FY09 DOD Peer Reviewed Lung Cancer Research Program Concept Awards

The FY09 LCRP is pleased to announce the release of the first of five award mechanisms, the Concept Award. The Program Announcement, including full details on the intent of the award mechanism, eligibility, submission deadlines, application instructions, etc., have been posted on the Grants.gov and CDMRP websites (http://grants.gov and http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/lcrp.htm, respectively). The synopsis table for the LCRP Concept Award is located on website: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/09lcrpreftable.pdf.

The LCRP is interested in research proposals that address at least one of the following areas of emphasis:

1. Identification or development of non-invasive or minimally invasive tools to improve the detection of the initial stages of lung cancer.
2. Identification and development of tools for screening or early detection of lung cancer. Screening may include, but is not limited to, computed tomography scans, X-rays, other imaging, biomarkers, genetics/genomics/proteomics, and assessment of risk factors.
3. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that lead to clinically significant lung cancer.
4. Identification of the mechanisms that lead to the development of the various types of lung cancer.
5. Identification of innovative strategies for prevention and treatment of early lung cancer.
6. Understanding predictive and prognostic markers to identify responders and non-responders.
7. Understanding acquired resistance to treatment.
   

The Concept Awards support the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory that addresses an important problem relevant to lung cancer. Presentation of preliminary data is not consistent with the intent of the Concept Award mechanism and is discouraged. However, logical reasoning and a sound scientific rationale for the proposed research must be demonstrated. Eligible applicants include all investigators, including post-doctoral fellows (or equivalent). The application project narrative is limited to 2 pages. Maximum period of performance is 12 months. Maximum allowable funding is $75,000 in direct costs for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

DEADLINES:
* Pre-Application (Letter of Intent) through http://cdmrp.org/ required and due: August 20, 2009; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
* Application submitted through http://www.grants.gov due September 3, 2009; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.


DOD Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Programs

The Department of Defense announces $40.6 million in new funding opportunities in Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury research. Program Announcements have been released in three funding mechanisms by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.

The synopsis, providing a quick overview of the three award mechanisms, eligibility, key mechanism elements, funding, and submission deadlines is available here: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/09phtbirpreftable.pdf.

All applications for funding must specifically and clearly address at least one of the following topic areas:

1. Studies aimed at improving the understanding of military-related psychological health issues in specific areas of interest.
2. Studies to examine cellular regrowth and interconnection strategies and therapies in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
3. Research on evidence-based prevention and rehabilitation strategies for TBI, PTSD, and co-occurring conditions encompassing cognitive, motor, emotional, psychological, and sensory functioning.
4. Three-dimensional models of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast waves to develop equipment to mitigate injury to Service members.
5. PH and/or TBI research exploring the use of advanced neuroimaging, behavioral and/or genetic information to identify biomarkers and to develop diagnostics and treatments for semi-acute, acute, and chronic injury stages, and for the possible integration of informatics and advanced computational research to better understand the intersection of PH and TBI.
   

The three funding mechanisms offered are:

1) PH/TBI Advanced Technology/Therapeutic Development Awards: support the assessment of scientific and/or military field deployment feasibility for promising new products, pharmacologic agents (drugs or biologics), behavioral interventions, devices, clinical guidance, and/or emerging approaches and technologies. These awards are expected to yield potential products, approaches, or technologies for the treatment, prevention, detection, and/or diagnosis of PH issues and/or TBI. The products developed may be pharmacologic agents (drugs, biological), cognitive/behavioral interventions, devices, or clinical guidance. All applications must specifically and clearly address the military relevance of the proposed research. Each PI must provide a transition plan (including funding and resources) showing how the product will progress to clinical trials and/or delivery to the military market after the successful completion of this PH/TBI Research Program award. A partnering option is offered in which a separate award will be made to each PI's institution. The maximum period of performance is 5 years with maximum allowable funding of $6 million in direct costs (plus indirect costs).

2) PH/TBI Investigator-Initiated Research Awards: Research projects may focus on any phase of research from basic laboratory through translational research. Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician's firsthand knowledge of patients and anecdotal data. As a method to bring a new perspective to research and facilitate progress in the PH/TBI field by combined effort, the FY09 PH/TBI Research Program is offering a Partnering PI option for this award mechanism. The maximum period of performance is 4 years. Maximum allowable costs is $1million in direct costs (plus indirect costs).

DEADLINES:
* Pre-Application (Pre-proposal) through http://cdmrp.org/ required and due: August 14, 2009; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Pre-proposals will be screened and submission of full application is by invitation.
* Invitations from the PH/TBI Research Program to selected pre-applicants: September, 2009.
* Application submitted through http://www.grants.gov/ due October 28, 2009; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

3) PH/TBI Concept Awards: are intended to support the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory that addresses an important problem relevant to one or more of the FY09 PH/TBI topic areas. This award mechanism supports high-risk studies that have the potential to reveal entirely new avenues for investigation. Proposals must describe how the new idea will enhance existing knowledge of PH/TBI or create an entirely new avenue for investigation. Research completed through a Concept Award may provide sufficient preliminary data to enable the PI to prepare a proposal for future research. All applications must specifically and clearly address the military relevance of the proposed research. Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged. Proposals should focus on basic, translational, clinical, and/or preventive medicine research within PH/TBI. Reviewers will be blinded as to the identity of the PI and the PI's institution. The project narrative is limited to 2 pages. Maximum period of performance is 18 months. Maximum allowable funding is $300,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).

