This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.
Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) has been invited to participate in the V Foundation 2019 Pediatric Cancer Research Grant Program. Vanderbilt may choose one nominee for the Pediatric Cancer Research Grant Program. The single nominee may apply in either the V Scholar or the Translational program type for support.
Please review each award type below, and submit internal proposals for either program by Feb. 17. Note that this pediatric call is distinct from the V Foundation “all cancers” call for V Scholars and Translational awards (non-pediatric specific) which will have a separate invited call for applications.
Pediatric Cancer Translational Research Award
The V Foundation seeks to support translational research projects within the scope of pediatric cancer research. The Translational Research Award 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.
Definition of a translational research project: Translational projects should move a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial or use specimens from a clinical trial to develop biomarkers or mechanisms. The research should apply in some direct way to human beings within the time frame of less than three years. If biomarker research is undertaken, a validation set or independent clinical trial is essential. A plan for biomarker validation, if applicable, must be included in any proposal. The endpoint of the project should be the planning or initiation of a new pediatric clinical trial.
Applicant Eligibility: By April 2, 2019, applicants who will lead this research team must have all the following:
- Be scientists who hold a tenure-track faculty position (any level) at their cancer research institution. Non-promotable, adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are not eligible for Principal Investigator nomination to lead the Translational Research Team.
- Applicants must be either US citizens or have a legal permit to work in the USA (either temporary or permanent).
Pediatric Cancer V Scholar Award
The Pediatric Cancer V Scholar Award supports young tenure-track faculty early in their cancer research career by funding projects that are either laboratory-based fundamental research or translational research. The total amount of the grant is $200,000 awarded in two annual installments of $100,000, each. No indirect costs are permitted.
Applicant Eligibility: Applicants must have all the following by April 2, 2019:
- Hold a tenure-track faculty position as an assistant professor at their cancer research institution. Non-promotable, adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are not eligible for this grant competition.
- Have been appointed to their first full-time assistant professor position within the last 5 years, and not yet been promoted to associate professor.
- Clinical scientists are eligible if their department can demonstrate that it will fully support the research applicant (e.g., dedicated lab space, start-up funds, dedicated research time).
- Applicant can NOT already have been awarded an R01 or R01-equivalent grants. Applicants who have been awarded R01 equivalent grants (project leader on an NIH multi-investigator grant, ACS) as principal investigators or as co-leader at the time of application submission are not eligible for consideration as a V Scholar. In addition, applicants cannot be a co-leader on a SPORE project or (co)PI of the following NIH grant mechanisms: U01, DP1, DP2, R37, R23.
- Applicant must have at least two years post-doctoral (MD or PhD) fellowship training. For MDs, a minimum of one year is acceptable if only one year is required for the specialty.
- Applicants must be either US Citizens or be a permanent legal resident in the US.
Internal Selection Process:
Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee for either of the Pediatric Awards above must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17. Late applications will not be considered.
- Brief (2 page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
- Statement of support from department chair/center director;
- NIH Biosketch or brief CV
Submissions should reference the award type (Translational Research Award or V Scholar) in the subject line of the email. Vanderbilt’s selected applicant will submit a short nomination form by Feb. 28, 2019 and a full application by April 2, 2019.
Please contact us at LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.