Overview: The goal is to support promising and impactful cancer prevention and control research.
Eligible investigators: Members of the Legorreta Cancer Center either directly associated with Brown University or affiliated hospital campuses are eligible to serve as PI of the grant. Co-investigators and collaborators could be members of the Cancer Center or others at outside academic institutions who can contribute meaningfully to the progress of the scientific questions. Non-members are welcome to reach out to Ms. Shiyoko Cothren, [email protected], to join as a member of the cancer center at the time of submission of LOI. Prior experience with NCI funding is not required; we encourage submissions from people new to cancer research.
Available support: It is anticipated that approximately 4 projects will be funded this fall with the support of $5K-
$20K direct costs, to be used over one 12-month period. Applicants must document the need for support as well as the expected impact. The funds will directly support the research (no indirect costs). Salary support for faculty is allowed. Other allowable costs include personnel costs for research staff or trainees, supplies, participant incentives, recruitment and retention expenses.
Letters of Intent will be reviewed based on the following factors:
- Likelihood for growing behavioral cancer research impact at Brown within 12-24 months. Specifically, we would like to see a plan for NCI grant submission and scholarly products.
- Relevance to Cancer Prevention or Control. Potential research topics include: a) health behavior change (smoking cessation, physical activity promotion, obesity treatment, alcohol use disorder treatment); b) interventions to improve quality of life or other relevant concerns in cancer survivors; and c) health behaviors including but not limited to biopsychosocial processes (molecular, neural, psychological, social processes) of cancer-related health behaviors.
- Relevance to improving disparities and inequities in cancer prevention and treatment.
- General scientific merit of project: significance, innovation, and research methods.
- Likelihood that the investigator will be able to meet the specific aims with available resources and experience.
Submission guidelines: Letters of intent should include: a) Title Page (proposal title, PI and affiliation, co-PI(s), collaborators);(b) Specific Aims (one page); c) Research Strategy (2-3 pages) including background information, significance, innovation, preliminary data (if available), and research methods; d) Funding Plan and Timeline for NCI grant submission and plans for publications & presentations (1 page or less). We highly recommend that the investigator cite a specific program announcement, NOSI, or RFA that they plan to apply to, as well as a target date for applying. e) References; f) Approximate Budget and Justification, $5K-$20K direct costs only (one page); and h) NIH Biosketches for PIs and co-Is. Use Arial 11 font and .05 inch margins. Please submit the entire LOI as a single PDF file. Submissions should be sent to Rachelle Edgar at [email protected].
Review Process: LOI reviews will be completed by October 16, 2023. Only investigators with very competitive LOIs will be asked to submit a formal grant proposal which will include documents described above and a finalized budget with sign-off from their institution. These will be due November 1, 2023, with funding to start shortly thereafter. The Review Committee will include senior scientific leadership using an NIH Study Section review format that will be chaired by Bess H. Marcus, Ph.D. Interim Associate Director for Population Sciences, [email protected], and including Laura Stroud, PhD and Lisa Uebelacker, PhD
Reporting and expectations of funded investigators: Two progress reports will be expected (at 6 months and at the end of the award). Funded groups will be invited to present at Cancer Center venues including the cancer center retreat. In addition, the funds must be acknowledged in publications.
Please contact Rachelle Edgar at [email protected] with any questions.