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Melanoma Research Alliance
2008 – 2009 Request for Proposals
Overview
Melanoma is a leading cause of new cancer diagnoses, and more effective options for prevention, diagnosis and treatment are urgently needed. From a basic and clinical research perspective, melanoma occupies the crossroads of molecular biology and immunology. An externally visible tumor, it offers a unique opportunity to query lesions at the earliest stages of carcinogenesis for molecular events or signatures portending progression, invasion and dissemination. And, as one of the most highly immunogenic human neoplasms, it provides an ideal context for understanding interactions between the human immune system and cancer. Despite emerging knowledge about the basic immunology and molecular biology of cancer, these new insights have yet to translate into significant clinical benefits for patients with melanoma.
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is a new public charity formed in November 2007 under the auspices of the Milken Institute, with the generous support of Debra and Leon Black. Please visit www.melanomaresearchalliance.org for further information on the MRA, its research agenda in the State of Melanoma Research: A Call to Action, and the 17 research projects funded in our first grant awards cycle (2007-2008).
2008 – 2009 Funding Cycle
Objective: Emphasis on Translational Science
For the 2008-2009 funding cycle, the MRA is soliciting proposals that address the gap in translational science, i.e., turning scientific discoveries into tools and/or treatments for high risk individuals or melanoma patients. Proposals will be accepted in the following categories: (1) individual investigator awards, including young investigator, established investigator and pilot study awards; and, (2) team science awards emphasizing collaborative, multidisciplinary research approaches. Successful proposals will offer the potential for translational developments that could lead to high impact clinical application in the near to intermediate future in areas of melanoma prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment. Development and/or use of novel technologies that have the potential to further such advances in the areas of emphasis will be considered. Proposals of clinical investigations testing molecular hypotheses are welcome and must be accompanied by a protocol.
Areas of special emphasis:
- Prevention. Areas of interest include environmental, epidemiological and biological causative factors in melanoma carcinogenesis.
- Diagnosis and Staging. Emphasis includes identification of serological tumor markers, association of molecular tumor biomarkers with prognosis, and development of novel clinical methods for melanoma detection and imaging.
- Treatment. Projects emphasizing the translation of scientific findings to the treatment of patients with melanoma are solicited. Examples include but are not limited to studies of melanoma immunotherapy, therapeutic applications based on molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma formation and/or progression, and development of novel biomarkers.
Key Criteria for Individual Investigator Awards:
- Innovative and transforming research. Novel approaches with clear capacity to revolutionize prevention, early diagnosis, staging or treatment for patients with melanoma. High risk ideas with strong scientific rationale are encouraged.
- Scientific merit. Outstanding and rigorous proposals as determined by peer review.
- Potential for rapid progression to clinical testing. Proposals that articulate a clear path to clinical applicability will be strongly favored.
Additional Key Criterion for Team Sciences Awards:
- Collaborative and multidisciplinary emphasis. Meaningful collaboration between two or more investigators/groups with complementary expertise that offers the possibility for synergistic advances. Research groups may be within the same institution, or inter-institutional.
Eligibility
Principal Investigators must hold a tenure-track faculty appointment at a major academic research institution within or outside the United States (Assistant Professor or above). Investigators need not be specifically trained in melanoma; however, they should be working in a research environment capable of conducting high quality, high impact melanoma research. Applications from individuals employed by government agencies will be considered if it can be demonstrated that funding is not available from the employer. Multiple applications will be accepted from a single institution, provided that each application has a different Principal Investigator and represents a different hypothesis.
Melanoma Research Alliance Awards
For all proposals, the level and duration of funding will be adjusted as appropriate for the scope of the proposal. Full-term funding will be contingent upon committee review of annual progress reports. Partial funding will also be considered to obtain proof-of-principle data in support of an innovative idea of transformative potential. Up to $8 million to be awarded total.
Individual Investigator Award.
Young Investigator Awards Tenure-track investigators within 4 years of their first academic faculty rank appointment will be provided $50,000/year for 2 years to accomplish innovative, early concept scientific projects with clear translational (clinical) goals.
Established Investigator Award. Established investigators with an established record of scientific productivity will receive up to $125,000/year for 2 years to conduct projects supported by preliminary data, with near-term clinical impact.
Pilot Award. Potentially transformative pilot studies from investigators who are past the initial 4 years of their first academic faculty rank appointment will be considered for an award of $50,000/year for 2 years. Pilot proposals are not required to contain extensive preliminary data, but must articulate a clear hypothesis and translational goals.
