The following instructions are for both VU and VUMC investigators.
Overview
The V Foundation has established a new initiative in honor of Robin Roberts, which will fund research related to cancer survivorship and reduction of long-term complications of cancer treatment. Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) anticipates the opportunity to choose one nominee for the V Foundation 2018 Robin Roberts Cancer Survivorship Research Grant. The Cancer Survivorship Research Grant is a $600,000 grant awarded in three annual installments of $200,000. Indirect costs up to a maximum of 10 percent within the total award are permitted.
Funding Priorities
The V Foundation seeks to support research into the biological basis of and prevention of long-term adverse effects of cancer therapies (such as premature death, second neoplasms, organ dysfunction—e.g. cardiac, pulmonary, gonadal, neuropathy, reduced growth and development, decreased fertility, and impaired cognitive function) from both conventional therapies including XRT, surgery and targeted therapies, as well as newer immunotherapies. As immune-based therapies become more common, research is also needed regarding infectious disease complications.
Research areas may apply to adult and/or pediatric populations, and to conventional therapies and/or immune-oncology therapies. Some research possibilities within this scope could include:
- Determine risk stratification models for selection of primary cancer therapy in order to balance efficacy with short- and long-term toxicity. Such models may include clinical presentation, tumor features such as histology, stage and genomics, and serum biomarkers. Biomarker research in both tumor and “host” are encouraged.
- Develop effective targeted intervention strategies to decrease the risk of long-term adverse effects. For example:
–Investigate the causal pathway of selected chemotherapeutic agents that cause endothelial dysfunction and accelerate the atherosclerotic process.
–Investigate the association between muscle mass loss and cardiometabolic dysfunction among cancer survivors.
- Investigate the role of genetic susceptibility in the development of non-malignant treatment-related adverse outcomes (in addition to subsequent malignancies) in cancer survivors.
- Research to advance early detection of recurrent or secondary cancers using innovative approaches.
- When applicable, mining of existing research databases (e.g., GDC, TCIA, TCGA) containing genomic data, clinical trial data or other for various translational research projects is encouraged to further research to prevent adverse treatment effects for oncology patients (adult or pediatric) post-treatment. This could lead to risk prediction models for adverse treatment effects that would include host and tumor characteristics.
The program will NOT fund psychosocial services-type research, such as quality of life, psychosocial well-being and dysfunction.
Eligibility Criteria
By Aug. 15, 2018, the applicant who will lead proposed research team must have all the following:
- Be a scientist who holds a tenure-track faculty position at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Non-promotable, adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are not eligible for principal investigator nomination to lead the research team.
- Be either a S. citizen or have a legal permit to work in the United States (either temporary or permanent).
Internal Selection Process
Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018.
- Research plan including summary budget (two-page maximum);
- Brief statement of support from department chair/center director;
- NIH Biosketch
Submissions should reference “2018 V Foundation Cancer Survivorship Grant” in the subject line of the email. Please contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions.