Research News

Limited Submission Opportunity: 2024 V Foundation Adult Translational Cancer Research Awards

Applications due March 7

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

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) may choose one nominee for the V Foundation 2024 Adult Translational Cancer Research Grants Program.

Overview

The grant provides $800,000 in four annual installments of $200,000. Indirect costs up to a maximum of 10% within the total award are permitted.

The V Foundation invites applications for adult cancer research that moves a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial or uses 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 3 years from the end of the grant. 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 clinical trial.

This RFA is specifically for adult cancer research that falls into preclinical/translational research as described above. This year, the foundation has special interest and funding for colorectal cancer and welcomes research projects in this area as well all other adult cancer research areas EXCEPT the following out-of-scope research areas: epidemiology, behavioral science, and health services research.

Eligibility

By March 21, 2024, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at their cancer research institution.
    • Non-promotable adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are not eligible for Principal Investigator nomination.

Internal Application Process

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee this opportunity must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

  1. Brief (2 page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
  2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
    • Please include an overview of resources available to you (research and office space, teaching release, mental health support, etc)
    • If the nature of the research is basic and/or translational science, how will science communication with diverse audiences be incorporated into your training?
    • If the nature of the research is translational and/or clinical (bench to bedside with patient contact), describe how patient advocacy/communication will be incorporated into your training.
  3. NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV

Submissions should reference “2024 V Adult Translational Cancer Research Award” in the subject line of the email.

A short nomination form for Vanderbilt’s selected candidate will be submitted to the V Foundation by March 21, 2024. The candidate will then receive an invitation to submit a full application to the sponsor by April 19, 2024.

Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu with any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.