Dramatic advances made in recent years towards precision medicine initiatives, biomarker and novel target identification, and high-throughput examination of genomic data, have resulted in a trove of valuable data that can inform the development of new therapeutics to combat cancer. However, to effectively harness this wealth of information and advance the discovery and development of new therapies for cancer patients, enhanced collaboration between academia and industry will be needed.
The AACR-Bayer Stimulating Therapeutic Advances through Research Training (START) Grants represent an exciting and novel initiative to encourage and support such collaboration. These grants, which will provide support to postdoctoral or clinical research fellows, combines research experiences in both an academic and industry setting, following a research timeline that will be of greatest benefit to the proposed work. The training provided through this grants program will be invaluable to young investigators, by allowing fellows to attain a comprehensive research experience that will make them highly desirable to potential employers in either academic research or the pharmaceutical industry. Likewise, academic research centers and industry will benefit from the introduction of such dual-trained individuals into the field.
Each fellowship provides a three-year grant of $225,000 to support the salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored cancer research project. Proposals focused on clinical research are highly encouraged. Applicants must plan to spend one year on site at a Bayer facility. One of a number of Bayer’s locations are possible, at the discretion of Bayer. The year at Bayer will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and will be at a time agreed upon by the fellow, the academic supervisor, the Bayer mentor, and Bayer.
Deadline: June 30,2020
Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
At the start of the grant term on September 1, 2020, applicants must hold a full-time, mentored research position with the title of postdoctoral fellow, clinical research fellow, or the equivalent; this position must have been held for at least one, but not more than three, years; have completed their most recent doctoral degree within the past one to three years (i.e., degree cannot have been conferred before September 1, 2017; the formal date of receipt of doctoral degree is the date the degree was conferred, as indicated on their diploma and/or transcript); and work under the auspices of a mentor at an academic, medical, or research institution in the United States of America.
Applicants with a medical degree must have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency - whichever date is later - within the past three years.
