The Duke Cancer Institute has been invited by The V Foundation to participate in their 2022 V Clinical Scholar Program. This call for applications is specifically to support the development of the careers of clinicians who will become leaders in developing programs of clinical trials that are sequential and based on hypothesis–driven research.
PURPOSE OF AWARD: To accelerate cancer treatment and cures, the V Foundation proposes to develop the careers of clinicians who will become leaders in developing programs of clinical trials that are sequential and based on hypothesis–driven research. The competitive candidate will have a thorough knowledge of clinical trials and cancer biology as well as the ability to utilize new research discoveries for clinical intervention, the ability to develop a long-term plan to cure different forms of cancer, communicate with government agencies, and collaborate with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry to facilitate progress in clinical care. V Clinical Scholars will be expected to lead a program of hypothesis-driven clinical trials, initiating, and completing multiple projects overseen by clinical and laboratory mentors who have a track record for conducting hypothesis-driven research with a strong translational component, often in collaboration with investigators from other disciplines. Each awardee will be expected to conduct the initial clinical trials in their designed program during the two years of the award. Trials will be based on novel pre-clinical data. Each hypothesis-driven clinical trial will include laboratory correlates that will inform the design of subsequent trials. Candidates will become familiar with the methodology, potential and limitations of laboratory correlates. Note: This program is distinct from the existing V Scholar program which is for early investigators of all types (PhD, DVM and/or MD), many of which are not engaged in clinical research.
Each invited institution may submit one nominee to apply for this call.
This funding opportunity is open to DCI members only.
Deadlines:
Only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers receiving this RFA are eligible to nominate an applicant. Centers must be able to demonstrate that they have the capacity to develop a training program/mentorship for these clinical scholars. Within an institution, applicants must be clinicians (at minimum, Assistant Professor for at least three years) and have had experience in leading clinical trials, but have not yet achieved the level of Full Professor. Applicants must be board-certified (if applicable to their discipline; certification received within previous 7 years) or board-eligible in (for example, but not limited to) surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, or internal medicine. Other oncology disciplines that are not listed may also be included and in some cases may not require board certification, depending on discipline. The Department Chair and Division Head must support the applicant’s plans for career development and commit to long-term support of the applicant.
The total grant amount is $200,000, paid in two annual installments of $100,000. Only direct costs of the research are supported by this award. We allow flexibility in how the PI can use these funds (e.g., salary, protected time, program costs and some correlates) but it is insufficient to fund the major costs of a clinical trial.
If you are interested in this funding opportunity, please submit the following information in one PDF to karen.judge@duke.edu by Monday, March 7th at 5pm.
Selected nominees will be notified by March 10th, 2022. The nomination form (to be submitted to V Foundation by the DCI) is due March 15th, 2022. If selected as the nominee, the full application is due by April 13, 2022.
