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IASLC Career Advancement Grant

Program

 

The IASLC’s Career Advancement Grant aims to support and facilitate the career advancement of mid-career professionals within the thoracic oncology field by bridging the gap between early-career funding opportunities and more advanced support mechanisms.

Funding Priority

This grant aims to fund research projects led by mid-career professionals that focus on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and all other aspects of lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. Research proposals with a focus on multidisciplinary and global research projects are encouraged to apply. Applicants of underrepresented specialties and low-and middle-income economies are highly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

IASLC Career Advancement Grants are open to candidates worldwide. At the time of application, the applicant must meet all these requirements:

  1. The applicant (MD, DO, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) must be a mid-career professional within 6-15 years from initial faculty appointment.
  2. At the beginning of the grant term, the applicant may not have an independent, major award (i.e. R01, DOD, private foundation, or international equivalent) valued at $250,000 or more annually. Prior mentored, early-career focused, career-development grants are allowed.
  3. Applicants may not concurrently hold ongoing multi-year mentored awards (i.e. YIA, CDA, etc.). If an application has previously received a mentored grant, it must be completed before the start of the IASLC Career Advancement Grant term on July 1, 2025.
  4. The applicant must be a member of the IASLC, and if selected for grant funding, must maintain IASLC membership for the duration of the grant. If you are not a member, please click here to join. 

Applicants who believe they should be eligible, but do not meet the above eligibility criteria are encouraged to submit a letter of intent (LOI) in which they explain why they believe they are eligible for the grant. Eligibility will be further assessed during the review of LOIs.

Grant Timeline
  • LOI Submission Deadline: October 15, 2024
  • Applicants Notified of LOI Decision: December 2, 2024
  • Full Proposal Submission Deadline: January 15, 2025
  • Notification of Award: May 15, 2025
  • Project Start/End Date: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Grant Structure and Allocation

IASLC Career Advancement Grants are in the amount of USD 100,000 and are intended to fund projects that can be completed in a one-year timeframe. The funds are paid in one lump sum directly to the institution for the benefit of the individual who is granted.

Grant funds may be used at the discretion of the recipient for salary, fringe benefits, conference registration, travel, consumables, and other necessary expenses to facilitate his or her research. Funds may not be used for indirect costs, institutional overhead, or the purchase of permanent equipment.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted through the IASLC's online Research Grant Application Portal only. To access the application:

  1. Go to the IASLC's online Research Grant Application Portal. 
  2. Login using your IASLC Member Credentials.
    • If you do not know your IASLC Member credentials, first try resetting your password using the "Forgot your password?" link. If that does not work, email membership@iaslc.org for assistance.
  3. Once you have successfully logged in, you will be directed to begin your application.

After initiating an application, the applicant may return to the portal as needed to continue work on their application until it is submitted. Applications that have been submitted remain editable until the application deadline.

Application Structure

The online application requires the items listed below. Application sections denoted with ± will be scored by the review team. 

Phase I: Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applicant Information

  • Contact and demographic information
  • Applicant Statement (maximum length= 1 page): Describe how this funding and completing this project will help you advance in your career. Please include a brief description of your plan to advance to the next level in your career.
  • A biosketch (template provided).
  • A list of previous and current funding awards.

Research Project Information

  • Research Project Title (maximum length = 250 characters).
  • Brief statement of the significance of the project to the field of thoracic malignancies (250 words).
  • Summary of the project and specific aims (maximum length = 1-page).

Phase 2: Full Application

  • Layman’s Summary (250 words): Explain your project in a way that makes it easy for anyone to understand it.
  • Project Background± (maximum length = 1 page): Describe the problem or need that will be addressed by the proposed project. Describe the project’s goals and objectives.
  • Specific Aims± (maximum length: 1 page): Specific aims should be clear and describe how the hypotheses will be tested.
  • Research Strategy± (maximum length = 6 pages): Upload a document (PDF preferred) detailing the methods to be used in achieving the project's aims. Tables, figures, or graphs may be included in this field. No appendix or attachments will be allowed.
  • Biostatistical Plan± (maximum length = 1 page): Provide a detailed statistical plan that describes the procedures for data analysis and other relevant statistical details that will be used in the study.
  • Timetable± (250 words): Provide a detailed timetable for implementing your proposal. Reviewers will consider the feasibility of carrying out the project in the projected time span.
  • Budget: Provide the planned budget for your project.
  • Budget Justification (maximum length = 1 page) Provide a brief explanation and justification of all expenses.
  • Recommendation Letters*: Two letters of recommendation are required, as noted below.
  1. A letter of commitment from the institution detailing the institution’s support for the applicant and the proposed research activities.
  2. A letter from one professional reference providing a recommendation and ensuring the applicant is qualified to fulfill the duties of the proposed project.

*Through the online application system, the applicant provides the contact name and email address for the person providing the letter of reference. That individual then receives an email asking him/her to upload the letter directly into the application. Reference letters must be uploaded prior to the application deadline. Applications are not considered complete, and will not be considered, until all required references have been uploaded. 

 

Application Review and Scoring

Applications will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the IASLC’s Career Development Committee. Applications are scored using a nine-point rating scale, adapted from the NIH grant scoring rubric. Applications will be reviewed based on:

  1. Significance and impact of the research project on the thoracic cancer field.
    • Is the proposal original?
    • Will these results significantly improve the application of knowledge of lung cancer?
  2. Strength of the research proposal.
    • Are the project’s hypotheses strong and testable?
    • Is the project relevant to the program’s stated funding priorities?
  3. Potential for the recipient’s career development in thoracic cancer.
    • Is the candidate prepared and ready for career advancement in the thoracic cancer field?
    • Will this grant positively impact the applicant’s career development?
  4. Eligibility and relevant expertise of the applicant.
    • Does the candidate have the necessary training related to the project proposed?
  5. Feasibility of workplan/methodology and biostatistical plan.
    • Are the specific aims reasonable?
    • Is the methodology reasonable to accomplish the objectives?
    • Can the project be completed in the time frame specified by the award?
    • Is the biostatistical plan appropriate to meet the objectives of the project proposed?
  6. Appropriateness of budget.
    • Is the budget appropriate to meet the objectives of the project proposed?

Questions

Questions regarding this RFA may be emailed to science@iaslc.org.