The purpose of this Notice is to encourage currently funded NCI extramural investigators to apply for administrative supplements to support mentored cancer research career development of early-stage low- and middle-income country (LMIC) investigators (ESLIs). The overarching goal of this supplement opportunity is to strengthen the capacity of LMIC investigators to conduct high-quality research in their LMIC home institutions to generate context-appropriate evidence to address specific cancer control priorities in LMICs.

Cancer poses an increasing health and economic burden globally, but the impact is especially profound in LMICs where more than 65% of all cancer deaths occur. Cancer incidence and mortality are projected to increase over the next several decades, accelerating most rapidly in LMICs where populations are rapidly transitioning and the capacity for cancer control is limited. There is an urgent need to accelerate cancer research in LMICs to generate context-specific evidence to better inform local cancer control efforts. LMIC investigators, working in their LMIC home institutions, are well positioned to lead innovative and impactful research as they best understand the local socio-cultural contexts, needs, and opportunities for cancer research. Global research collaborations, including those in LMICs, are increasingly critical to answer complex cancer research questions. Therefore, concerted and deliberate efforts to strengthen the research capabilities of local LMIC investigators will maximize research impact and foster equity in global research collaborations in LMICs.

The NCI Global Oncology Mentored Research Supplements provide additional funds to established NCI investigators who hold active NCI grants or cooperative agreements to recruit and mentor ESLIs towards establishing independent cancer research careers at their LMIC home institutions. These administrative supplements will support protected time for intensive, mentored research and career development experiences for ESLIs. The experiences must serve as a means of assisting the ESLIs to develop into independent and productive cancer researchers in basic, clinical, translational or population sciences.

The goal of this initiative is to increase opportunities for ESLIs to access high-quality mentorship to foster their readiness for independent cancer research careers. NCI extramural investigator(s) who wish to mentor an ESLI must be committed to direct supervision and mentoring of the ESLI's research project and career development. The research and career mentoring supported under this NOSI is expected to equip ESLIs with:

• Experience conducting high-quality cancer research using appropriate methods and conceptualizing research problems with increasing independence.
• Professional competencies needed to establish a successful research career including practical experiences in managing a research project, developing effective scientific collaborations, applying for research funding, engaging with local stakeholders, and disseminating research findings to diverse audiences.

To further enrich the ESLI's experience, the sponsoring institution (the institution holding the parent award) is encouraged to provide structured peer-mentoring opportunities for the ESLI to engage with other early career investigators on the NCI parent award. Peer mentoring offers a platform to further strengthen and foster long-term relationships that might potentially lead to new equitable and impactful collaborations.

Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis between April 22, 2023 - May 22, 2023.

NOT-CA-23-038