On this page:

• General Guidelines
• Application Instructions
• Application Form

General Guidelines

(1) Applications will be considered in two categories:

Category 1 — Basic: Proposals should focus on the cellular and/or molecular mechanisms that govern the development or progression of cancer, with a priority on leukemia and related diseases. Proposals could include relevant models in developmental biology that provide insight into the development and progression of cancer.

Category 2 — Translational: Proposals should focus on the development and/or analysis of innovative approaches for treating leukemia and related diseases. Areas could include, but would not be restricted to: gene therapy, tumor targeting, cellular therapy, novel cytotoxic agents, tumor angiogenesis, regulation of apoptosis, or stem cell procurement.

(2) Full-time University of Minnesota faculty at the ranks of assistant professors, associate professors, and professors are eligible to apply.

(3) The subject of the application must be novel and innovative. It cannot be currently funded by a federal agency such as the NIH or the American Cancer Society. If a similar project is currently supported by local granting agencies (e.g., Graduate School, Viking's Children Fund, Children's Cancer Research Fund) then the applicant MUST explain in the cover letter the degree of overlap and why additional funds are needed.

(4) Grants are awarded for one or possibly two years. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT CAN BE REQUESTED IS $30,000 PER GRANT YEAR. A two-year budget must be projected and included with the initial application. This second year of funding is contingent upon progress in the research outlined on a Progress Report, approval of the Leukemia Research Fund Board of Directors, and the availability of funds. When preparing the budget for year two funding, stay within the same general award amount (adjusting for fringe benefits rates, inflationary increases, etc.) that was requested for the first year's budget.

(5) Support can be requested for salary, fringe benefits (post-doctoral associates/fellows, graduate students, or technical/scientific staff), supplies, animal costs and equipment. Travel, overhead (indirect cost), and office expenses are not allowed on Leukemia Research Fund grants. Salary and fringe benefit rates must be in accordance with U of M and NIH policies. Indicate any inflationary increases and fringe benefits rate percents that are being used.

(6) Applications must by typed on the correct forms. Be sure that these forms are appropriately completed and signed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. A PRF signed by the applicant and his/her department head must accompany the application.

(7) Awardees must abide by the standards established by the National Institutes of Health for the care and use of human subjects and/or animals in this research, and must comply with current OSHA standards. Copies of the approval to use human subjects and/or animals in this research must be provided to the Leukemia Research Fund, prior to initiation of funding.

(8) REVIEW PROCESS: A two-tier review process is employed. The first tier is an internal review by members of the Leukemia Research Fund. The purpose of this review is to insure that the application falls within the general guidelines. The second tier is an external review by experts outside the University of Minnesota. Grants are awarded based on priority scores generated by the external reviewers, with final approval by the Leukemia Research Fund Board of Directors.

(9) Credit must be given to the Leukemia Research Fund in any publications resulting from this work.

(10) Leukemia Research Fund awards are NOT to be set aside as "back-up" dollars to cover overdrafts on other accounts, etc. The Leukemia Research Fund will NOT be liable for any overdrafts and any overages will be assumed by the Awardee or the Awardee's department.

All application materials (PRF, Research Plan, References, Budget and Justification, Other Support and Appndix) must be submitted via email as a PDF file to Aaron Schilz (schil226@umn.edu) no later than 4pm on Friday, April 18, 2008. In addition, an original plus 5 copies should be submitted to the Masonic Cancer Center Pre-award Services Office, attention: Aaron Schilz, 925 Delaware St. SE, Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Pre-application questions about eligibility and/or the scientific categories can be directed to John Kersey at kerse001@umn.edu or 612-625-4659. Questions about technical aspects of the application process can be directed to Aaron Schilz at schil226@umn.edu or 612-624-0650.

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Application Instructions

(1) Research Plan: The plan for the Leukemia Research Fund application should include the following:

• Introduction
• Hypothesis/Specific Aims
• Preliminary Data
• Experimental Plan

This section is limited to a MAXIMUM OF THREE PAGES. Text should be typed in 12 point; the Arial font is preferred with right and left justification.

(2) References: Should not exceed one page maximum.

(3) Appendix: The Appendix is optional and should not exceed one page with no more than four tables and/or figures.

Note: The total of Text, References, and Appendix should not exceed five pages. Please concentrate on clarity and brevity.

Reminder: The above-mentioned pages should be saved as a pdf file for electronic submission along with the remaining items listed below.

(4) Budget Request: Itemize individual components and provide a justification for each.

(5) Biographical Sketch: Submit standard NIH biographical sketch.

(6) Grant Support: A complete description of current and pending federal and local grant support is necessary.

(8) PRF: A completed PRF signed by the applicant and his/her department head must accompany this application form. No signatures from the Deans of various colleges or Sponsored Projects Administration are necessary at this time. The PRF form is available through EGMS and can be converted to a .pdf file and added to the front of your application.

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Application Form

Applications for the Leukemia Research Fund Award use the PHS 398 forms, as follows:

1. Research Plan and References (use continuation page)
2. Biosketch
3. Other Support
4. Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period and Budget for Entire Proposed Project Period (use bottom half for budget justification; use continuation page if needed).

Appendix materials should be converted to .pdf, not to exceed one page.

The Proposal Routing Form (PRF) is available through EGMS (www.egms.umn.edu).

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS ONE .PDF FILE.

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