The FY23 KCRP Translational Research Partnership Award supports partnerships between clinicians and research scientists that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in kidney cancer toward clinical applications. This award supports the development of translational research collaborations between two independent, faculty-level (or equivalent) investigators to address a central problem or question in kidney cancer in a manner that would be less readily achievable through separate efforts. One partner in the collaboration must be a research scientist and the other must be a clinician. It should be clear that both have had equal intellectual input in the design of the research project. Multi-institutional partnerships are encouraged. At least one member of the partnership must have experience either in kidney cancer research or kidney cancer patient care. Inclusion of experts from outside the kidney cancer field is encouraged. A proposed project in which the clinical partner merely supplies tissue samples or access to patients will not meet the intent of this award mechanism.
Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypothesis and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of kidney cancer.
Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from a laboratory discovery, populationbased studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patients and anecdotal data. The ultimate goal of translational research is to move a concept or observation forward into clinical application that is relevant to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries, and the American public. However, members of the partnership should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science (bench to bedside and/or bedside to bench). There should be an intellectual synergistic partnership between the clinic and the laboratory.
The success of the project must be supported by the unique skills and contributions of each partner. The proposed study must include clearly stated plans for interactions between the Principal Investigators (PIs) and institutions involved. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data transfer. Additionally, multi-institutional applications must provide an intellectual property plan to resolve potential intellectual and material property issues and to remove institutional barriers that might interfere with achieving high levels of cooperation to ensure the successful completion of this award.
The Translational Research Partnership Award requires two PIs. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other PI will be identified as a Partnering PI. Both PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed research project, including the Project Narrative, Statement of Work (SOW), and other required components. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named to an individual award within the recipient organization. For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI, refer to Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Submission Deadline: Sep. 15, 2023
• Application Submission Deadline: Oct. 6, 2023
Translational Research Partnership Award applications must address at least one of the FY23 KCRP Focus Areas, as presented below. Selection of the Focus Area(s) is the responsibility of the applicant.
• Conduct basic biology research to better understand etiology and cancer progression, metastatic disease, refractory disease and therapeutic resistance, genetic and environmental risk factors, and the prevention of kidney cancer.
• Identify and develop new strategies for screening, early-stage detection, and accurate diagnosis and prognosis prediction of kidney cancers, with examples including biomarkers and imaging, treatment of early-stage cancers.
• Define the biology of rare kidney cancers and develop treatments to improve outcomes and reduce death.
• Develop novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of kidney cancer, such as novel drug targets, therapeutic modalities and agents, treatment combinations, and drug delivery systems.
• Identify and implement strategies to improve the quality of life and survivorship for patients.
• Identify and implement strategies to mitigate health disparities, such as access to health care, social and cultural factors, environmental factors, and biological contributors.
• Increase research capacity through support and development of research conducted by the next generation of kidney cancer researchers, cultivate collaborations in kidney cancer research, or patient care in alignment with KCRP Overarching Strategic Goals.
The Initiating PI must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor or equivalent. The Partnering PI must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor or equivalent. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. One partner in the collaboration must be a research scientist and the other must be a clinician. 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 FY23 KCRP Translational Research Partnership Award should not exceed $750,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
