Purpose
Funds from the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) are available to support the research of full-time faculty who qualify as a New Investigator (as defined below) in developing and advancing their careers and cancer research projects. This funding mechanism aims to facilitate cancer research that will generate preliminary data essential for developing and submitting a competitive NIH R01 proposal.
Eligible Applicants
- Full-time faculty who are LCRC members (Full and Associate)
- Have not yet received their first NIH R01 grants and are within the first 10 years after earning their terminal degree
- Must hold a position at their institution that allows them to conduct independent research projects
- Members who hold leadership roles in the LCRC or their home institutions are not eligible
- Investigators who have received a previous LCRC New Investigator award are not eligible. Those who have successfully completed their New Investigator Award are encouraged to apply for Seed Funding
- Postdoctoral researchers who are transitioning to a faculty position at an LCRC partner institution are eligible to apply. Eligibility requires either a formal offer for a faculty appointment or written confirmation from the department head stating that the applicant will be appointed to a faculty position by a specified date, regardless of the outcome of the LCRC funding application. Documentation supporting the timeline and commitment must be included in the application.
Budget Information
· Direct costs may not exceed $50,000 (indirect costs are not allowed).
· Funds may be used for salaries of research personnel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. Faculty effort/salary support is permitted, up to $10,000, if justified or required by the PI’s institution (academic “buyout”). Tuition reimbursement is not allowable.
· The award period begins after January 1, 2026, and may not exceed one year.
Application Instructions
All funding applications must include each of the following components to be considered for review, unless specified below:
Research Proposal
· Abstract (300 words or less)
· Lay Description
· Research Plan (4 pages maximum)
- Specific Aims
- Background/Significance
- Relevance to our catchment area (Louisiana/Gulf South)
- Description of translational or inter-programmatic component(s)
- Research Strategy
- Brief Description of Future Plans, Including Potential for acquiring Extramural Funding
· Budget (1 page)
· Budget Justification (1 page)
· NIH BioSketch
Supplemental information or appendices will not be accepted
Letter of Support - Mentor
A Letter of Support from the mentor must be included in the application packet attesting to the mentor’s commitment to the success of the applicant’s project.
Letter of Support – Chair/Chief
A Letter of Support from the applicant’s chair/chief must be included in the application packet attesting to the chair/chief’s commitment to supporting the applicant’s proposal and attesting that the applicant has the institutional support with enough time for research to undertake the project.
Review Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Likelihood of the funding to lead to a long-term contribution of the PI to the LCRC research programs.
- Impact and Significance to Cancer, including relevance to catchment area needs
- Scientific rigor and feasibility (equal weight to the potential for funding success)
- Expertise of the investigator
- Clear plan for future proposal submissions; potential for translating into successful external funding applications
- Alignment with LCRC Research Programs (Cancer Biology, Genes X Environment, Translational Oncology (including clinical science and clinical trials access), Population Science (including cancer epidemiology and engagement with the community)
- Institutional support/protected time confirmed by dept. chair or equivalent
- Mentor commitment
Additionally, the robustness of the mentoring plan will be evaluated separately.
Applicants are encouraged to make note of their plans to use LCRC shared resources and to highlight if there will be inter-programmatic and/or inter-institutional collaboration.
Purpose
The Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) will offer seed grants to support pilot projects for its members. Below are suggested research focus areas. The LCRC's goal is to enhance cancer research capacity, which requires the development of collaborative research projects in thematic focus areas.
Eligible Applicants
- Active Cancer Center Members (Full and Associate)
- May have one PI or multiple PIs with justification
- Must be a new project not supported by existing extramural funding or internal seed grant, or supplement funding
- Members of LCRC leadership are not eligible
- Recipients of previous round Seed Awards are not eligible
- New Investigator Award recipients are encouraged to apply
- Limit of one application per PI
Budget Information
· Direct costs may not exceed $50,000 (indirect costs are not allowed).
· Funds may be used for salaries of research personnel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. Faculty effort/salary support is permitted, up to $10,000, if justified or required by the PI’s institution (academic “buyout”). Tuition reimbursement is not allowable.
· The award period begins after January 1, 2026, and may not exceed one year. A second year of funding may be available, provided there is evidence of significant progress.
Application Instructions
Research Proposal
· Abstract (300 words or less)
· Lay Description (300 words or less)
· Research Plan (5 pages maximum)
- Specific Aims
- Background/Significance
- Relevance to our catchment area (Louisiana/Gulf South)
- Description of translational or inter-programmatic component(s)
- Research Strategy
- Brief Description of Future Plans, including potential for acquiring extramural funding
· Budget (1 page)
· Budget Justification (1 page)
· Literature Cited
· NIH Biosketch
Supplemental information or appendices will not be accepted
Review Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on their overall impact, potential to attract future external funding, the investigator's expertise, and alignment with the LCRC’s research programs. Reviewers will consider the following factors to assess the project's merit comprehensively:
· Alignment with Research Program Aims
- Cancer Biology
- Genes X Environment
- Translational Oncology (including clinical science and clinical trials access)
- Population Sciences (including cancer epidemiology and engagement with the community)
· Potential for translating into successful external funding applications
· Scientific rigor and feasibility
· Expertise of the investigator
· Relevance to the needs of the catchment area
Upon completion of your award, please submit a final report within 45 days.
Please use this form to submit your progress for your Seed Award. The progress report should be no more than 3 pages.
Use this form to request a second year of funding of up to $50,000. Please submit a progress report, a supplemental research plan, and a budget along with its justification.
Eligible Applicants
- Active Cancer Center Members
- Must be an LCRC Seed or Strategic Investment Award recipient
- Must be a continuation of the originally funded project and may not be supported by existing extramural funding or internal seed grant, or supplement funding
Budget Information
Direct costs may not exceed $50,000 (indirect costs are not allowed).
Funds may be used for salaries of research personnel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. Faculty effort/salary support is permitted, up to $10,000, if justified or required by the PI’s institution (academic “buyout”). Tuition reimbursement is not allowable.
Application Instructions
Research Proposal
Supplemental Research Plan (4 pages maximum)
- Updated AIMS
- How will the additional year build on the research conducted during the first phase of the award
- Relevance to our catchment area (Louisiana/Gulf South)
- Description of translational or inter-programmatic component(s)
- Research Strategy
- Brief Description of Future Plans, Including Potential for acquiring Extramural Funding
· Budget (1 page)
· Budget Justification (1 page)