DEADLINES:
* Pre-Application (Letter of Intent) through http://cdmrp.org/ required and due: August 21, 2009; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
* Application submitted through http://www.grants.gov/ due August 28, 2009; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program

Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) congressional appropriations have provided $112 million to the Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP). This program will support innovative, high-impact, clinically relevant research to advance treatment and rapid rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries sustained during military combat or combat-related activities.

PRORP Program Announcements have been released in five funding mechanisms by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The synopsis, providing a quick overview of the five award mechanisms on: eligibility, key mechanism elements, funding, and submission deadlines, is available on website: http://cdmrp.army.mil/
funding/pdf/09prorpreftable.pdf.

The five funding mechanisms offered are summarized below. Full details for submission are in Program Announcements and Application instructions for each award are available here: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/archive/09prorphda_pa.pdf.

1) PRORP Clinical Trial Awards support the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the acute care of military combat-relevant orthopaedic injuries. The maximum period of performance is 4 years. Maximum allowable costs is $2.5 million in direct costs ($2,725,000 if the application includes a nested Career Development Award) for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

2) PRORP Idea Development Awards support high-impact, innovative research that will drive the field forward. The proposed research should provide a significant benefit for the field of military combat-relevant orthopaedic injuries research. Clinical trials are not allowed under this award mechanism. The maximum period of performance is 3 years. Maximum allowable costs $400,000 in direct costs for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

3) PRORP Technology Development Awards support product-driven research aimed at developing technologies and related resources for use by both the applicant's laboratory and the orthopaedic research community to promote basic and preclinical research on musculoskeletal injuries related to military service. A partnering option is offered in which a separate award will be made to each PI's institution for up to three PIs. This award may not be used to conduct clinical trials. The maximum period of performance is 4 years with maximum allowable funding of $2 million in direct costs for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

4) PRORP Translational Research Partnership Awards support the development of multi-institutional, multidisciplinary, translational research partnerships between up to four clinicians and laboratory scientists to accelerate the movement of promising research hypotheses into clinical application in a manner that would be less readily achievable through separate efforts. The maximum period of performance is 3 years. Maximum allowable, combined funding is $750,000 in direct costs for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

DEADLINES:
* Pre-Application (Pre-proposal) through http://cdmrp.org/ required and due: August 13, 2009; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Pre-proposals (Narrative has 2 page limit) will be screened and submission of full application is by invitation.
* Invitations from the PRORP to selected pre-applicants: no later than September 30, 2009.
* Application submitted through http://www.grants.gov/ due November 17, 2009; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

5) PRORP Exploration - Hypothesis Development Awards support the initial exploration of innovative, untested, and potentially groundbreaking concepts in the field of orthopaedic research that may lead to promising new products, pharmacologic agents (drugs or biologics), behavioral interventions, devices, clinical guidance or emerging technologies for military combat-relevant orthopaedic injuries or rehabilitative care. Maximum period of performance is 18 months. Maximum allowable funding is $100,000 in direct costs for the entire period of performance, plus indirect costs in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

DEADLINES:
* Pre-Application (Letter of Intent) through http://cdmrp.org/ required and due: August 25, 2009; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
* Application submitted through http://www.grants.gov/ due September 15, 2009; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Lupus Foundation of America 2009 Evelyn V. Hess Award

This award is given annually to a clinical or basic researcher whose body of work has advanced understanding of the pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, or treatment of lupus.

Candidates for this award must meet the following criteria:

• Academic degree of M.D. or Ph.D.
  
• A career of achievement in basic or clinical research in lupus.
  
• Academic appointment at the level of Associate Professor or above.
  

The awardee is required to attend the LFA Awards Reception on Saturday evening, October 17, 2009 at the American College of Rheumatology meeting in Philadelphia, PA
Prize: $5000 USD

Nomination packages must include 1) a nominating letter describing the candidate's contributions to lupus research, 2) a seconding letter, and 3) the candidate's CV. Please submit all materials to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Trish Davidson, Director, Education & Research, 2000 L St. NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036, or via e-mail to Davidson@lupus.org. Nominations and supporting materials must be received by the LFA no later than 5:00 p.m., E.S.T. on August 31, 2009.


Lupus Foundation of America 2009 Mary Betty Stevens, MD, Young Investigator Prize

This award recognizes the exceptional achievements of an investigator in the early part of his or her independent career in lupus research. Candidates for this award must meet the following criteria:

• All candidates must be licensed physicians
  
• They must be nominated by a peer
  
• Five or fewer years out from their first full-time assistant professorship or equivalent in an academic or clinical research setting
  
• Nominees must be independent investigators conducting original research in basic science or clinical development and translation in the field of lupus
  Nominees must be available to attend an awards reception on October 17, 2009 at ACR.
  

Posthumous nominations will not be considered. The nominating peer should provide the materials listed below, typed in English:

• Nominee's curriculum vitae (up to 6 pages) and bibliography (up to 50 original papers)
  
• Letter of nomination (up to 2 pages) outlining reasons for choosing the recommended candidate
  
• Two letters of support coming from persons other than the nominator, who are familiar with the nominee's qualifications and accomplishments
  
• Nominee date of birth
  

Please note: Nomination letters should provide: a statement of up to 100 words highlighting the most important accomplishment, an overview of the nominee's contributions to the field of lupus, and address the nominee's status as an investigator.

Prize: $5,000 USD personal award

The award recipient will be honored during an Awards Reception taking place at the ACR Annual Meeting, in Philadelphia, PA. The award recipient will have the opportunity to give a brief acceptance speech.

Please submit all materials to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Trish Davidson, Director, Education & Research, 2000 L St. NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036, or via e-mail to Davidson@lupus.org. Nominations and supporting materials must be received by the LFA no later than 5:00 p.m., E.S.T. on August 31, 2009.

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