The UI Cancer Center is applying for a prestigious American Cancer Society – Institutional Review Grant (ACS-IRG) that is due April 1. The ACS-IRG is designed to support the development of beginning investigators conducting cancer research by providing pilot funds to obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for national research grants.
The program is intended to support independent, self-directed, investigators early in their careers for whom the institution has committed research facilities, resources or space. The total annual grant award is $120,000 for up to three years. While the amount may not be large, the impact of receiving ACS-IRG pilot funds can help launch the research career of early stage investigators.
If funded, the UI Cancer Center will initiate an annual call for proposals, and through a competitive peer reviewed process provide pilot funds for up to five awards at $30,000 a piece ($120,000 from ACS and $30,000 from the UI Cancer Center for a total of $150,000). The ACS IRG award serves as seed money to support the initiation of promising new projects or novel investigations in cancer-related fields. Faculty in all areas of cancer research — basic, clinical, epidemiological, behavioral, psychosocial, etc. — are welcome.
If you are interested in competing for pilots funds (or mentoring an investigator who qualifies), meet the eligibility criteria, and would like to be included in the ACS-IRG application, please submit the following to Jackie Black at [email protected] by February 28 at 5 p.m.
Please submit a brief “letter of intent” with no more than two paragraphs describing a research project you would conduct if you were funded. This should consist of a cursory overview of the hypothesis, objectives, rationale, methods, and expected results. In addition, please submit an updated biosketch. If you do not have a biosketch, please submit your CV and we will create one for you.
To be eligible to participate in the ACS-IRG pilot competition, applicants should be assistant professors (or equivalent) with faculty appointments of six years or less, and no more than 12 years from their last degree. Investigators who have already received peer-reviewed support from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, American Cancer Society or other major extramural organizations are not eligible. Postdoctoral/clinical fellows, professors or associate professors are not eligible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ahlam Al-Kodmany at [email protected] or Jackie Black at [email protected]