The following funding news and opportunities were collected recently by Pre-Award Services and published in Update, a weekly e-newsletter for members and staff.

Visit the Research Funding Resources page for links to resources you can use to search for funding as well as University resources essential to application processes.

June 24

NIAID Independent Scholars
Program Deadline: September 10, 2008
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), created the NIAID Independent Scholars Program to help exceptional young Ph.D.s establish cutting-edge, independent research programs within the mentoring framework of an NIAID laboratory. Applicants to the NIAID Independent Scholars Program should have completed or be near completion of a Ph.D. thesis. Applicants with significant postdoctoral experience will not be considered. The program aims to develop recent Ph.D.s into the next generation of leaders in immunology and infectious disease research. Unlike conventional postdoctoral programs, the NIAID Independent Scholars Program offers a direct and immediate path to independence.

June 18

Preliminary applications for NCMHD Comprehensive Centers of Excellence (P60) Application due June 23
The University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research is preparing an application to the National Center for Minority Health Disparities (NCMHD) for a comprehensive center of excellence (COE) with an August 29, 2008 deadline. This application will include funding for up to three major projects. These projects must demonstrate original and innovative basic laboratory, behavioral, clinical, or population-based research directed toward improving minority health, eliminating health disparities, or both, in any of the following diseases or conditions: cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, mental health, and obesity or other disease or conditions of major public health importance. All investigators are encouraged to apply irrespective of faculty rank or current NCMHD, NIH, or other funding. The amount of the major project award is up to approximately $750,000 in direct costs (i.e. $150,000/yr x 5 years or $250,000/yr x 3 years). The competitive process for these proposals is two-tiered, with the preliminary application due June 23, 2008. For more information, read the memorandum explaining the application process from Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., principal investigator, and Kola Okuyemi, M.D., M.P.H., co-principal investigator.

Lymphoma Research Foundation Research Program
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Application Receipt Date(s): September 10, 2008 (Letter of Intent due Aug 1, 2008 required for Follicular grants)

Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Funding: 2 years, $105,000 total
These two-year fellowships help attract the nation's best scientific talent to careers in lymphoma and allow them to pursue promising leads under the guidance of a Sponsor.

Clinical Investigator Career Development Awards (CDAs)
Funding: 3 years, $75,000 per year
This three-year program funds training of clinicians who will participate in developing new therapeutics and diagnostic tools for lymphoma. Clinicians will be trained to design and administer clinical studies and to take on primary responsibility for trial design, protocol development, IRB submission, and publication. A Career Development Plan and the commitment of a mentor are required as part of the grant application.

Follicular Lymphoma R01-Type Grant
Funding: 3 years, $250,000 per year
The goal of LRF's Follicular Lymphoma (FL) Research Initiative is to develop novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of FL. LRF is seeking proposals that advance the understanding of the human biology of FL or that verify molecular targets for FL therapeutics.

Follicular Lymphoma Correlative Clinical Studies Award
Funding: 3 years, $125,000 per year
LRF is also seeking proposals for correlative clinical studies in follicular lymphoma (FL).  Applications to this initiative must be adjunct to a major FL research project and work in the clinical setting or with primary FL patient samples.

June 10

Career Catalyst in Disparities Research
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Application Receipt Dates: Pre-Application -July 3, 2008. Full Application-August 22, 2008
Funding: Up to 3 years, $450,000
CC-DR grants seek to foster independent careers in research exploring the basis for differences in breast cancer outcomes and the translation of this research into clinical and public health practice interventions, particularly among junior scientists from populations affected by breast cancer disparities.

Investigator-Initiated Research
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Application Receipt Date: Pre-Application-July 1, 2008. Full Application-September 4, 2008
Funding: Up to 3 years, $600,000
IIR Grants provide up to $600,000 over three years to stimulate exploration of new ideas and novel approaches in breast cancer research and clinical practice that will lead to reductions in breast cancer incidence and mortality within the next decade. Special emphasis will be given to studies seeking to understand the basis for difference in breast cancer outcomes and translating research discoveries into clinical and public health practice to eliminate breast cancer disparities.

Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Grants
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Application Receipt Date: Pre-Application-July 1, 2008. Full Application-September 4, 2008
Funding: Up to 3 years, $450,000
CCR Grants provide unique opportunities for scientists in the early stages of their career to achieve research independence with an independent award of up to $450,000 over three years. CCR investigators lead a research project addressing an important question in breast cancer research and complete a self-defined career development plan with support from a mentor committee.

NIH:

Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (U01)
(RFA-CA-08-026)
National Cancer Institute
Application Receipt Date: August 15, 2008
Funding: See announcement
The purpose of this open competition Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate the translation of innovative therapies suitable for children with brain tumors from the laboratory to early phase clinical testing. To achieve this goal, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to continue a Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) program.  The NCI will support one multi-center clinical trials group (a "consortium") that will be responsible for timely conduct of the Phase 1, Phase 2, and pilot studies evaluating novel treatment approaches relevant to the pediatric brain tumor population.

June 3

Validation of Novel Combinations and Novel Compounds
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Funding: Up to $200,000 for 2 years
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks proposals for the MMRF Validation of Novel Combinations and Compounds. This initiative will support the testing of:

• Novel single agents against molecular targets in multiple myeloma
• Novel agents with approved multiple myeloma therapeutics in innovative, rationally-designed combinations and/or sequences.

2008 Audrey Meyer Mars International Fellowship in Clinical Oncology
American Cancer Society
Deadline: December 1, 2008
Funding: $45,000/yr
The purposed of this fellowship is to provide one year of advanced training in clinical oncology at participating U.S. cancer centers to qualified physicians and dentists from other countries, particularly countries where advanced training is not readily available.

For a full description of this grant program, as well as applications, instructions, and policies, visit the Web site or contact the ACS at 404-329-5734 or grants@cancer.org.