UAB: Comprehensive Cancer Center

Each year the UAB / UMN SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer provides Developmental Research (Pilot) and Career Development Awards (CDA) to investigators engaged in translational pancreatic cancer research.  Each award provides $50,000; proposed projects should be completed within a year, although a second year of funding is available after successful competitive renewal.

Applicants for CDAs are limited to junior faculty (Assistant Professors and Instructors); applicants for pilot awards are available to senior and junior faculty.  Post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to be included as co-investigators, but are ineligible to apply as principal investigator; faculty mentor required in role as P.I.

The purpose of CDA grants is to assist newly recruited or newly appointed faculty in initiating independent cancer-related research programs that will be highly competitive for future extramural funding at the national level.

It is expected that pilot project and CDA proposals will have great potential to either become full research projects within the SPORE or will lead to other extramural funding.

--Proposal must demonstrate relevance to pancreatic cancer

--Areas of interest:  clinical pilot projects, laboratory research in phase I Pancreatic cancer therapy, diagnosis, cancer control, etc.

--Particular interests:  molecular biology and pathogenesis of Pancreatic cancer, translation into the clinical setting or novel animal models

--Applicants with current R01 or other major funding on the proposed research are ineligible

Application Process is Two-Tiered:

Tier-One:  Two-page preliminary proposals—due 05.01.09; meritorious proposals will be invited to compete in tier-two

Tier-Two:  NIH-formatted grant 5-page application due 07.20.09; meritorious awards to begin 09.01.09

Tier One Application guidelines:

--Cover letter with the title of the proposed project, the type of award to which you are applying (i.e. pilot project; CDA), your name, department, and contact information

--two-page preliminary application using NIH continuation pages – outlining:

a) objectives

b) specific aims

c) significance

d) brief methodology

--4-page biographical sketch

Tier-two Application guidelines [after successful competition in tier-one]:

--Submit an NIH-formatted full grant (PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 11/07))

a) Include the NIH face page

b) abstract page

c) table of contents

d) detailed budget for initial budget period

e) budget for entire proposed period (including the budget justification section)

f) 4-page biographical sketch

g) research plan (Research plan should be limited to five (5) pages in length including graphs and figures.) 

Additionally, CDA applicants will undergo interview process to determine appropriate mentoring team.

A committee of UAB Pancreatic SPORE investigators will make the final selection of grant recipients.

Budget Requirements:

Pilot projects:

--Budgets are intended to fund technical support and the purchase of animals and supplies

--Budgets are not intended to fund travel or faculty salaries

--Indirect cost (IDC) rates are not included in the award and a letter stating IDC will be waived are required prior to funding

CDAs:

--Budgets for CDA’s do allow faculty salary support

--Not to exceed 30% of the total budget

--Indirect cost (IDC) rates are not included in the award and a letter stating IDC will be waived are required prior to funding

Submission:

Tier One:  submit electronic proposals and for additional information:

Carolyn Maddox—205.934.2089