Interdisciplinary Collaboration for the Management of Severe Alopecia Areata in Patients with Comorbidities

The Pfizer Independent Medical Education Grant Request for Proposals titled Interdisciplinary Collaboration for the Management of Severe Alopecia Areata in Patients with Comorbidities is a competitive program designed to support educational projects that address knowledge and practice gaps in the care of alopecia areata. Pfizer, a global biopharmaceutical company, is funding this opportunity as part of its independent medical education initiative, which supports research, quality improvement, and educational projects aligned with areas of unmet medical need. The company’s intent with this grant is to enhance healthcare professional education related to the diagnosis, severity assessment, treatment, and overall care management of adult and adolescent patients with severe alopecia areata, particularly those with comorbidities. The program is specifically focused on advancing understanding and improving clinical practice around alopecia areata, especially given the emergence of new therapeutic options such as kinase inhibitors. Applicants are encouraged to propose educational activities such as symposia at major U.S. dermatology congresses, with formats that may be either live or virtual. The educational content should highlight interdisciplinary collaboration across dermatologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pediatric specialists, and other healthcare professionals involved in optimizing patient care. Pfizer emphasizes the importance of addressing barriers to effective care, advancing comprehension of disease pathophysiology, and supporting improved treatment plans in clinical practice. Funding is available for individual projects requesting up to 100,000 USD, with a maximum project duration of twelve months. Awarded funds may include direct costs, institutional overhead (capped at 28 percent per Pfizer policy), and indirect costs. It is anticipated that one to three projects will be funded. Eligible applicants include healthcare-related institutions such as medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, or allied health professional schools, healthcare institutions, professional organizations or medical societies, and accredited medical education companies. Independent physicians or unaffiliated practice groups are not eligible. The applicant organization must be legally able to receive funds directly from Pfizer, and if the project involves multiple partners, all parties must play relevant roles with the requesting institution holding a key leadership position. The application process requires submission via the Pfizer CyberGrants portal. Applicants must log in or create an account, select the “Start A New Knowledge Gap Application” option, and complete all required fields including a proposal upload. The proposal should not exceed fifteen pages and must include goals and objectives, needs assessment, target audience, project design and methods, innovation, evaluation and outcomes, dissemination plans, project timeline, organizational details, and budget narrative. Applications must also confirm the grant as competitive, select the primary area of interest as Dermatology – Alopecia Areata – KG, and identify the competitive grant program name as 2025 I&I US Alopecia Areata KG. Key dates include an RFP release on August 1, 2025, an application deadline of September 16, 2025 at 23:59 Eastern Standard Time, and anticipated award notification in November 2025. Selected projects are expected to begin in January 2026 and conclude by December 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed, and proposals evaluating the efficacy of diagnostic or therapeutic agents, or projects classified as clinical research, will not be considered. The review and approval process will be conducted internally by Pfizer, and all applicants will be notified via email regarding the outcome. Applicants may be contacted for clarification during the review period. Once approved, institutions will be required to enter into a grant agreement with Pfizer, which cannot be modified unless conflicts with applicable law arise. Questions regarding the RFP may be directed in writing to the grant officer, Talita Honorato-Rzeszewicz, via email at talita.honorato-rzeszewicz@pfizer.com, with the subject line “2025 I&I US Alopecia Areata KG.” All payments will be issued by a Pfizer U.S.–based legal entity upon agreement execution.

Pfizer advises accredited learning activities, strong needs assessment, measurable evaluation methods, and detailed dissemination plans.