IMPORTANT!
CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S
GRANTS AND AWARDS PROGRAM
In 1994 the American Cancer Society appointed a Blue Ribbon Committee to examine its research and professional training programs and identify possible gaps and opportunities that the American Cancer Society can fill in the nationwide effort in cancer prevention and control. The Blue Ribbon Committee recommended that investigator- initiated, peer-reviewed research should remain the basis of the American Cancer Society's extramural research program. In its search for a specific niche that the American Cancer Society can fill, the Committee found that currently it is very difficult for beginning researchers and health care professionals to establish their own research programs and careers. Therefore, supporting the development of beginning investigators is a need that the American Cancer Society's extramural research program can help to fill.
Following are some specific recommendations which were adopted by the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society in November, 1995.
I. The following grants and awards will be new or dramatically changed:
- Research Project Grant (RPG).
This grant, previously known as the Research and Clinical Investigation Grant will be restricted to junior investigators. Investigators may submit applications only within 8 years of their first independent research or faculty appointment. Initial grants will be up to 3 years (unless exceptional needs require up to 5 years) and may be competitively renewed twice, for a maximum of two consecutive two-year periods. In no case may an investigator be funded past the 14th year of his/her first independent research or faculty appointment.
- Clinical Research Training Grant for Junior Faculty (CRTG).
This program is intended to combine the previous Physician Research Training Award, Junior Clinical Research Award, and Clinical Oncology Career Development Award into a single new grant. The program is designed for individuals with doctoral or equivalent degrees during the first four years of a faculty appointment who want to develop their clinical research skills to qualify as fully independent investigators. A senior investigator may act as a mentor or advisor during the term of this grant. Only applications requesting support for clinical and epidemiological cancer research, including psychosocial, behavioral, health services and health policy research will be accepted. Applications must meet the American Cancer Society's definitions of clinical or epidemiological research. Initial awards may be up to three years, with a possible two year competitive renewal.
- Research Professorship and Clinical Research Professorship.
These awards will be limited to outstanding mid-career scientists for an initial five-year period with a single competitive five year renewal.
II. The following grants and awards will continue with only minor or no changes:
- Cancer Control Career Development Awards for Primary Care Physicians
- Clinical Oncology Social Work Traineeships
- Institutional Research Grants
- Physician Training Awards in Preventive Medicine
- Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Research Development Grants
- Scholarships in Cancer Nursing
III. As of January 1, l996, applications for the following grants and awards programs will no longer be accepted:
- Clinical Oncology Career Development Awards
- Clinical Oncology Fellowships
- Cytotechnology Training Grants
- International Fellowships
- Junior Clinical Research Awards
- Junior Faculty Research Awards
- Physician Research Training Awards
- Scholar Awards
Furthermore, no additional Professors of Clinical Oncology and Professors of Oncology Nursing will be appointed unless funded entirely by the Society's Divisions.
IV. The American Cancer Society will honor its commitment for all grants and awards presently in effect. In addition, applications received by the fall 1995 deadlines, and those for the Scholarship in Cancer Nursing received by February 15, l996 will be processed under the policies in effect in 1995.
V. Future Deadlines.
Deadlines for submission of applications in the spring of 1996 will be March 1 for Postdoctoral Fellowships and Research Professorships and April 1 for Research Project Grants and Clinical Research Training Grants for Junior Faculty. Deadlines for other training grants will be announced at a later date. Please be aware that all subsequent deadlines are subject to revision to implement additional modifications in the Society's research and professional training programs.
Revised policies and application forms should be available in your grants office by January 15, 1996.
APPLICANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING TIMELY RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
If an investigator desires to compete for continued funding, and is eligible to do so; that investigator or institution is responsible for submitting to the American Cancer Society a completed application by the appropriate deadline. The Society has adopted new procedures for distributing application forms and will no longer be sending out individual reminder notices for when renewals are due.
PHASE OUT PROVISIONS FOR CURRENT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
PROJECT GRANT HOLDERS WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR NEW RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS
In order to provide ample time to obtain funding from other sources, current grantees who will not meet the new eligibility requirements will be allowed the following phase out schedule. Investigators not qualifying as beginning investigators as of January 1, 1996 (those beyond 8 years of an initial faculty or equivalent appointment) who have an active grant, including those receiving funds on a commitment or who have a no cost extension, are eligible for a maximum of two competing renewals. However, the fall deadline of 1998 will be the last time renewal applications will be accepted from such investigators. If a renewal from such an applicant falls below the funding line, the grant will be terminated and no additional applications will be accepted.
Applicants whose current grant was funded as a competing renewal, and whose renewal application submitted for the April 1996 (or corresponding subsequent deadline) falls below the pay line, are eligible to receive phase out support of up to 50% of their current annual funding for one additional year.
SPECIAL NOTIFICATION TO CURRENT RESEARCH PROFESSORS
AND CLINICAL RESEARCH PROFESSORS
Current holders of these awards will continue to be funded under the original contract agreement with the American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society, Inc.
Extramural Grants and Awards
1599 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
voice: 404-329-7558
fax: 404-321-4669
WWW: http://www.cancer.org
email: grants@cancer.org
(Effective by late December 1995)
Last revised November 1995
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