Dougherty Family Chair in Prostate Cancer, Department of Urology

DATE May 16, 2017

TO University of Minnesota Faculty

FROM Badrinath Konety, M.D., M.B.A. Dougherty Family Chair in Prostate Cancer, Department of Urology Director, Institute for Prostate and Urologic Cancers

Scott Dehm, Ph.D. Associate Professor Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

SUBJECT Institute for Prostate and Urologic Cancers and the Prostate and Urologic Cancer Translational Workgroup Pilot Project Awards

The Masonic Cancer Center Prostate and Urologic Cancer Translational Workgroup and the Institute for Prostate and Urologic Cancers are dedicated to the prevention, diagnoses, management, and cure of prostate and urologic cancers. In pursuit of these goals, we are seeking applications for developmental research project (pilot project) awards. The objective of these awards is to foster new collaborative research in the biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of all urologic cancers including prostate, bladder, kidney and testes.

It is expected that these pilot projects will have great potential to lead to nationally peer reviewed external funding. All investigators are encouraged to apply irrespective of current NIH, ACS, DOD, or other funding with the exception of current pilot project grant awardees, who shall not hold consecutive or concurrent pilot awards. Pilot project awards are not renewable and may not be transferred from one PI to another.

Two award mechanisms are in place for this competition, with funding up to $30,000 (Type A award) or $50,000 (Type B award). Type A awards are intended for pilot studies initiated by a single principal investigator, and Type B awards are intended for collaborative pilot studies with at least two co-principal investigators. All projects must have at least one Masonic Cancer Center member listed as PI.

Successful applications must meet the broad definition of translational research as outlined in the National Cancer Institute Translational Research Program Guidelines for Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE): “Translational research uses knowledge of human biology to develop and test the feasibility of cancer-relevant interventions in humans and/or determines the biological basis for observations made in individuals with cancer or in populations at risk for cancer”

Both Type A and Type B projects should be completed within a year. For this competition, awards will be made based on the scientific merit of the individual application and the likelihood for future funding. Based on these criteria, any combination of Type A and Type B awards may be made, up to a maximum of $100,000 for this year’s competition. The anticipated start-date for these awards is July 15, 2017. Full-year funding is contingent upon attendance at monthly meetings of the Prostate and Urologic Cancer Translational Workgroup, where awardees are expected to present their results to the Translational Workgroup at the 6-month and 1-year time points as well as interact with other group members in the development of collaborative projects and grants.

A complete application will consist of the following: 1. PRF signed by PI(s) and department heads (do not submit to SPA) 2. A 4 page research plan including a. Specific Aims b. Research Strategy (Significance, Innovation, and Approach) c. Explanation of how the proposed study will form the basis for future funding 3. References (no page limit) 4. Biosketch for Key Personnel (current NIH format) 5. Current and Pending Support (NIH format, include federal and non-federal support) 6. Budget and justification (NIH format). Only direct costs are supported, and may include: a. Research personnel (no faculty effort allowed unless required by home department, in which case home department must cover the effort and a letter from the department must be included). b. Research supplies c. Core service/facility expenses d. Small equipment (less than $2500) e. Animal costs f. No F&A costs will be covered

Submit application including PRF (with all required signatures) as one PDF file to Liz Mayock ([email protected]) by June 15th, 2017. Please contact Liz if you have any questions.