-Strumia Research Foundation
About
The mission of the Sharpe-Strumia Research Foundation is to encourage and support the conduct of medical research by practicing physicians on the medical staff of Main Line Hospitals with preference given to physicians whose primary hospital affiliation is the Bryn Mawr Campus, and to research which relates to identified clinical initiatives at the Bryn Mawr campus and Main Line Hospitals.
Collaborative studies with outside individuals or institutions (with preference given to other Jefferson Health System campuses) are encouraged, provided that such studies include active involvement of the practicing physician-investigator and are likely to lead to clinical trials at the Bryn Mawr or other Main Line Hospital campuses.
Contact us:
130 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
C-Wing, 6th Floor, Room 650
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: 484.337.4244
Instructions for submitting your proposal application
Submit 1 completed PDF version of your proposal to: SharpeStrumiaFoundationOffice@mlhs.org and four (4) hardcopies by noon on February 5, 2027, to:
Louise Gethers
Sharpe-Strumia Research Foundation Office
130 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, 6th Floor / C-Wing, Room 650 Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Format
- Be sure to use the format indicated
- Be sure to limit the pages of text to the requested number – 6 pages total for the text of the research plan (items a-e in the application form). Failure to adhere to page limits will reduce the likelihood of funding.
- Limit Curriculum Vitae to salient points
- If the research involves human subjects, submit a sample informed consent form
Budget
- A detailed budget is required.
- Travel costs for presentation of funded research should not be included in the project budget. The foundation has a separate fund for such expenses. Please review the foundations travel policy on our website or contact Louise Gethers for further details.
- Be specific about what line items are for. For example, “administrative costs” is not acceptable.
Please be aware of the SSRF intellectual property policy (PDF). You must agree to this policy before any funds can be spent on a project.
For information contact:
Louise Gethers
Sharpe-Strumia Research Foundation Office
130 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
6th Floor/C-Wing, Room 650
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: 484.337.4244
GethersL@mlhs.org
Additional information for Sharpe-Strumia Research Foundation applications
Specific aims
List the broad, long-term objectives and the goal of the specific research proposed, for example, to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.
Background and significance
Briefly sketch the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance and health relevance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. If the aims of the application are achieved, state how scientific knowledge or clinical practice will be advanced. Describe the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services or preventative interventions that drive this field.
Preliminary studies/progress report
Preliminary studies. For new applications, use this section to provide an account of the investigator’s preliminary studies pertinent to this application. This information will also help to establish the experience and competence of the investigator to pursue the proposed project.
Progress report for renewal. A progress report must be provided for renewal and revision applications. Provide the beginning and ending dates for the period covered since the project was last reviewed competitively. Summarize the previous application’s specific aims and the importance of the findings. Provide a succinct account of published and unpublished results, indicating progress toward their achievement. Discuss any changes in the specific aims as a result of budget reductions.
Research design and methods
Describe the research design conceptual or clinical framework, procedures, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as the data-sharing plan as appropriate. Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing methodologies. Describe any novel concepts, approaches, tools, or technologies for the proposed studies. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. As part of this section, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised.
Bryn Mawr Hospital
SSRF2026-22 A. Burkart, MD “Molecular and Microbial Mapping of Compromised Intestinal Barrier Using HiPR-FISH”
$50,000.00
Lankenau Institute of Medical Research
SSRF2026-01 S. Thomas, PhD “Synergistic Use of mRNA Specific to BINI, CaMIKII and Serotonin Receptors in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-02 M. Charman, PhD “Paving the Way for In Vitro Assembly of Adenovirus Vectors”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-03 G. Yan, MD “Clinical and Mechanistic Insights into Flecainide Toxicity: A Translational Study”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-05 W. Peng, PhD “Exploring of IDO2-Runx1 Interaction as Therapeutic Target for Himan Rheumatoid Arthritis”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-07 L. Merlo, PhD “Understanding the Internalization Mechanism of a Novel Therapeutic Antibody for Treating Autoimmunity”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-08 S. Kjelstrom, PhD “Endometriosis and Risk of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Phenotypes (INOCA, MINOCA, HFpEF): a National Longitudinal Cohort Study”
$49,618.00
SSRF2026-09 S-C. Shen, PhD “Leveraging Innovative Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Metastatic Cancer”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-10 A. Ashton, PhD “The Role and Regulation of C4orf54 in Cardiac Hemeostasis”
$49,981.00
SSRF2026-11 M. Valentino, MD, PhD “Utility of Cardiac CTA in the Routine Care of Patients Presenting with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS)”
$49,819.00
SSRF2026-12 P. Viatour, PhD “Development of a Novel Drug to Repress Inflammation”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-13 M. Wallon, PhD “Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Preventive Agents for Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-15 M. Abdelsayed, PhD “Fenestration-Targeted A Rumenamides as Nav 1.5 Modulators for SCN5A Loss-of-Function Atrial Arrhythmias”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-18 M. Reichman, PhD “Development of a New Prognostic to Stratify Patient Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-19 M. Webster, PhD “Epigenetic Changes During Melanoma Progression: Role of SETDB1”
$50,000.00
SSRF2026-20 S. Dessain, MD, PhD “Genetically Engineered Spirulina as an Oral Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases”
$50,000.00
Mirmont Treatment Center
SSRF2029-23 D. Neff, MD “Contingency Management of Treatment Withdrawal”
$24,307.00
Mentoring Project – Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
SSRF-MP FY 2026 J. Mullin, Ph.D “Effect of Neoplastic Progression on Epithelial Tight Junctional Proteins in Barrett’s Esophagus”
$51,999.25
Dedicated Research Year – Lankenau Medical Center
RP-SSRF2026-01 M. Salvitti, D.O. “National Evaluation of Socioeconomic and Hospital Factors Influencing Trends in Access, Morbidity, and Mortality in CRS and HIPEC for Peritoneal Metastases”
$50,000.00
RP-SSRF2026-03 C. Neff, MD “Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) Activation and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Synergize to Increase the Anti-Tumoral Immune Response in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor”
$50,000.00
Board members
Jack L. Martin, MD
President 2016–Present
Vice President 2014–2016
President 1998–2008
Guy T. Bernstein, MD
Vice President
Barbara S. Lindsay, MSN, RN
Treasurer and Secretary
Lawrence L. Livornese, Jr., MD
Chairman of Medicine, Main Line Health
Ex-Officio
John T. Schwarz
President, Bryn Mawr Hospital
Ex-Officio
Jeffrey Wise
Director, Finance (Acutes)
Ex-Officio
Hans H. Liu, MD
James M. Mullin, PhD
Louise Gethers, Office Secretary
Foundation Accountant
Gan-Xin Yan, MD, PhD