Applications due July 11
These instructions are for VU investigators. VUMC investigators should visit the OOR funding opportunity site.
Vanderbilt University may submit up to 2 nominees for the Susan G. Komen Career Transition Award opportunity. This grant mechanism aims to help outstanding senior postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows, working under the guidance of a mentor, launch their competitive, independent breast cancer research careers.
Overview
Career Transition Awards provide up to five years of funding in two phases: Phase 1 supports the final years of mentored, postdoctoral training; and Phase 2 supports the independent research of the early career, tenure-track investigators.
Applicants my request up to 5 years of funding totaling up to $650,000 over the two phases of the award. Up to $100,000.00 per year (direct costs only) for up to two years may be requested for the first phase of the Career Transition Award to support the postdoctoral work. For the second phase of the Career Transition Award, the Applicant/PI may request up to $150,000.00 per year (direct and indirect costs) for up to three years to support independent research.
Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research priorities and/or mission to save lives from breast cancer. Komen’s research priorities are conquering metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing personalized breast cancer care throughout the continuum of care and eliminating breast cancer disparities and inequities.
Strongest applicants will provide a vision statement encompassing the 5-year grant term, including a well-conceived research project plan for 1–2 years of substantive mentored research, the plan to build upon this research in Phase 2, and career development activities that will help them become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions (preferably at another institution from their mentored phase training) and prepare them to launch robust, independent breast cancer research labs.
The foundation specifically encourages proposals from applicants who identify as someone from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data, including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and individuals with disabilities, as well as individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds according to the criteria used by the NIH.
Eligibility Criteria
- Individuals pursuing independent breast cancer research careers who are in the final years of mentored postdoctoral research training positions with no more than five years of total postdoctoral research experience at the time of Letter of Intent submission (August 7, 2024). For this application clinical fellows are considered eligible and equal to the postdoctoral rank.
- Must have a doctoral degree, including M.D., Ph.D., Dr.P.H., D.O., or equivalent.
- May not hold any appointment designated as faculty (e.g., assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, faculty-level instructor, or equivalent). Clinical fellows with the title instructor are allowed as long as they are no more than 5 years into their training similar to above bullet concerning postdoctoral training.
- Must be able to devote at least 75% of full-time effort to breast cancer research and activities, i.e., protected research time.
- Must conduct proposed breast cancer research and training at the Lead Mentor’s U.S.-based institution and must be designated as a member/employee of the Lead Mentor’s laboratory by date of Letter of Intent submission.
- Applicant/PI may not hold another career transition award, training award (K-type awards) or R-type award at time of notification of intent to fund (on or around April 15, 2025). If Applicant previously held an R-type award at any point, they are not eligible to apply for this award.
- If the applicant is a current Komen grantee, they must ensure that all past and current Komen-funded Grants are up to date and in compliance with all Komen requirements, e.g., progress report submissions, IRB approvals, etc. by the Letter of Intent due date (August 7, 2024).
- Applicant is not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
See the program announcement and funding opportunities website for more information.
Internal Application Process
Interested faculty should click here to submit an application for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is July 11, 2024.
Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
