Imara Opens Applications for Real Impact Grants

Rare Daily Staff

Imara, a developer of drugs for rare blood disorders, said it is accepting applications for the second-annual Real Impact community support initiative, a grant program that awards up to $150,000 to nonprofit community-based organizations that support sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia patients and families.

The grant program, which was introduced in 2020, provided an aggregate of $125,000 to twenty-five CBOs with support and services for the communities they serve.

The grants will be awarded to recipients in the United States in the following project categories:

• Social Determinants of Health (including COVID-19 relief): Funds will support organizations that are working to address social drivers that impact health, disease management, education and other basic needs.

• Virtual Support Programs: Funds will support virtual community programs that encourage access to telehealth services, mental health care programs, and/or focus on other educational development areas for patients with SCD or beta-thalassemia.

• Community Based Organizational (CBO) Capacity: Funds will support nonprofit organizations’ internal operations (e.g., personnel, program development and execution and other activities) to better fulfill their patient-focused missions.

“As we continue to progress our Phase 2b programs in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, it is essential to be supporting patients and their families in new ways,” said Rahul Ballal, president and CEO of Imara.

Applications will be accepted online from March 29 through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 14, 2021. Nonprofit organizations may apply for grants in a selected category.

A team of reviewers will evaluate the applications and determine the final grant recipients based on the clear identification of an unmet need, plan of execution, level of impact within the target community and measures of success. Recipients across the three grant programs will be announced and awarded in June 2021.

All applications must be submitted through the online process by May 14, 2021 and include the required supporting materials. For additional information on the grants, eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply, CBOs can refer to the application website.

Photo: Rahul Ballal, president and CEO of Imara