Initially created in FY09, the OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy (OCA) is a unique, interactive virtual academy providing intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for junior faculty. The overarching goal of the OCA is to develop successful, highly productive ovarian cancer researchers in a collaborative research and career development environment.
The OCA is a virtual career development and research training platform that consists of EarlyCareer Investigators (ECIs), their Designated Mentors, and an Academy Dean and Assistant Dean. The OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator mechanism is not a traditional career development award; the ECI is expected to participate in monthly webinars and annual workshops and to communicate and collaborate with other members of the OCA (other ECIs, Mentors, the Dean, and the Assistant Dean) as well as with the advocacy community. Since its inception, the OCA’s ECIs have presented at and chaired sessions for ovarian cancer-specific symposia and served on symposia review committees. They have also served as peer reviewers for the Department of Defense (DOD) OCRP and other funding agencies.
This FY22 Ovarian Cancer Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator program announcement is soliciting additional ECIs to join the existing OCA. This award mechanism enables the ECI (the investigator named as the Principal Investigator [PI] on the application) to pursue an ovarian cancer project related to the OCRP’s mission that may be basic, translational, and/or clinical research, or a clinical trial under the guidance of a Designated Mentor. The Designated Mentor is not required to be at the same institution as the ECI. If the Designated Mentor is not from the same institution as the ECI, another Mentor (“Other Mentor,” see below) at the ECI’s institution must also be included in the application submission.
The OCRP encourages applications from ECIs whose ability to commit to conducting ovarian cancer research is limited by minimal resources or a lack of resources, such as a qualified Designated Mentor at their institution, access to ovarian cancer research tools, opportunities for establishing collaborations, or other obstacles.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Deadline: May 2, 2022
• Invitation to Submit an Application: June 2022
• Application Submission Deadline: Aug. 5, 2022
Early-Career Investigator ○ Must be within 5 years of last postdoctoral research position (Ph.D.), clinical fellowship (M.D.), or equivalent as of the full application submission deadline. – A Statement of Eligibility is required with the submission of the full application. ○ May be a research- or physician-scientist. ○ May be in a non-tenure track or tenure track position. ○ Must not have a concurrent career development-like award at the time of this award. ○ Must have an institutional commitment of approximately 50% protected time for ovarian cancer research and OCA activities, including participation in monthly webinars. ○ Must commit no less than 25% effort to this award for the first 2 years. ○ Individuals in a postdoctoral research position (Ph.D.), clinical fellowship (M.D.), or equivalent at the time of full application submission are not eligible.
Designated Mentor ○ Must be an independent, established ovarian cancer researcher. ○ Must have ovarian cancer research funding (past and present). ○ Must have a record of ovarian cancer publications in peer-reviewed journals. ○ May be at the same institution as the ECI. ○ If not at the same institution, another Mentor (“Other Mentor,” see below) at the ECI’s institution must also be included in the application submission. ○ Must demonstrate a commitment (at least 5% effort for mentoring and participating in OCA activities such as offsite meetings and webinars) to develop and sustain the ECI’s independent career in ovarian cancer research. ○ Mentoring responsibilities include mentoring the ECI (i.e., the PI of this award) and an additional ECI within the OCA. ○ A current OCA Designated Mentor can only be a Designated Mentor to one OCA-ECI; thus, current OCA Designated Mentors cannot be named as a Designated Mentor in an FY22 application unless the period of performance of the current Ovarian Cancer Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator mechanism ends no later than July 2023. ○ The current OCA Dean and/or Assistant Dean cannot be listed as a Designated Mentor.
The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY22 OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator will not exceed $725,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
