The PRCRP seeks to promote novel approaches to ending cancer through convergent science cancer research. This effort will be executed through two separate award mechanisms, the Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award in FY22 and the anticipated Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Award in FY24.
Convergent science as defined by the National Science Foundation (https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/convergence/index.jsp ) “is a means of solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation.” Convergent science taps into a variety of disciplines to answer the issues in cancer (i.e., prevention, diagnosis/detection, treatment, quality of life) including but not limited to biomedical sciences, data science, engineering, psychology, and chemistry. As a more holistic approach, convergent science offers clinicians, scientists, and patients the opportunity to fight cancer on various fronts beyond what is offered by multidisciplinary approaches by merging sciences together. Convergent science breaks down the barriers of cancer research and builds a whole answer with tools from different areas of expertise.
Initiatives such as the Cancer Moonshot aim to decrease the death rate of cancer by 50% over the next 25 years and improve the experience of patients, their families, and caregivers. The goals set by initiatives such as the Cancer Moonshot require innovative and unique approaches to ending cancer. The FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award and the anticipated FY24 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Award answer the call to find groundbreaking ways through convergent science research to improve quality of life by decreasing the burden of cancer on Service Members, their families, Veterans, and the American public.
The eligible applicants of the FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award are expected to submit an application to compete for the Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Award anticipated to be offered in FY24. The PRCRP expects to fund three FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Awards, depending on the number and the quality of applications received. The PRCRP reserves the right to open the FY24 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Award to all eligible applicants that meet the requirements of the anticipated FY24 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Award, and/or to re-release the Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award in FY24 if the goals of the FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award are not met.
Applications for the FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award are being requested. The FY22 Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development is a convergent science infrastructure and research mechanism that provides support to create a Coordinating Center, to establish the necessary collaborations, and to demonstrate the utility of convergent science in cancer science through its application in active research projects.
Deadlines:
• Pre-Application Deadline: Aug. 17, 2022
• Application Submission Deadline: September 7, 2022
To be considered for funding, applications for the FY22 PRCRP Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award must address at least three different congressionally directed FY22 PRCRP Topic Areas. Congressional language stipulates the FY22 PRCRP must not fund research into breast, kidney, lung, pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, rare cancers, and melanoma. Applicants are directed to apply to the individual CDMRP cancer programs those disease areas. Research applications in the areas of breast, kidney, lung, pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, rare cancer, or melanoma are prohibited and will be rejected. The inclusion of the individual Rare Cancers Research Program shall not prohibit the funding of the FY22 PRCRP congressionally directed cancers or cancer subtypes that may be rare by definition.
PI for the Coordinating Center (Consortium Director): To be named as the PI for the Coordinating Center on the application, the Consortium Director must: ○ Be at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent). ○ Have a proven record of accomplishment of leadership and scientific ability to direct and oversee a multi-institutional research effort. ○ Commit at least 10% level of effort to direct and manage a project of this magnitude.
Co-PI for the Research Site: To be named as the Research Site co-PI on the application, the co-PI must: ○ Be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent). ○ Have a proven record of accomplishment of collaboration. ○ Commit at least 10% level of effort to direct and manage a Research Site.
The Consortium Director at the Coordinating Center or one of the co-PIs must have experience in convergent science theory.
An eligible PI, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status, must be employed by, or affiliated with, an eligible organization.
The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY22 PRCRP Convergent Science Cancer Consortium Development Award will not exceed $2.5M. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
