NCI–ASCO Cancer Foundation Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award

Participating Organizations
   National Cancer Institute (www.nci.nih.gov)
   The ASCO Cancer Foundation (www.ascocancerfoundation.org)

Title: Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award

Key Dates
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: June 10, 2009
Application Receipt Date: June 24, 2009
Anticipated Start Date: September 30, 2009

Background and Purpose

In 2005, the NCI began implementing a plan to restructure its clinical trial enterprise in order to realize the promise of molecular medicine to advance oncologic clinical practice. This restructuring plan (http://integratedtrials.nci.nih.gov/ict/CTWG_report_June2005.pdf) is outlined in a document produced by the Clinical Trials Working Group (CTWG). One of the plan's 22 initiatives is to realign NCI funding, academic recognition, and other incentives in order to promote collaborative team science and clinical trial cooperation. The initiative supports creating "new forms of recognition for Cancer Clinical Investigators" and a new "Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award." NCI and ASCO are collaborating to support competing supplement awards to create a new NCI-ASCO Cancer Foundation Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award. This award is being established to support, acknowledge, and recognize outstanding clinical investigators whose participation and activities promote successful clinical research programs and to promote retention of clinical investigators in an academic career in clinical research. It is the intent of the Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award to support mid-level clinical investigators at NCI-designated Cancer Centers who are not currently holding Principal Investigator status on an NIH grant, but are participating extensively in NCI-funded collaborative clinical trials.

The intent is to provide partial salary support for up to 8-10 clinical investigators at NCI designated Cancer Centers through administrative supplements to the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant. The total budget should not exceed $50,000 per year for a total of two years, including salary, fringe benefits, and associated facilities and administrative costs. It is expected that the awardee would devote 10-15% effort to the activities associated with this award. Non-allowable costs include salary for secretarial and administrative assistance, equipment, and travel costs. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm). Support provided under this supplement program is not transferable to another investigator or institution.

1. Must be currently practicing in the clinical setting and have the potential for leadership of the Cancer Center's clinical trials. For example, setting clinical research priorities; overseeing clinical trials; submitting protocols to the IRB; monitoring adverse event reporting; and increasing enrollment in NCI-funded clinical trials;
2. Must be a full time faculty member (academic or clinical tracks), eligible for promotion/ tenure or permanent status (if such activities are generally available to individuals at the applicant institution);
3. Must be either:
   • Physician (e.g., M.D., D.O.);
   • Oncology nurse, clinical psychologist, or similarly qualified clinician with a doctoral degree;
4. Must be practicing >3 years post fellowship and board certified in their specialty area, e.g., medical oncology, radiation oncology, oncology nursing, surgical oncology or equivalent;
5. Must be engaged in the conduct of NCI funded cancer clinical trials at an academic medical center;
6. Must not currently be the principal investigator of an R01 grant or subproject leader on P01 or P50 multi-component grants;
7. Must be nominated by the Cancer Center Director;
8. Must be a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident.

1. Cover Letter: A cover letter, signed by the PI of the P30 CCSG, should accompany each application.
2. Format of the Application:
   • Use the standard face page of the PHS 398 (01/2008).
   • A biographical sketch of the Clinical Investigator that includes the source of current support.
   • Provide a short 3-5 page narrative that includes the following:
   • How this individual demonstrates leadership qualities within their workplace setting;
   • How this individual's work promotes a successful clinical research program at the institution; e.g., experience in conducting or facilitating cancer clinical trials (therapeutic, non-therapeutic, correlative);
   • Participation/role in NCI funded collaborative clinical trials (CTEP/ CCOP/ Cancer Centers/SPORES); e.g., setting clinical research priorities; overseeing clinical trials; submitting protocols to the IRB; monitoring adverse event reporting; and increasing enrollment in NCI-funded clinical trials;
   • Commitment of effort towards cancer clinical trial activities;
   • How this individual supports the overall clinical research mission of the institution; and
   • How the institution intends to use the award money to support the proposed investigator's planned clinical research activities and career advancement.
3. A proposed budget entered on budget pages from Grant Application Form PHS 398 for the percent effort of the Clinical Investigator during the first and second year, with appropriate justification.
4. Letters of Support: Three letters of support should be submitted on behalf of an individual's application. Support letters from appropriate Departmental Chairs, Cancer Center Director, Deans etc., with a statement assuring commitment of the applicant's time for conducting the activities proposed in the application; a description of the academic status of the applicant and any additional support provided by the institution. Letters should be submitted electronically with the application.

