Innovation pilots
1-2 projects per MCC research program will be selected.
These are typically submitted by a singular PI, but collaborative team inclusions are highly recommended.
Cancer Prevention & Control
- Used to support a discrete, specified hypothesis-driven research project from a CCSG-eligible member. Other team members may include non-CCSG-eligible members.
- Projects should be focused on addressing cancer prevention and control, including but not limited to: identifying cancer risks, testing novel interventions, health policy research, implementation and dissemination research, supportive care, and cancer survivorship research.
- Total project period may not exceed one year.
- Budget may not exceed $75,000.
- Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.
Developmental Therapeutics
- Used to support a discrete, specified hypothesis-driven research project from a CCSG-eligible member. Other team members may include non-CCSG-eligible members.
- Projects should address the development of innovative strategies for cancer treatment (including but not limited to): identifying and developing novel compounds to probe therapeutic targets and/or corresponding aberrant signal transduction pathways; validating compounds in vivo in preparation for clinical implementation; investigating mechanisms of actions of and resistance to both novel and existing targeted or immunologic agents.
- Studies focusing on a) design and synthesis of novel compounds using structure-based drug design or HTS, b) performing hit-to-lead optimization and structure activity relationship studies, c) using the compounds to probe aberrant cellular pathways in tumor cells, and d) studying mechanism by which these chemical probes affect proliferation, survival, invasion and other hallmarks of cancer in cell culture, patient-derived organoids and xenografts are highly encouraged.
- Similarly Studies focusing on cancer immunology, or cancer immunotherapy with the goal of a) developing novel biologics to treat cancer, a) identifying essential pathways for survival, invasion or metastasis and tumor interactions with stromal cells or on immune cells leading to the development of biologic agents including, but not limited to, antibodies, anticancer peptides or vaccines, CAR-T and other cell therapies, therapeutic viruses, immunomodulators, are highly encouraged.
- Total project period may not exceed one year.
- Budget may not exceed $75,000.
- Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.
Cancer Biology
- Used to support a discrete, specified hypothesis-driven research project from a CCSG-eligible member. Other team members may include non-CCSG-eligible members.
- Projects should be focused on the development of new insights across the hallmarks of cancer biology (including but not limited to): identifying and characterizing the alterations in key signaling networks that drive cancer development and progression; deciphering the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer formation and progression; investigating the molecular mechanisms governing the complex interactions between cancer cells and their immune and stromal microenvironment.
- Total project period may not exceed one year.
- Budget may not exceed $75,000.
- Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.
Statewide collaboration projects
1-2 projects to be funded
- Mechanism to support statewide collaborations between VCU/MCC and other Virginia-based, higher education institutions who will provide a confirmed 1:1 dollar match (institutions eligible may include: UVA, Virginia Tech, EVMS, VSU, Hampton, Norfolk State University, and others).
- Used to support collaborative projects between VCU/MCC and other Virginia-based higher education institution faculty investigators interested in collaborative cancer research. Applications should have MPIs; both MPIs should be comparable and both MPIs must contribute to the overall project in similar magnitude. Budgets from each institution must be comparable. Projects not meeting these guidelines will not pass administrative review or be scientifically reviewed.
- Total project period may not exceed 2 years.
- Combined budget for direct costs for the total project period may not exceed $150,000 (VCU will provide up to $75,000 to support VCU-related costs, and the partner institution will provide a dollar for dollar match for their institution-related costs).
- Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.