DaCCoTA Pilot Projects Program releases new RFAs

The DaCCoTA Pilot Projects Program has released new requests for applications (RFAs) for the following pilot grant awards:

Feasibility Pilot Grants – These awards of up to $40,000 (direct + indirect costs) are intended to provide support to allow a clinician/non-clinician team to form around a novel cancer-related hypothesis. Applications can consider the multilevel manifestations of cancer (e.g. neurological, psychiatric), demographic risks and social impact. Applications should focus on T2-T4 translational research, although T1 studies will be considered if there is a clear plan to progress to T2-T4. The primary goal is to allow a team to form and connect with the DaCCoTA Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Core; Clinical Research Resources and Facilities Core; Community Engagement and Outreach Core; and Pilot Projects Program to generate competitive proposals for the DaCCoTA Ready-to-Go Pilot Award mechanism.

Ready-to-Go Pilot Grants – These awards of up to $75,000 (direct + indirect costs) are intended for those projects with significant existing preliminary data in support of a novel clinical/translational cancer-related hypothesis. These projects should ideally be ready for extramural submission within a year and/or be able to demonstrably improve health outcomes. Applications can consider the multilevel manifestations of cancer (e.g. neurological, psychiatric), demographic risks and social impact. Applications will focus on T2-T4 translational research, although T1 studies will be considered if there is a clear plan to progress to T2-T4. Successful completion of these proposals should lead to a collaborative extramural grant submission and peer-reviewed manuscript submission.

Community Engagement Pilot Grants – These awards are intended for projects addressing priority areas determined by key stakeholder groups. Proposals should address cancer disparities in either:

• Colorectal cancer screening, stage and diagnosis, treatment and mortality;
• Tobacco-related cancers (Lung, CRC, etc.); or
• Breast cancer screening, stage at diagnosis and mortality

Pilot awards should focus on compiling existing data and published manuscripts or propose an original study regarding these areas of cancer disparities in the Dakotas. Applications can consider the multilevel manifestations of cancer (e.g. neurological, psychiatric), demographic risks and social impact. Applications will focus on T2-T4 translational research, although T1 studies will be considered if there is a clear plan to progress to T2-T4. Successful completion of these proposals should lead to an extramural grant submission and peer-reviewed manuscript submission. A maximum budget of up to $50,000 (direct+indirect costs) is allowed.

Deadlines for all three awards:

• The deadline for seeking assistance with finding a collaborator is Oct. 16, 2020.
• Letters of intent (1-page maximum) are due Oct. 30, 2020.
• Full applications will be invited from selected applicants and will be due Feb. 1, 2021.
• Awards will be announced by September 2020. Expected award period will be Sept. 2021–Aug. 2022.

Visit the Pilot Projects Program to download the RFAs.