The Developmental Research Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Lung Cancer SPOREwill be carried out for the purpose of identifying and facilitating innovative new pilot projects in lung cancerresearch. The overall goal of the Developmental Research Program is to provide seed funding toinvestigators for novel research in lung cancer to further the basic, clinical and translational researchpriorities of the Lung Cancer SPORE. The specific goals of this Program are : 1) to provide seed fundingopportunities for initial investigation of promising novel research in lung cancer: 2) to stimulate basic, clinical,and translational lung cancer research in areas of high priority to the Lung Cancer SPORE; 3) to facilitatedevelopment of pilot projects into full project status in the Lung Cancer SPORE or to be competitive forindependent investigator-initiated proposals to other funding agencies; and 4) to increase the visibility ofLung Cancer SPORE activities and increase participation among the institution's clinicians and researchers.Our design for the Developmental Research Program in the renewal is similar to the process used during thefirst grant period. Drs. William L. Bigbee and Joel S. Greenberger will provide Program leadership for basicand clinical research, respectively. The Developmental Research Program will utilize institutional web-basedresources and printed announcements to notify the research community at the UPCI, the University ofPittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), and the affiliated Carnegie Mellon University of the availability ofresearch funds to support pilot projects in lung cancer. In response to the new SPORE guidelineencouraging inter-institutional collaboration, we will also make the program available to our sister CancerCenters in Philadelphia, who are part of the statewide Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium (PAC-3)initiative. A standing Developmental Research Program Committee, together with ad hoc reviewers withspecific expertise as needed drawn from the UPCI, UPMC, the Lung Cancer SPORE External AdvisoryBoard, or other SPOREs will provide rigorous and consistent peer review of the solicited project proposals.The proposed Developmental Research Program budget will include $70,000 per year in funds from the NCIthrough this proposal, together with an additional $50,000 per year in matching funds from the UPCI.Proposals will be solicited and reviewed on an annual basis and grants of $30,000-$50,000 per year for 1-2years will be awarded to the most meritorious proposals. These activities of the Developmental ResearchProgram will stimulate innovative research toward meeting the translations goals of the Lung CancerSPORE: reduction in the incidence, morbidity, and mortality from lung cancer.
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