OpportunityTitle: DoD Prostate Cancer Idea Development Award
Description: The PCRP Idea Development Award mechanism was first offered in FY97. Since then, 6,297 Idea Development Award applications have been received, and 1,097 have been recommended for funding. The Idea Development Award supports new ideas that represent innovative approaches to prostate cancer research and have the potential to make an important contribution to the PCRP mission. Although groundbreaking research often involves a degree of risk, applications should be based on a sound scientific rationale that is established through logical reasoning and/or critical review and analysis of the literature. Due to this award&#8217;s emphasis on innovation, the presentation of preliminary data relevant to prostate cancer and the proposed project is encouraged but not required. Research deemed innovative may represent a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other highly creative qualities. Research that is an incremental advance upon published data is not considered innovative. The PCRP seeks applications from investigators from a wide spectrum of disciplines including, but not limited to, basic science, engineering, bioinformatics, population science, psycho-oncology, translational research, and clinical research. In addition, applicants are expected to address at least one of the PCRP focus areas and are highly encouraged to address one of the PCRP overarching challenges. If the proposed project does not address any of the overarching challenges, the application should include a description to justify how the project will nevertheless address a critical need in the field of prostate cancer research and/or patient care. The Idea Development Award also emphasizes the potential impact, both short-term and long-term, of the research project on prostate cancer research and/or patient care. To maximize the potential for impact, investigators are strongly encouraged to incorporate the following components into their study design where appropriate: authentication of proposed cell lines; statistical rigor of preclinical animal experiments; incorporation of experiments to assess clinical relevance and translatability of findings. As such, the PCRP-funded Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN) (http://www.prostatebiorepository.org) and/or the North Carolina &#8211; Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) (http://www.ncla-pcap.org) are important resources to consider if retrospectively collected human anatomical substances or correlated data are critical to the proposed studies. Studies utilizing data derived from large patient studies that include long-term health records, biospecimen repositories, and pre-existing research and that apply state-of-the art genomic and/or proteomic analysis, bioinformatics, and/or mathematical models to such data are also encouraged. New Investigators: The FY15 Idea Development Award mechanism encourages applications from investigators in the early stages of their careers. The New Investigator category of this award mechanism is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments, or in the process of developing independent research careers, to compete for funding separately from Established Investigators. PIs using the New Investigator category are strongly encouraged to strengthen their applications through collaboration with investigators experienced in prostate cancer research and/or possessing other relevant expertise as demonstrated by a record of funding and publications. It is the responsibility of the PI to describe how the collaboration(s) will augment his or her expertise to best address the research question. All New Investigator applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria as described in Section I.D., Eligibility Information. PIs employing the New Investigator category are not eligible to apply for the Partnering PI Option. Partnering PI Option (New for FY15): The FY15 Idea Development Award is offering a Partnering PI Option with a higher level of funding to support synergistic partnerships among Established Investigators. The Partnering PI Option is structured to accommodate up to a total of three PIs, called the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI(s). One member of the team will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with the application. The other PI(s) will be referred to as the Partnering PI(s). Initiating and Partnering PIs each have different submission requirements as described in Section II; however, all PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed research project. The PIs may have expertise in similar or disparate scientific disciplines. It is the responsibility of the collaborating investigators to describe how their combined expertise will combine and synergize to maximize the project&#8217;s outcomes. If recommended for funding, each PI will receive his or her own award. To justify the higher funding level, the research project must be supported by the unique expertise, experience, and abilities of each PI, and it must clearly define the synergistic components that will facilitate and accelerate progress in a way that could not be accomplished through independent efforts. Multidisciplinary projects are encouraged, and multi-institutional projects are allowed. Each proposed study must include clearly stated plans for interactions among all PIs and organizations involved. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data transfer. Additionally, multi-institutional applications must provide an intellectual property plan to resolve potential intellectual and material property issues and to remove institutional barriers that might interfere with achieving high levels of cooperation to ensure the successful completion of this award.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: CDMRP Help Desk
GrantorContactText: CDMRP Help Desk &lt;br/&gt;301-682-5507