Ronit Elk, PhD
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May 31, 2011 Ronit Elk, Ph.D. Funding Opportunities and NEW Directions at the American Cancer Society
Transcript of Ronit Elk, PhD
May 31, 2011
Ronit Elk, Ph.D.
Funding Opportunities and NEW Directions at the American Cancer Society
Programs in Extramural Grants
ClinicalCancer
Research And Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
of Cancer
Tumor Cell Biology And Metastasis
Preclinical andTranslational
CancerResearch
Cancer Control and Prevention Research
Health ProfessionalTraining in
Cancer Control
CPPBCPHPS
PC
NEW Directions in
Disparities Research
ClinicalCancer
Research And Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
of Cancer
Tumor Cell Biology And Metastasis
Preclinical andTranslational
CancerResearch
Cancer Control and Prevention Research
Health ProfessionalTraining in
Cancer Control
CPPBCPHPSPCSM
NEW!
Priority Program in
Cancer Control =
Disparities Reduction
NEW! Program in
Palliative
Care and
Symptom M
anagement
Cancer Control & Prevention Research: Priority Program in Disparity Reduction
Psychosocial & Behavioral Peer
Review Committee(CPPB)
Priority $s allocated to:
•Research w focus on reducing disparities
•Recommended for funding by PRC
Lower Priority $s
•Research with no focus on reducing disparities
•Recommended for funding by PRC
Health Policy & Health Services
Peer Review Committee (CPPB)
Priority $s allocated to:
•Research w focus on reducing disparities
•Recommended for funding by PRC
Lower Priority $s
•Research with no focus on reducing disparities
•Recommended for funding by PRC
Palliative Care & Symptom
Management (PCSM)
$s allocated to:
•Research w focus on palliative care and
symptom management
•Recommended for funding by PRC
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU
1. Post1. Post--Doctoral FellowshipDoctoral Fellowship
2. Mentored Grants for Junior Faculty2. Mentored Grants for Junior Faculty
3. Research Scholar GrantResearch Scholar Grant
4. Pilot and Exploratory Grants. ONLY for: Pilot and Exploratory Grants. ONLY for:
•• Palliative Care RFA Palliative Care RFA
•• CBPR for DivisionCBPR for Division--specific RFA specific RFA
Funding MechanismsPOST-
DOCTORAL FELLOW SHIP
(PF)
MENTORED GRANT (MRSG)
RESEARCH SCHOLAR GRANT
(RSG) NOT focusing on
Disparity Reduction
RESEARCH SCHOLAR GRANT (RSG) focusing on
DISPARITY REDUCTION
When? After Ph.D. Junior faculty Independent investigator
Independent investigator
Who? 1st 4 years of independent appointment
(longer IF you are changing to research from clinical practice)
1st 6 years of independent appointment
Any career stage (i.e., senior okay)
Time? Funding: 3 yrs Funding: 5 yrs Funding: 4 yrs Funding: 5 years
$ ? Approx. $40K/yr $138K/yr + 8% $200K/yr +20% $400K/yr + 20%
R. Elk Suggests
We have very few PF applicants, i.e., not very competitive:
If you are beginning investigator: APPLY.
Welcome to apply in non-priority area but realize the risk in limited funding and this is lower priority.
Extremely competitive. Team and PI must have a lot of expertise to apply
STEP 1: Review your options
1. See which mechanism fits you best depending on your career stage
2. Choose your options and review all the guidelines (all online)
3. Write your application to meet guidelines of that mechanism
SCORES & DESCRIPTORS
1.0 -1.5 Outstanding**
1.5 - 2.0 Excellent
2.0 - 2.5 Good
2.5 - 3.0 Satisfactory
3.0 - 3.5 Adequate
3.5 - 4.0 Fair
4.0 – 5.0 Acceptable
** Fundable range
1. Your study must be OUTSTANDING to be eligible for funding.
What makes a PF or MRSG Outstanding?1. You and your potential & achievements
2. Your mentors (how well they have mentored others & how well they will mentor you in your field.)
3. The training program you put together to help you achieve your goal
4. The research proposal you put together that is separate from your mentor’s but is not a huge save-the-world study
5. Your institution’s support
6. The whole MRSG package should all fit together to help you achieve your goal to become an independent researcher in the particular field you are interested in.
