The Era of Hope Scholar Award supports individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated significant potential to effect meaningful change in breast cancer. These individuals should be exceptionally talented scientists who have shown that they are the “best and brightest” in their field(s) through extraordinary creativity, vision, innovation, and productivity. They should have demonstrated experience in forming effective partnerships and collaborations and must exhibit strong potential for future leadership in breast cancer research.
As the intent of the Era of Hope Scholar Award is to recognize creative and innovative individuals rather than projects, the central features of the award are the demonstrated ability of the individual named as the Principal Investigator (PI) in the application to go beyond conventional thinking in their field and the innovative contribution that the PI can make toward ending breast cancer. The application should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.
Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must commit a minimum of 25% level of time and effort during the period of performance to conduct breast cancer research under this award. Individuals from other disciplines who apply novel concepts to breast cancer are encouraged to submit.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Deadline: May 23, 2024
• Application Submission Deadline: June 4, 2024
Considering the current breast cancer landscape and the BCRP’s mission, all FY24 BCRP Era of Hope Scholar Award applications must address at least one of the following overarching challenges unless adequate justification for exception is provided.*
• Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
• Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
• Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
• Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
• Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
• Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
• Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
• Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival
• Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer
The PI must be an independent and non-mentored investigator within 6 years of their last training position as of the application submission deadline (excluding time spent on family medical leave). Lapses in research time or appointments denoted in the biographical sketch may be articulated in the application. Examples of training positions include postdoctoral fellowship medical residency, and clinical fellowship. Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows (including residents and interns), and other researchers currently in training positions are not eligible.
The PI must commit a minimum of 25% level of time and effort during the period of performance to conduct breast cancer research under this award.
An investigator may be named as the PI on only one FY24 Era of Hope Scholar Award application under this program announcement.
The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 Era of Hope Scholar Award should not exceed $3.5M. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
