Faculty Research Development Program

• Must be an assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University
• Assistant Professor faculty who receives startup funding and/or pilot funding from Massey (effective January 1, 2024) are required to participate in the FRDP as a stipulation of continued Massey funding.
• Must be a Massey Research Member or a Massey Associate Member

Learn more about Massey research membership criteria and benefits

Program expectations

• Participants are expected to participate for a minimum of three years, but may continue until they obtain peer-reviewed funding and/or promotion as long as they remain active in the program.
• Early-stage cancer investigators will be paired with a senior Massey Research Member who will serve as their mentor for the duration of the program. Participants may request a specific mentor, but they must be approved. Participants may have multiple mentors.
• The mentor and mentee will be required to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with clearly defined milestones and timelines for achieving research and career goals.
• Mentoring pairs are expected to meet at least quarterly.
• The mentor and mentee will participate in an annual evaluation and assessment of their relationship as well as the mentee’s progress.
• Mentees are expected to participate in monthly FRDP-sponsored engagements (at least 75% attendance is required); clinical investigators will be expected to participate in the monthly Massey-sponsored Clinical Trials Boot Camp.
• Mentees are also expected to participate in Massey-sponsored research program meetings, seminars, symposia and retreats.

Participant outcomes

• Personalized research and development plan to lead to a tenure/promotion track and/or becoming independently funded on an NIH grant
• Proposal development skills and hands on assistant in developing a minimum of one research grant submission
• Mentor-mentee professional relationship and cancer center networking to help further research collaborations

Individual development plan

• The IDP will define career and research development plans to be achieved through team mentoring.

FRDP monthly engagements

• The Office of Cancer Research Training and Education (CRTEC) will develop and deliver interactive monthly engagements for FRDP participation. Topics will cover required skill sets and training for early-stage cancer investigators to become proficient in identifying, writing and submitting grant proposals and scientific manuscripts. In addition, faculty mentorship workshops, mock presentation opportunities and other career development opportunities will be available. Massey funded clinical investigators are required to participate in the Clinical Trials Boot Camp (more information below).

Clinical Trials Boot Camp

• The Clinical Trials Boot Camp is a year-long engagement providing early clinician scientists with best practices for developing and conducting clinical trials. An introduction and overview of Massey’s Clinical Trials Office and expectations for clinical trials within an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will be provided. In addition, an orientation to VCU and VCU Health-specific processes and support services for clinical trials operations, networking opportunities and pathways for developing translational initiatives with other Massey scientists will be offered.

Office of Research Development services

• Mentees in the FRDP get priority access to the Office of Research Development in the development of a grant application.

Mock study section

• The FRDP will organize a mock review of grant applications by mentees twice a year.

Travel scholarships

• FRDP mentees will have access to Massey-sponsored travel awards to attend professional meetings.