ACS/IRG/UCCC Seed Grants

The purpose of this grant program is to support the development of exceptional research projects that will help lead to the conquest of cancer and will further the objectives of the UCCC.  Funding for these grants is made possible from several sources, including: 1) the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG 57-001-44A), 2) the University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) unrestricted gift funds 3) development funds under the UCCC Program on Aging and Cancer (P20 CA103680), and 4) development funds under the UCCC Cancer Center Support grant (P30 CA046934). Studies in all areas of cancer research (laboratory, clinical, prevention and control, and psychosocial cancer research) will be considered for funding.

ACS IRG Grants aim to entice young faculty to pursue cancer-related research problems.

• ACS IRG grants are reserved for applicants who are in their first few years as junior faculty members (instructors and assistant professors) and who are in the process of establishing independent cancer research programs.
• Applicants cannot have received prior, or hold current, major funding from a national peer-reviewed source (R01, R21, R25, NSF, ACS, AHA, DOD, etc.).
• Priority will be given to those applications which demonstrate promise to lead to further funding through conventional support mechanisms.

ACS IRG funds can be used to support project-related expenses only. Funds cannot be used for salary support for the PI. Applications for novel clinical projects and for community-based projects are particularly encouraged in addition to basic science projects.

Awards will be made for a maximum of $30,000 for one year. These grants are not renewable, but a one-year no-cost extension may be requested.

UCCC Seed Grants (funded by UCCC gift or P30 development funds)

The UCCC funds will be used to support innovative pilot projects that have not received any prior funding.

• These projects must explore new areas of cancer-related research distinct from the investigator’s current research goals.
• In addition, the UCCC would like to increase the number of funded clinical, prevention and control, and psychosocial pilot grants in order to obtain a relatively balanced portfolio of support.
• To that end, grants for novel clinical projects and for community-based projects are particularly encouraged.

UCCC fosters the development of successful multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations involving two or more UCCC members.

• Applications demonstrating new collaborative efforts with a strong translational aspect to the work will be given the highest consideration.
• As well, priority will be given to those applications which demonstrate promise to lead to further funding through conventional support mechanisms as well as those projects designed to explore highly innovative, unconventional or high-risk approaches to the cancer problem.

Scientists and clinicians who are UCCC members UCCC are eligible to apply for a UCCC seed grant.

• Faculty who are not UCCC members will need to collaborate with a UCCC member to be eligible for UCCC funding, or will need to have filed an application for UCCC membership before deadline.
• Multi-disciplinary collaborations are defined as projects involving two or more UCCC members from different disciplines.
• Inter-institutional collaborations are defined as projects involving two or more UCCC members from different UCCC consortium institutions.

UCCC funds can be used to support project-related expenses only.

• Funds can provide for partial salary support for junior faculty members who are awarded seed grants and/or research technicians involved in the project.
• Other, non-personnel expenses appropriate to the project are also acceptable budget items.
• The use of UCCC Shared Resource Facilities (Cores) to support each research effort is required and must make up >50% of the budget request. If no core facility use is proposed, the budget justification must include a strong rationale for this.

Seed grant awards will be made for a maximum of $20,000 for one year.

Research Fellowships

Fellowships are designed to provide matching funds for postdoctoral trainees (either PhD or MD) of UCCC members. Awards up to $10,000 will be made to support the UCCC fellow. Funds may be used for the fellow’s salary and/or other expenses related to the fellow’s research. Applications for these funds must be prepared by the fellow.

Awards will be made for one year.

UCCC Collaborative Translational Award

To emphasize the importance of multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary collaborations, UCCC will fund a collaborative translational pilot award. Projects for this award must include the participation of at least two UCCC members, preferably a clinical and a basic scientist, and must be a translational research project.

• UCCC funds can be used to support project-related expenses only.
• Funds can provide for partial salary support for junior faculty members and/or research technicians involved in the project, and/or other types of project-related expenses.
• The use of UCCC Shared Resource Facilities (Cores) to support each research effort is strongly encouraged.
• If no core facility use is proposed, the budget justification must include a strong rationale for this.

Collaborative translational pilot awards will be made for a maximum of $50,000 for one year.

UCCC – Special Emphasis Awards

UCCC has funds available periodically to support innovative studies in areas of special emphasis. Funds can be used to support project-related expenses only. Allowable expenses include salary support for the PI, fellows and/or lab or clinical technicians involved in the project; laboratory or clinical expenses related to the project; and/or equipment needed for the project.

Aging & Cancer

UCCC continues to broaden its portfolio of research in aging and cancer through its Aging and Cancer Program Grant (P20 CA103680). Proposals ranging from basic science studies of the processes related to aging that predispose the aged to cancer, to clinical studies relating factors in geriatrics to cancer screening, treatment, and outcomes are encouraged.

• Applicants should emphasize in their proposal how their study relates to aging and cancer in order to be eligible for special consideration for these funds. Both junior and senior investigators are urged to apply. Established investigators should consider how additional pilot funds from this source might extend their research into hypotheses relating aging to cancer.
• Aging and cancer pilot awards may be for $10,000 (fellowship), $30,000 (seed grant) or $50,000 (collaborative translational grant).  Awards will be made for the period December 1, 2008 thru August 31, 2009.  These 9-month pilot projects will not be extended beyond the 8/31/09 end date.