The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the American Association for Cancer Research are pleased to announce the opening of the 2012 research grants program on Sept. 1, 2011.

The program is administered using the AACR's rigorous peer-review process to ensure that the highest quality cancer science and medicine are supported by the important funds raised by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

This grants program is designed to help incubate innovative research projects, increase the number of researchers directly working on pancreatic cancer, nurture collaborations across disciplines and institutions and expedite scientific progress for patient benefit.

In addition to receiving financial support for their research, grantees will participate in a mentorship program that connects them with leading scientists in the cancer field and facilitates their ongoing professional development opportunities.

"We are thrilled to offer more than $3.1 million in research funding for the 2012 research grants program. This is the largest funding level since 2003, when we introduced the program," stated Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

"Previous grant recipients have successfully leveraged the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's research investment, allowing them to expand their scientific investigations and take the next steps in pursuing medical breakthroughs for pancreatic cancer. In fact, for every dollar that we spend, grantees have received an average of $8.61 in additional research funding."

"Pancreatic cancer is a very challenging disease with significant morbidity and mortality, and one that urgently requires innovative research to improve clinical outcomes," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research."The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a remarkable organization that has a track record of addressing this challenge through its funding of cutting-edge scientific research, and the AACR is very proud to be of assistance in this quest."

Applications will be accepted for the following four grant mechanisms:

Pathway to Leadership Grant
The Pathway to Leadership Grant is designed to build future leaders in the pancreatic cancer research community by supporting a promising early-career scientist in his/her postdoctoral position through the transition to research independence. Applicants must have started their postdoctoral or clinical research fellowships on or after July 2, 2007 (i.e., must be in the first five years of a fellowship at the start of the grant term). The Pathway to Leadership Grant provides up to five years of support, totaling $600,000.

Fellowship
The Fellowship supports an early-career scientist during the mentored research phase. Applicants must have started their postdoctoral or clinical research fellowships on or after July 2, 2009 (i.e., must be in the first three years of a fellowship at the start of the grant term). The Fellowship is a one-year grant, totaling $45,000.

Career Development Award
The Career Development Award supports newly independent investigators to develop or strengthen their research programs in pancreatic cancer. Applicants must be in the first four years of a full-time faculty appointment at the start of the grant term (i.e., cannot have had a full-time faculty appointment before July 2, 2008). This is a two-year grant, totaling $200,000.

Innovative Grant
The Innovative Grant supports creative and cutting-edge ideas and approaches, including those successful in other areas of cancer that have justifiable promise in pancreatic cancer research. This two-year grant totals $200,000 and is available to independent junior or senior investigators.

The deadline for Letters of Intent for the Innovative Grant is Oct. 3, 2011. Applications for the Pathway to Leadership Grant, Fellowship and Career Development Award are due Oct. 31, 2011. Submissions must be completed online using the proposalCENTRAL website.

Funding decisions will be announced in March 2012. The grant terms begin July 1, 2012.

Since the collaboration with the AACR began in 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has awarded 66 grants, totaling more than $10 million for meritorious pancreatic cancer research. 

Source: AACR