Bankhead-Coley and James & Esther King – call for applications released

The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program and the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program have issued the FY2010-2011 Calls for Grant Applications.  Grants will be awarded to Florida-based universities, established research institutions, and eligible small businesses for the study of cancer and tobacco-related diseases, including prevention, diagnoses, treatments, and cures. The four Calls for Grant Applications are:

1. New Investigator Research (NIR) Grants
The intent of this grant mechanism is to foster development of new investigators so they can undertake independent research that is competitive for national research funding. New investigators must have been full-time faculty for no more than six years and must work under the mentorship of a senior investigator.

The maximum award for NIR grants has increased to $135,000 for the first year, not to exceed $400,000 over a three-year period.

2. Team Science Program (TSP) Grants*
The purpose of this grant mechanism is to support a broadly based, multi-disciplinary research program with a well-defined major objective or theme and resulting in an application at the national level to continue the research program over the long-term. The TSP project must consist of at least three and no more than five interrelated individual research projects led by a Project Director. At least one project must be translational/clinical in nature.

An eligible institution can submit only two intra-institutional TSP applications (single institution meeting the required financial match) and an unlimited number of inter-institutional TSP applications (more than one eligible institution contributing to the required match) for both programs.  *The internal review process for the limited intra-institutional TSP Grant is underway, and no more applications will be accepted.

The maximum award for TSP grants has increased to $500,000 for the first year, not to exceed $1,500,000 over a three-year period. An institutional match of at least 25% of the grant direct cost amount is required.

3. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PRF)
The purpose of this fellowship is to (a) attract scientists into careers addressing important research questions about cancer and tobacco-related diseases; (b) provide support to promising postdoctoral and post-graduate researchers who have the potential to become productive and successful independent investigators in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and/or cure of cancer/tobacco-related diseases.

The award amount includes a stipend and allowance and is dependent on the length of clinical training since attaining doctoral degree. Awards are for a period of up to three years (depending on time since doctoral degree).

4. Research Program Grants (RPG)
The intent of this grant mechanism is to encourage two specific areas of cancer research: translational research and health disparities research. These grants are for specific research projects that are hypothesis driven. RPG projects must be fully developed, scientifically rigorous, and include sound background information, hypotheses, and promising preliminary studies or supporting data. The RPG is open to investigators at eligible institutions regardless of experience or past funding track record.

The maximum award for RPG is $300,000 for the first year, not to exceed $1,500,000 over a five-year period.

The application submission deadline for NIR, TSP, PRF, and RPG Grant applications is February 12, 2010. Awarded grants will begin on or around July 1, 2010.

In addition to the above four Calls, there is an Open Call for:

Technology Transfer/Commercialization Partnership (TTCP) Grants.

The intent of the TTCP grant mechanism is to: encourage the collaboration of investigators at eligible institutions and small businesses; stimulate technology transfer activities for promising research discoveries that could lead to innovations in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or cure of cancer/tobacco-related diseases; establish the technical/scientific merit and feasibility of the project; and/or strengthen a project’s economic feasibility and commercialization prospects.

The maximum award for TTCP grants is $100,000 over a 12-month period.

TTCP Grant applications will be accepted through 5:00 P.M. EST, Friday, January 29, 2010 or until all funding set aside for this mechanism is awarded.