Team Science Award
Multidisciplinary teams of 2 or more Principal Investigators will receive up to $400,000-600,000/year for 2-4 years, to support projects with the potential to lead to transforming advances in early detection, imaging and/or clinical management of patients with melanoma.
Application Formats and Due Dates
Applicants will utilize the Proposal Central on-line application tool http://proposalcentral.altum.com and the document templates and requirements therein. Please carefully follow the instructions outlined in Proposal Central. All applications must be formatted in Arial 11 point or Times New Roman 12 point font.
- Individual Investigator Awards: complete applications due December 15, 2008 (following the order you will submit documents in Proposal Central)
- Title Page
- Download Templates and Instructions
- Enable Other users to Access this Application – Proposal Central benefit
- Applicant PI
- Organization/Institution Information
- Key Personnel
- Abstract (250 words maximum) and Key Words
- Budget Period Detail (and justification). The MRA ewill not support indirect costs, overhead costs or other institutional levies. Fringe benefits for personnel salaries are allowable.
- Budget Summary (created automatically by Proposal Central)
- Organization Assurances
- Upload Attachments: (see pull down menu on Proposal Central)
- Biosketch for PI in NIH Format
- Current and Pending Support
- Key Personnel Biosketch in NIH Format
- Mentor Letter of Support (for Young Investigators Only)
Letter of support from an established scientific mentor at the same institution, who is familiar with the applicant and their work. - Project Description: 5 page maximum, inclusive of the following:
- Project Background/Specific Aims
- Preliminary data
- Experimental design and methods
- Figures/legends
- Rationale/fit with key criteria, including description of potential for clinical impact with milestones (where applicable)
- Scientific References for data cited (3 page maximum)
- Signed signature pages
- Validate
- Signature Page(s)
- Submit
* Note: There is no specific order to the documents that need to be uploaded on Proposal Central.
Team Science Awards: Letter of Intent due January 31, 2009
Applicants must submit a one-page letter of intent (LOI) prior to submission of a full proposal. The LOI must include the information listed below. Please carefully follow the instructions outlined in Proposal Centreal. (This list is in the order outlined in Proposal Centeral)
- Title Page
- Enable Other Users to Access this Proposal/LOI
- Applicant/PI Team science applications must identify one Principal Investigator for administrative purposes.
- Organization/Institution
- Key Personnel
- Abstract describing topic and approach (250 words maximum)
- Upload Letter of Intent include nature of and rationale for the proposed collaboration, including the specific role of each participant, description of synergistic opportunities, and mention of how data will be shared/exchanged.
- Validate
- Submit
Full length applications will be requested from meritorious LOIs. They must be prepared according to the guidelines for individual applications, and will be due on April 30, 2009.
Review Mechanism
All proposals will be reviewed by the Grant Review Committee of the Melanoma Research Alliance, comprised of peers with diverse expertise in translational cancer research. Applications will be scored according to the Key Criteria listed above. An additional component of the review process will also include input from lay audience. The MRA will not provide reviewer critiques or evaluations to applicants. A listing of GRC membership and descriptions of the projects funded in 2008 are provided on our website, www.melanomaresearchalliance.org.
Award Administration
Upon acceptance of the award, the Principal Investigator and his/her employing institution will be required to sign an Award Letter indicating acceptance of the MRA’s award guidelines. MRA requires certification through Proposal Central of compliance with application Human Subjects/Animal Care Assurance as applicable.
For multi-institutional projects, the Principal Investigator and all Co-Investigators must verify, in advance, that funds can be transferred from the institution of the Principal Investigator to the institutions of the Co-Investigators. This requirement can be easily met by attaching a letter stating a commitment to complying with this requirement from the PI’s business or sponsored programs office.
Full-term funding will be contingent upon committee review of annual progress reports.
Individual Investigator Awardees will be invited to attend the MRA Scientific Annual Retreat at the end of February 2009.
FAQs
Q: When are the proposals due?
A: The Individual Investigator proposals are due on December 15, 2008.
The LOIs for Team submissions are due on January 31, 2009. Full Team Proposals are due on April 30, 2009.
Q: Is an academic faculty appointment a hard and fast rule?
A: Preferred, but evidence of independent investigator status and an environment conducive and supportive of translational research is the requirement.
Q: How are proposals submitted?
A: All proposals should be submitted via Proposal Central, http://proposalcentral.altum.com
Additional Information
Email questions to: applications@melanomaresearchalliance.org