Office of Scientific Development

Background

The CCR and the DCEG pursue highly complementary approaches to cancer research and prevention. To foster integrative studies that take advantage of the expertise in population-based epidemiological studies present in the DCEG and the basic biology and clinical expertise in CCR, we are seeking proposals for the formation of joint CCR-DCEG research teams to perform high-impact collaborative research projects relating to cancer mechanisms, diagnosis, prognosis, susceptibility, predisposition, or prevention.

Each team will consist of a PI from CCR and a PI from DCEG with clearly distinct and/or complementary expertise. Proposals must contain a clearly defined, well-integrated, population-based epidemiological component and a basic research or clinical component. Ideally, the application should include preliminary results demonstrating the potential impact and feasibility of the study, but this is not essential. The application must clearly demonstrate the distinctiveness of the proposed work from ongoing studies in the PI’s labs.

Selection Criteria

Key criteria for evaluation of proposals in this category are below.

• General Considerations: As with all the FLEX Award categories, projects felt to be high impact, i.e., likely to have a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) will be given highest priority.  In addition, the innovation, significance, and approach will also be assessed for each project.  Projects must be relevant to cancer research.

• Award Specific Criteria

Potential impact:  Successful projects will lead to ground-breaking new insights into predisposition, susceptibility or mechanisms of cancer and may result in the development of new diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic or preventative approaches.

CCR-DCEG complementarity: The specific expertise of the CCR and DCEG investigators should be highly complementary, and the activities should take full advantage of the unique resources in the two divisions.

Degree of innovation: The resulting research output must be highly innovative and have potential for transformational advances.

Feasibility:The PIs must provide evidence for the feasibility of the proposed studies and demonstrate relevant expertise amongst team-members. The inclusion of preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility is encouraged, but not required.

Critical Information to Include: Is the expertise of the CCR and DCEG investigators complementary and does the proposed work take full advantage of the unique resources in the two divisions?

Eligibility

Each proposal requires the participation of at least one CCR and one DCEG co-PI. Lead applicants must be a CCR intramural Tenure-track PI, Tenured PI, Senior Clinician or Senior Scientist.  Those in the Physician-Scientist Early Investigator (PEI) program can apply but must include a tenured PI as a co-PI. Site-visited Staff Scientists who have independent budgets (CANs) are also eligible. For submission purposes, DCEG PIs are listed as key personnel in the application. Non-NCI researchers can collaborator on a project or be a co-PI but these individuals cannot receive funds. Please click here for more specifics on who may apply.

Funding

Funding will be provided for three years. CCR PIs will receive up to $125,000 per year and DCEG PIs up to $85,000 per year. Funds are to cover personnel and supply costs. A detailed budget is required to justify the requested funds.

Review Process

Review of proposals will occur in two stages. After the review of Letters of Intent (LOI), short-listed applicants (approximately 20% of submitted LOIs) will be invited to submit a full proposal for review.

DCEG leadership and the CCR Science Board will review the LOIs and full proposals.