Research News

Limited Submission Opportunity: National Comprehensive Cancer Network Foundation 2025 Young Investigator Award

Applications due November 14, 2024

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate one candidate for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Foundation Young Investigator Award for 2025.

Overview

These awards provide $150,000 over a two-year period for promising young investigators across a broad range of oncology specialties and areas of interest. In addition to the $150,000 award, awardees will be provided up to $575 for travel to attend the 2028 NCCN Annual Conference.

The Foundation invites proposals from early career investigators with innovative ideas and an interest in improving the quality, effectiveness, equity, and accessibility of care provided to cancer patients. A primary focus of the award is to identify and fund top investigators in the early stages of their careers interested in participating and contributing to cancer research.

A hallmark of NCCN’s programs has been strong attention to excellent data collection, analysis, and outcomes measures. Successful YIA proposal submissions will be expected to bring this same high level of rigor to their research and clinical practice programs.

Use the links below to review the:

Eligibility

  • The award is open to physicians, scientists, nurses, and others working in an oncology laboratory, clinical research or clinical setting, or cancer control program.
  • Candidates must be in their first full-time appointment at Vanderbilt at Assistant Professor, Instructor, or equivalent level and must remain in good standing for the duration of the award period.
  • Candidates must not have other funding that duplicates the focus and purpose of this award.
  • Candidates must have a Medical degree (MD, DO) or Scientific degree (PhD) or Nursing degree (Masters or above) or Pharmacy degree (PharmD); or the international equivalent to one of these.
  • Proposed project must be conducted at Vanderbilt.
  • Candidates must have a mentor in the proposed research field.
  • Institutional commitment to support the research project is required.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

The YIA Proposal Review Committee will select recipients for YIAs based on the following criteria:

  • Scientific Soundness
  • Study Design
  • Feasibility
  • Statistics
  • Budget
  • Mentorship Plan
  • Timeline – work must be finalized and final reporting submitted within the 2 year grant period

Internal Application Process

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following documents (in PDF format) through the VICC Pilot Project and Multi-Tier Funding RFA Portal by 5 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2024. Under the funding type select ‘Other’ and specify the program title NCCN YIA. A link to the funding portal can also be found in the blue square located on the VICC Funding Opportunities web page.

  1. Brief (1-2 page) research plan including summary budget;
  2. Brief statement of support from department chair/division chief;
  3. NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV

Once received, all proposals will be forwarded to an internal review committee that will select the final nominee. The chosen nominee will submit a full proposal to the Foundation by the Jan. 22, 2025 deadline.

If you have any questions, please contact Jenn Beiner at jenn.beiner@vumc.org.