Funding Support Center
DF/HCC Sponsored Funding
Nodal Awards
Nodal Awards
DANA-FARBER/HARVARD CANCER CENTER
Nodal Award Program, 2008
Pilot Project Initiative to Support Interprogrammatic Research of DF/HCC Members
Award Amount: $75,000 per year for two years ($150,000 total direct costs), with full indirect costs.
Deadline for submission: Deadline extended to June 13, 2008
Anticipated award date: July 1, 2008
Past award recipients: 2007, 2006
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SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Deadline: Deadline extended to June 13, 2008
Submission: An electronic (PDF) copy of application AND 12 hard copies of application (complete with figures)
Submit to: Dr. Peter Howley
c/o Mabel Duyao, PhD
Department of Pathology
Harvard Medical School
77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, NRB-850
Boston, MA 02115
Contact regarding questions: Mabel Duyao
Tel: (617) 432-1145
Email: mabel_duyao@hms.harvard.edu
OVERVIEW AND GOALS OF NODAL AWARD PROGRAM
A key goal of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) is to encourage and support the development of scientific collaborations among Center members that promote new translational cancer research as well as research that address issues relevant to the unequal burden of cancer and cancer outcomes in diverse populations.
To advance this goal, the DF/HCC annually solicits proposals for Pilot Projects that are designed to enhance or create new “nodal point” interactions between disease-based and discipline-based DF/HCC Research Programs. These interactions provide an opportunity to link the research efforts based across Program, with a focus on projects that have the potential of significant human application. The Cancer Center has a particular interest in proposals that focus on eliminating cancer disparities. Such inter-programmatic research efforts are the “nodal points” that are targeted for support by this award program.
NODAL POINT CONCEPT DEFINED
Nodal points are inter-programmatic research efforts that link DF/HCC discipline-based studies with disease-site specific research. The Cancer Center is programmatically organized into distinct Research Programs, in accordance with NCI guidelines. Currently, there are 17 Research Programs that are fully established and have been approved by the NCI through the Cancer Center Support Grant process. Ten other areas are in various stages of development, and as defined by NCI guidelines, are Programs-in-Development.
DF/HCC Research Programs can be classified by two categories: disease-site programs, such as Prostate Cancer or Breast Cancer, or discipline-based programs, such as Cancer Genetics. A current list of DF/HCC Programs and Programs-in-Development is available on the website at www.dfhcc.harvard.edu.
ELIGIBILITY
Only Cancer Center members are eligible to apply for a grant.
NUMBER AND SIZE OF AWARDS
Two awards will be awarded this year, one of which is specifically intended for a project addressing issues relevant to “Disparities in Cancer”. We encourage applications that include a partnership with UMB faculty, in support of the DF/HCC’s U56 cancer center-minority serving institution partnership grant.
Each award is for $75,000 per year for two years ($150,000 total in direct costs).
REVIEW PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by a DF/HCC peer-review committee, which has representation from all DF/HCC member institutions. Projects to be of greatest scientific merit and have greatest potential for fostering nodal inter-programmatic research or enhancing research in the area of “Disparities in Cancer” will be ranked and submitted to the full Executive Committee for final approval for funding.
Grants will be awarded on the basis of the following review criteria (with this order of importance):
- SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE and MERIT. We invite project proposals that are innovative in terms of cancer knowledge, prevention, and/or care. Proposals need not have extensive preliminary data. For the disparities award, proposals must address a critical issue in “disparities in cancer.”
- TRANSLATION. Projects that have the opportunity to stimulate direct application to cancer treatment or prevention are encouraged.
- INTER-INSTITUTIONAL LINKS. Proposals that stimulate inter-institutional research will be favored in decisions between equally ranked applications.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
- Projects must be submitted as collaboration between two or more DF/HCC members who are members in good standing in the programs the project interaction proposes.
- Proposals must involve the creation of new inter-programmatic “nodal point” interactions or the enhancement of pre-existing interactions between discipline- and disease-based Programs within the Center (these can be Programs-in-Development).
- Proposals must fulfill the page and content requirements listed above. Please send an electronic (PDF) copy AND twelve (12) hard copies of application by 4:30pm June 13, 2008.
PROPOSAL CONTENTS and PAGE LIMITS
Required items (4):
- “New Nodal Award” Coversheet: (available below or from mabel_duyao@hms.harvard.edu) listing title of proposal, PI, PI’s DF/HCC Program (or Program-in-Development) affiliation, the interprogrammatic nodal collaboration proposed (i.e., the disease- and discipline-based programs to interact on the proposal), indication that this is a disparities-focused project (if appropriate), and the name and DF/HCC programmatic affiliation of each collaborator (some of whom should be active in both interacting Programs or Programs-in-Development listed). A complete listing of programs and current listing of program members is available on the DF/HCC website.
- Proposal: Maximum of 5 pages of text. Figures and references are allowable in addition to this page limit. No other appendix material will be accepted.