What makes RSG outstanding(whether focusing on disparity or not)?
1. Innovativeness of the project and how it has the potential to make a significant impact compared to other work in the field
2. Must be based on a theoretical model
3. “Flawless” research methodology including accounting for the myriad factors involved in research e.g., limiting confounds, sound study design, mediating & moderating factors, power calculations etc. etc. (most studies get dinged in this area.)
4. Feasibility must be sound & indicate experience
5. Expertise of PI & team in being able to do such large-scale studies.
Why is focus on Disparity Reduction a Priority?
• For 10 years we targeted 10% of our research dollars for research on disparities.
• We funded over 100 grantees for $100 Million.• Research across the Cancer Continuum• Many minority researchers funded.
• In evaluating this program it was clear that the ACS could make a substantial difference to reducing disparities if we made this a priority area.
• As of July 1 2010 we have made disparity-reduction a priority in:
• Psychosocial & Behavioral & Health Policy and Health Services Research
More about the Disparity Priority • Goal is to research interventions that reduce disparities• Priority populations identified as bearing cancer burden:
1. African American 2. Hispanic, Latinos3. Asians/Pacific Islanders4. Native American/Alaska Natives5. Low Income/Rural Poor6. Other groups identified as having disproportionate cancer
burden
• Any funding mechanism (PF, MRSG, RSG)
• Study must clearly demonstrate how it will result in disparity reduction
• Full policies and instructions online.
A little on the focus on Symptom Management & Palliative Care
• ACS recognizes that much research (and researchers) needed in this field.
• We are partnering with another Palliative Care organization to fund pilot studies, in addition to our regular funding mechanisms, in this field.
• Definition of palliative care is broad, not focusing only on end of life.
• Full policies and instructions online.
How is ACS same? different to NIH?• Same: Two-tiered system of review
• Peer Review Committees make recommendation of which applications should be funded
• Council determines funding level.
• Different: Program Director • ACS Program Director staffs the PRC meetings, and nominates
reviewers on PRC. That means that will always find appropriate expert for your study.
• Goal of ACS review is to mentor applicant. All applications are discussed respectfully in committee and if problems identified, goal is to help applicant revise it successfully.
• Program Director cannot provide scientific advice in advance of submission (to be fair to all) but can and DOES meet by phone with each applicant after the meeting (discusses PRC meeting discussion) and helps guide the resubmission.
In difficult financial times, what is your best advice?
• Get experienced mentors &/or collaborators
• Apply to multiple institutions with same application (either/or)
• Apply for Postdoc (very little competition)
• If you are junior, apply for MENTORED award. That is the way to jump-start your career.
• Read all policies and instructions online carefully. FOLLOW them.
I wasn’t funded. Is there hope for me?
YES!YES!
YES!YES!
YES!YES!
MOST applications MOST applications
get funded on the 2get funded on the 2ndnd or 3or 3rdrd roundround
My score was great. Am I getting funded?
Likelihood of funding
Committees
Council for Extramural Grants
Below Pay Line
Fund
I’m below the Pay line: Any Hope?
Donors in Divisions
How many applications do you fund?
Not funded (40%)
•Wrong question! If you want funding, apply!
•Must be outstanding to be considered for funding
•Our goal: 100% outstanding funded
•Maximize your chances of funding~ Follow the guidelines for excellence~ Submit to multiple agencies (Either/Or)
• In Cancer Control close to 75%-80% of those recommended for funding by the PRC are funded.
Final words of advice?
• Go online: www.cancer.org
• Read all policies and instructions
• Don’t ask questions that are clearly stated online.
• Email me anytime with specific questions.
• I will answer all questions emailed to me.
Research Gives Us Research Gives Us HopeHope
www.cancer.org