To expedite the review process, you are requested to notify the Office of Cancer Centers of your intent to apply for this administrative supplement. Notification should be provided by e-mail to the program director for your Cancer Center by June 10, 2009.

• Demonstrable experience and leadership in cancer clinical trial activities (therapeutic, non-therapeutic, correlative). Evidence may include participation in NCI-funded collaborative clinical trials (CTEP/ CCOP/ Cancer Centers/SPORES), publications and specific training;
• Commitment of effort towards conducting cancer clinical trials.

• Proposed clinical trials activity of the applicant and their relationship to the Center's overall research mission;
• Specific information of the institution's plan to use the award to support the awardee investigator's clinical research activities and career advancement.

Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship for Women in Basic, Clinical, Epidemiological or Prevention Science

The Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship for Women Scientists in Cancer Research is made possible by a generous bequest to the Foundation for NIH (FNIH). This is a competitive program for postdoctoral fellows applying to train in any of the National Cancer Institute's intramural research settings, including basic, clinical, epidemiological, and prevention science.

The postdoctoral fellowship experience at the NCI can serve as a first postdoctoral training assignment, or offer more experienced postdoctoral scientists an opportunity to further their training in more advanced methods, to acquire new research capabilities, to make changes in the direction of their research, or to receive training in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines for the purpose of enhancing the transfer of biotechnology to cancer clinical programs.

Program duration is normally 2 to 5 years. Fellows will be supported by a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA), with an augmented stipend in the first year provided by the FNIH. The CRTA Fellowship stipend range is $46,200 to $78,000 commensurate with level of experience. Standard self and family health insurance is provided and high option coverage is available.

Candidates for the Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship must be female, must possess a doctoral degree, and must have less than 5 years postdoctoral research experience. U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency (green card) is required. Finalists for the Kaplan fellowship will be notified by March 2009 and winners announced by May 2009. To be eligible for the Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship award, the starting date of any NCI fellowship must be no earlier than December 15, 2008. Applicants are required to apply online at http://www.training.nih.gov/apps/publicForms/postdoctoral/forms/adIndex.aspx by December 12, 2008.

Questions concerning the Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship may be addressed to Ms. Sandy Koeneman at koenemas@mail.nih.gov or 301-496-0807. —posted 7/2/2008

Reminder for "Avon–NCI Progress for Patients" Applications

This is a reminder that applications in response to “Avon–NCI Progress for Patients” (PFP) Awards Program: A Special Public;ndash;Private Initiative in Early Phase Clinical Interventions and Biomarkers in Breast Cancer will be due November 15, 2007. You are advised to view the Program Announcement for specific instructions.

As with the April, 2007 solicitation, the announcement includes additional requirements which applicants should take special note of: 1) Each competitive supplement application should be submitted by the Principal Investigator of the parent P30 grant; 2) Avon–NCI PFP applications will not be accepted when the proposed funding period extends beyond the end date of the parent P30 5–year project period; 3) If investigators from other Cancer Centers/SPOREs are included in the application as subcontractors, the funding period of these subcontractors should not exceed their respective parent P50/P30 project period; and 4) Previously unfunded, revised projects must be resubmitted as new rather than amended applications.

We encourage you to participate in this program and help us make the “Avon–NCI Progress for Patients” a turning point in the fight against breast cancer. Letters of intent, while not required, are helpful in planning the review and should be forwarded as soon as possible if you plan to submit an application.

Please contact the Cancer Centers Branch staff identified under agency contacts in the NIH guide announcement for any questions you may have regarding eligibility or other requirements. —posted 10/16/2007

Supplements for caBIG™

Clarification on Avon Progress for Patients Applications

• No PFP supplement project may be proposed for more than 2 years’ duration. The funding period of the supplement award may not extend beyond the end date of the associated 5–year parent grant award project period.



