Funding Opportunity Description

Lung Cancer Foundation of America (“LCFA”) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (“IASLC”), with financial support from Bristol-Myers Squibb (“BMS”), seek applications for the LCFA/BMS/IASLC Disparities in Clinical Oncology Translational Research Grants.

LCFA, BMS, and IASLC are committed to advancing innovative lung cancer research with a focus on early detection and treatment to transformative protocols. However, we recognize that not all Young Investigators are represented by the traditional comprehensive cancer research centers which typically make up the NCI pipeline of funding. With these Disparities in Clinical Oncology Research Grants, we aim to fund Young Investigators whose work can directly benefit under-represented populations served by their institutions.

Objectives

The objective of the LCFA/BMS/IASLC Disparities in Clinical Oncology Translational Research Grants (“Disparities Grants”) is to support research, undertaken by early-career investigators, that aims to improve the early detection, care, and treatment of under-represented individuals with lung cancers and other thoracic malignancies.

Examples, though not exclusive, include studies that:

• determine predictive features guiding the selection of patients for different therapies
• focus on the solution to resistive responses in immuno-oncology and/or oncogen-driven therapies 
• seek other ways to improve the effectiveness of immuno-oncology therapies or even cure patients with metastatic lung cancer
• are designed to facilitate care by minimizing treatment side effects 

Research Focus and Overview

Successful applications submitted for this RFA require a research approach that seeks to make an immediate and relevant impact, through immuno-oncology, on lung cancer early detection and/or patient care or to interpret the results of a clinical trial from a molecular basis as appropriate to help inform decisions in future clinical trials.

ELIGIBILITY: Education and Experience

At the time of application, eligible applicants must meet these criteria: 

• Be a member of the IASLC. Go to https://www.iaslc.org/membership to join or get more information about IASLC Membership.
  • If selected, the applicant must maintain their IASLC membership throughout the duration of the grant.
• Serve as faculty of an institution where more than 50% of the patients being served identify as members of under-represented groups.
• Hold a doctoral degree (including PhD, MD, DO, PharmD, ScD or equivalent).
• Academic rank should be at the Instructor, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor or equivalent level. Full professors (or equivalent) are not eligible.
• May not hold an independent grant of the R21, R01, DOD or comparable type, including project leader on a SPORE or P01.
• For physicians: be within seven years of completion of residency or fellowship.
• For laboratory scientists: be within seven years of completion of post-doctoral work.

NOTE: Exceptions to the seven-year criterion (but not academic rank) can be made for those who may have had interruptions in their career. To request an exemption, contact the IASLC (foundation@iaslc.org) prior to submission of the application.

The applicant may not currently be or previously have been:

• Recipient of an LCFA grant.
• A Principal Investigator (PI) of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) peer reviewed research grant of at least $125,000 in direct costs per year for a minimum of 3 years. (With the exception of mentored career development grants or grants where the PI is required to be mentored by another investigator).
• A Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on a NIH competing multi-component research or center grant or cooperative agreement within a P or U series grant (e.g., P01 Program Project Grant, U01 or U19 Research Program
• A Principal Investigator of a peer-reviewed research grant of at least $125,000 in direct costs per year for a minimum of 3 years from any of the organizations listed in the Organizations with Peer Review Funding Systems at: https://cancercenters.cancer.gov/PoliciesResources/PoliciesResources

The foregoing notwithstanding, the following candidates may be eligible:

• Individuals who are currently supported by NIH Mentored Career Development (K) Grants.
• Recipients of ASCO Career Development Grants or mentored career development grants/grants from other organizations.

Grant Structure and Allocation

The Grant will be $100,000 per year for up to each of two years. The second year of support is based on the Grantee demonstrating satisfactory research progress as determined by LCFA/IASLC as well as the availability of funding from LCFA/IASLC. 

No more than 50% of the requested budget for the Grant may be used for a Grantee’s salary and/or fringe benefits. Grant budget may not be used to fund the purchase of permanent equipment. No indirect costs are provided. Any unused Grant funds at the conclusion of the study period will be returned to LCFA.

Applications will be accepted through the IASLC's online application portal only. To access the application:

1. Go to the IASLCs online application portal. 
2. Login using your IASLC Member Portal Credentials.
   • If you do not know your IASLC Member Portal 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, you may return to the portal as needed to continue work on tyour application until it is submitted. Applications that have been submitted remain editable until the application deadline.

Factors Considered in Evaluating Applications

Projects must be feasible, have strong scientific merit, innovative and relevant to the missions of LCFA and IASLC. The applications will be reviewed by an IASLC Review Committee and the LCFA Scientific Advisory Board in accordance with their current agreed-upon review process. The Application should be structured to provide the following:

• A clear rationale should be given for the experimental design and technical methodologies selected.
• The hypotheses must be strong and testable and relate to potential clinical applications such as patient monitoring for preventive or therapeutic interventions, the development of new therapeutic strategies or testing of new biomarkers for the identification of patient subsets for specific prevention or treatment approaches.
• Preliminary data, including relevant animal models or analyses of patient specimens that support the hypotheses’, however, the Applicant need not to have personally generated these preliminary data. 
• Adequate clinical resources. The laboratory assays must use specimens from patients receiving defined treatments in medium to large clinical trials such as from phase II or phase III clinical trials. 
• A description of the methodological approach sufficient for an informed reviewer to judge feasibility.
• Applications must include a statistical section describing the study design and plans for analyses of data designed to test the hypotheses.
•  The Application must convey the level of commitment of the institution to the Applicant and the proposed research activities. Applicants must be independent, self-directed researchers for whom their institution must provide independent space and independent resources.
• Budget and justifications must be included.
• Three professional references to provide recommendations and ensure the applicant is qualified to fulfill the duties of the proposed project.

Note: LCFA/IASLC is not likely to fund studies undertaken entirely in murine models or cell line xenografts (must use patient biospecimens or PDX’s from local patients).

Peer Review Results of Full Applications

In the first round of review, applications will be reviewed and scored by a sub-committee of the IASLC’s Career Development and Fellowship Committee. Applications are scored using a nine-point rating scale, adapted from the NIH grant scoring rubric. Additional review and scoring information may be found HERE.

Based on the scoring from the first round, the finalists will be evaluated by LCFA’s Scientific Advisory Board, who will make the final selections.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the peer review process by December 15, 2023 for Grant funding to start on or around April 1, 2024.