What we fund

The Telethon Foundation funds scientific research into  genetic disorders in a number of different ways.

External research
Most of the money raised is invested in research projects proposed by researchers who work in all parts of Italy, within public or private non profit institutes. Every year the Telethon Foundation selects dozens of research projects lasting from 1-3 years, encouraging competition, and subjecting them to a rigorous selection procedure.
See current call for applications.

Internal research
Research projects funded within the  Telethon Institutes last for 5 years and funding  is not assigned by calls for applications. However the distribution of research funds within the institute also undergoes rigorous evaluation. There is also a call for applicants specifically aimed at selecting and funding researchers who will become part of the Dulbecco Telethon Institute  (Dti). Once a project has passed selection procedures, the Telethon Foundation assures salaries and funding for 5 years, at the end of which time a rigorous evaluation procedure has to be passed in order to renew funding.

Research and facilities
Over the years Telethon has financed many   research support services with the aim of making otherwise not easily accessible technology, available to the researchers it funds. The funded services meet high quality criteria in the services they offer, their usefulness for the users, their innovation for the development of  projects, and the competitiveness of their costs  when compared to external market prices.

Calls for special grant applicants
Alongside these methods of funding, the Telethon Foundation also participates in providing special grants in collaboration with other foundations that support scientific research. In this way it is possible to avoid that funding is broken-up, and to create information and co-operation networks between researchers. These programmes are also subject to peer review. At present the ongoing collaborative programmes are:

• Telethon-Jdrf: a collaboration born to finance research into type I diabetes and relative complications.
• Telethon-Uildm: special grants for research projects aimed at improving the quality of life for people affected by neuromuscular diseases.