Limited Submission Opportunity: V Foundation 2021 V Scholar Award in Adult Cancer Research

Applications due March 25

This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) may choose up to two nominees for the V Foundation V Scholar Award program. The V Foundation aims to “achieve victory over cancer” in part by funding cancer research grants. The V Scholar Award supports early tenure-track faculty in cancer research careers by funding either laboratory-based fundamental research or translational research projects.

Projects may focus on any area of adult cancer research that increases our understanding of cancer biology ­or that improves cancer detection, prevention, treatment and survivorship. Areas not included in this scope are epidemiology, behavioral science and health services research. The foundation especially encourages applications from minority ethnic groups underrepresented in science. This $200,000 grant is paid over two years and does not cover indirect costs.

Note that this adult cancers competition is distinct from the V Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Grant announcement, which has an internal due date of March 18, 2021. Investigators may apply to both programs.

Eligibility

This call for applications is specifically for adult cancer research.  Additionally, by April 30, 2021, all of the following must apply:

• Applicants must hold a tenure-track faculty position as an assistant professor. 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 five years, and not yet been promoted to associate professor.
• Applications from minority groups underrepresented in science are highly encouraged. For this application, African American, Hispanic American (non-European) or Native American and/or an Alaskan native would be included in minority groups. One Vanderbilt nomination is reserved by the V Foundation for a scientist from an underrepresented group.
• Clinical scientists are eligible if their department can demonstrate that it will fully support the research applicant (e.g., dedicated lab space, startup funds, dedicated research time).
• Applicants must have at least two years of postdoctoral (M.D. or Ph.D.) fellowship training. For M.D.’s, a minimum of one year is acceptable if only one year is required for the specialty.
• Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents in the U.S.
• Applicants must NOT already hold an R01 or R01-equivalent grant as a PI or co-leader. Applicants must NOT be a co-leader on projects such as SPORE or NIH grant mechanisms like U01, DP1, DP2, R37 and R23. The V Scholar Award is intended to support research to leverage these larger awards, so the nominee should not have already received such awards.

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 March 25, 2021.

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
   1. Letters must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs. This statement can be used/modified: “The department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional/school policy.” Consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.
3. NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV.
4. If applicable, please include the following statement in your submission email:
   1. “I self-identify as African American, Hispanic American (non-European), Native American or Alaskan native.”
   2. This statement is optional but allows your application to be considered for nominations reserved by V Foundation for faculty who are underrepresented in the scientific community.

Submissions should reference “2021 V Scholar Award Adult Cancer Research” in the subject line of the email.

Please contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions about the program, foundation or internal review process.