- Biosketches: Current NIH Biosketch for each participating PI, including all funding sources.
- Budget Request: Budget estimates should be submitted as NIH 398 form with major divisions of funds (personnel, equipment, supplies, other, etc.; but no itemization or rationale needed). Funds can be utilized for anything EXCEPT for PI salaries (can be used for Fellow/staff salary).
AWARD PERIOD
The anticipated award date is July 1, 2008. Projects must be ready to commence immediately after receipt of award. Year one of funding is July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress reports are required after the first year of the project. The PI may be asked to present results to the DF/HCC Executive Committee.
SECOND YEAR FUNDING
Funding for the second year (commencing July 1, 2009) is contingent upon first-year progress.
FINAL REPORT
A final report and informal spending summary is due at the end of the two-year project period. Should the PI leave the seven institutions of the DF/HCC, the remainder of the award will be forfeited (i.e. may not be transferred to a non-DF/HCC institution).
2007 Nodal Award Recipients
- Targeting of Leukemia Stem Cells by T-cells Educated by Dendritic Cell/AML Fusions and Anti-CD3/CD28
PI: David Avigan (BIDMC)
Collaborators: Richard Stone (DFCI) and Jacalyn Rosenblatt (BIDMC)
Patients with AML frequently achieve remission via chemotherapy but subsequently develop chemotherapy resistant disease. The cause of this disease is the self-renewal of leukemia stem cells, which appear to be quite resistant to standard chemotherapy. Cellular immunotherapies represent a promising alternative for successfully targeting these cells. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of several cellular immunotherapies – Dendritic Cell/AML fusions and anti-CD3/CD28 – to target leukemia stem cells and antigens, and to assess whether repeated applications of such therapies produce an expansion of AML specific T cells. - Building Capacity to Monitor the Impact of Genetically-Tailored Prevention and Treatment on Cancer Disparities
PIs: Alexandra Shields (MGH)
Collaborators: David Christiani (HSPH), Judy Garber (DFCI) and Sapna Syngal (BWH)
Genomic medicine is a promising new tool for improving health outcomes. However, the impact of genomic medicine on the health of vulnerable populations and health disparities remains relatively unclear, as few studies have been conducted to examine the topic. This pilot project will develop strategies to utilize information-rich national administrative databases to assess patients’ access to, utilization of, and impact from genetically-customized cancer prevention and treatment methods, as well as their ability to access appropriate follow-up care. Data will be analyzed in a variety of ways, but with a particular focus on disparities (by race, ethnicity, and by commercially- vs. Medicaid-insured patients.
2006 Nodal Award Recipients
- Parental Attitudes Toward the HPV Vaccine
PI: Jennifer Allen, DSc (DFCI)
Collaborators: Marcela del Carmen, MD (MGH), Yi Li, PhD (DFCI), JudyAnn Bigby, MD
Inter-programmatic interactions: Gynecological Cancer, Cancer Disparities, Cancer Risk Reduction, Biostatistics
This study will examine the issues and concerns that parents face when deciding whether to allow their age-eligible children to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil.® The vaccine is widely considered a significant step toward reducing the public health burden of HPV and may help eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities in cervical cancer incidence. Through information gathered from a web-based survey and focus groups, the study seeks to develop culturally appropriate educational messages, materials, and strategies to maximize vaccine acceptance. - MUC1 Oncoprotein Regulates the Androgen Receptor in Human Prostate Cancer
PIs: Donald Kufe, MD (DFCI) and Glenn Bubley, MD (BIDMC)
Inter-programmatic interactions: Translational Pharmacology and Early Therapeutic Trials, Prostate Cancer
Despite considerable research on the importance of the androgen receptor in regulating prostate cancer cell growth, little is known about why certain subgroups of prostate cancer are more likely to recur and exhibit decreased dependency on androgen stimulation. The aim of this study is to determine whether the MUC1 oncoprotein contributes to the development of aggressive prostate cancer by directly interacting with the androgen receptor. If this is proven correct, this study will establish the experimental basis for studying the effects of small molecules that target the MUC1 C-terminal subunit. - Cancer Risk Factors and Vitamin D Supplementation in Blacks
PI: Gary Bennett, PhD (DFCI)
Collaborators: Bettina Fisher Drake, PhD (DFCI) and Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD (HMS)
Inter-programmatic interactions: Prostate Cancer, Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Cancer Disparities
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased rates of incidence and mortality of numerous cancer types, while vitamin D supplementation may reduce cancer risk by increasing cell differentiation and decreasing cell proliferation. This study will be among the first to examine the impact of vitamin D in blacks, who are known to have lower vitamin D levels than whites. The study will focus specifically on vitamin D supplementation and uptake on PSA and C-peptide levels among blacks in a non-patient sample, and holds considerable promise in informing future cancer prevention trials that seek to reduce racial disparities in outcomes.
