The St. Baldrick’s Foundation-American Cancer Society Childhood Cancer Research

PURPOSE

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society are collaborating to provide funding to advance innovative translational pediatric cancer research conducted within the context of a clinical trial. Studies may include analysis of clinical data and biospecimens collected from children enrolled in a clinical trial.

These investigations should be designed to provide new knowledge regarding mechanisms for novel agents or combination regimens, treatment resistance, novel biomarkers, toxicity, and insights for approaches to precision medicine. We anticipate this funding will stimulate a wide range of new research, stemming from on-going or recently completed patient trials to accelerate progress in childhood cancer.  

SCIENTIFIC SCOPE

Areas of interest: Proposals should focus on research leading to improvements in the care of children with cancer. Potential research areas include:

• Monitoring disease response
• Predicting clinical outcomes
• Analyzing the tumor microenvironment, the role of germline and/or somatic mutations in tumor pathogenesis
• Identifying or validating predictive or prognostic biomarkers
• Developing pre-clinical novel therapeutic targets
• Improving the anti-tumor activity of immunotherapy or other emerging therapies
• Mitigating and managing side-effects
• Improving quality of life

GRANT MECHANISMS, ELIGIBILITY, AND BUDGET

ALL research proposals must be coupled with on-going or recently completed, approved pediatric clinical therapeutic trial, such as large/definitive trials conducted in a cooperative group setting. Activation of Awards will be dependent upon activation of the clinical trial (if it has not started) and approval by the lead PI of the trial.

Pilot Accelerator Awards are intended to include high risk/high reward research that tests feasibility and generates preliminary data to open new and highly innovative areas of investigation. For example, validation of prognostic or predictive biomarkers, establishing the feasibility of conducting a clinically integrated or integral molecular test in a CLIA/CAP environment, or pilot testing a strategy to improve quality of life.

Eligible Investigators: Must have a doctoral-level degree and have a full-time faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or eligible not-for-profit research organization within the United States. There are no citizenship restrictions.

Eligible Institutions: Applications may be submitted by a college, university, medical school, or other eligible not-for-profit research organization within the United States, its territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Grant Term and Budget: The award is for a 2-year term with $100k direct cost per year, plus 20% allowable indirect cost.

Letter of Intent Process: A letter of intent (LOI) is required and will be used to determine which investigators are invited to submit proposals. LOI materials are available on proposalCENTRAL.

The LOI is submitted as an abstract in proposalCENTRAL (3,100 characters maximum, including spaces) The abstract should include:

• Approved Clinical Trial Information: Title, number, and PI name
• Brief background for the research plan
• Specific aims and hypothesis
• Data elements required
• Cohort inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Study design
• Data analysis plan
• Expected significance and impact

Additional requirements:

• Description of the study team, including the names and roles of each member
• NIH biosketches  for the PI and study team

LOI Due Date: Monday December 5, 2022, at 10:59 PM EST

Invitation-to-Apply Date: Wednesday January 11, 2023

Full Application Due Date: April 3, 2023

Application Peer Review: June 2023

Award Notification: October 2023

Grant Activation: January 1, 2024

Funds Available for Awards: Funds will support up to 2 Pilot Accelerator Awards.

Program Contact:  kimberly.clarke@cancer.org