• Centers/SPOREs with 2 or more years remaining in the “parent” grant project period (at the time of the proposed competitive supplement funding start date) may submit a PFP supplement application for a project of either 1 or 2 full years in duration, but not for fractions thereof. If fewer than 2 years (but at least 1 year) remain in the “parent” project period, the applicant may only submit a PFP supplement application for 1 year of support.



• The proposed PFP supplement project Principal Investigator (PI) must be the PI of the “parent” grant.



• Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to submitting applications for PFP supplements.

Avon – NCI 2007 Progress for Patients Supplemental Awards

We are pleased to announce the 2007 "Avon – NCI Progress for Patients (PFP) Awards Program: A Special Public–Private Initiative in Early Phase Clinical Interventions and Biomarkers in Breast Cancer supported by a partnership between the Avon Foundation and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Applications in response to the fifth solicitation will be due April 27, 2007, and November 15, 2007. You are advised to view Program Announcement at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-244.html for specific instructions.

The announcement has been modified from the previous guidelines to include additional new requirements, which applicants should take special note of: 1) Each competitive supplement application should be submitted by the Principal Investigator of the parent P30 grant; 2) Avon–NCI PFP applications will not be accepted when the proposed funding period extends beyond the end date of the parent P30 5–year project period; 3) If investigators from other Cancer Centers/SPOREs are included in the application as subcontractors, the funding period of these subcontractors should not exceed their respective parent P50/P30 project period; and 4) Previously unfunded, revised projects must be resubmitted as new rather than amended applications.

We encourage you to participate in this program and help us make the Avon–NCI Progress for Patients a turning point in the fight against breast cancer.

Please contact the Cancer Centers Branch staff identified under agency contacts in the NIH guide announcement for any questions you may have. Guidelines for applications in response to the Avon – NCI 2006 Progress for Patients Awards are now available, with letters of intent and applications due February 1 and March 1, respectively. —posted 3/6/2007

Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship

The Sallie Rosen Kaplan Fellowship is an opportunity for women postdoctoral scientists in cancer research, made possible by a generous bequest to the Foundation for NIH (FNIH). Candidates for the Kaplan Fellowship must possess a doctoral degree earned within the last five years. Current doctorate students are also eligible to apply considering that all degree requirements will be completed prior to the beginning of the fellowship. U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency (green card) is required. The postdoctoral fellowship experience at the NCI can serve as a first postdoctoral training assignment, or offer more experienced postdoctoral scientists an opportunity to further their training in more advanced methods, to acquire new research capabilities, to make changes in the direction of their research, or to receive training in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines for the purpose of enhancing the transfer of biotechnology to cancer clinical programs. Program duration is normally 2 to 5 years. Current NCI postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply.

NCI facilities are located in Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Frederick, Maryland, and are the best funded and equipped research laboratories in the United States. As a member institute of the National Institutes of Health, the NCI offers an environment for postdoctoral fellows to interact with scientists from a wide range of medical/life science disciplines, attend lectures given by internationally renowned scientists, and participate in meetings sponsored by national scientific associations and societies. Fellows will be supported by a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA), with an augmented stipend in the first year provided by the FNIH. The CRTA Fellowship stipend range is $39,800 to $73,500 commensurate with level of experience. The amount of first–year stipend augmentation will depend upon the available bequest income and number of Kaplan Fellows selected. Standard self and family health insurance is provided and high option coverage is available. The fellowship starting date will be no earlier than May 1, 2007.

NCI is proud to support the Kaplan family in its efforts to promote the careers of women in biomedical research. You can help by sharing this information with fellows you know who would benefit from this opportunity. While we are certainly making efforts to publicize this information in a variety of formats to our target audience, we know that you are in the best position to recommend fellows to the program. Completed applications are due Friday, December 15th. Applicants are required to apply online. For eligibility information and application instructions for this special opportunity, please go to our training and employment website: http://generalemployment.nci.nih.gov. Click on Enter StarCatcher, then Sallie Rosen Kaplan Postdoctoral Fellowship, and then click on SRK Opportunity.

If you would like printed brochures or flyers or if you have any questions about the program or the application process, please send an email to ncifellows@mail.nih.gov or contact us by phone, 301.451.8826. —posted 10/17/2006