AACR-Bayer Stimulating Therapeutic Advancements through Research Training (START) Grants
Significant advances made in recent years towards precision medicine initiatives, biomarker and novel target identification, and high-throughput examination of genomic data, have resulted in a wealth of valuable data that can inform the development of new therapeutics to combat cancer. However, to effectively harness this information and advance the discovery and development of new therapies for cancer patients, enhanced collaboration between academia and industry is necessary.
The AACR-Bayer Stimulating Therapeutic Advancements through Research Training (START) Grants represent a new initiative to encourage and support such collaboration. The grants will provide support to postdoctoral or clinical research fellows and combine research experiences in both an academic and industry setting, following a research timeline that will be of greatest benefit to the proposed work. The training provided will enable fellows to attain a comprehensive research experience that will make them highly desirable to potential employers in either academic research or the pharmaceutical industry. Likewise, academic research centres and industry will benefit from the introduction of such dual-trained individuals into the field.
Research projects may be translational or clinical in nature and must have direct applicability and relevance to clinical translation and development in solid tumours and haematologic malignancies. Proposals focused on clinical research are highly encouraged. The applicant should also define specific milestones and goals to be accomplished during each year of the fellowship, emphasising how the experience in industry is expected to complement the time spent in academia.
Each fellowship provides a three-year grant worth $225,000 to support the salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored cancer research project. Applicants must plan to spend one year on site at a Bayer facility. One of a number of Bayer’s locations are possible, at the discretion of Bayer. The year at Bayer will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and will be at a time agreed upon by the fellow, the academic supervisor, the Bayer mentor, and Bayer.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree. At the start of the grant term, applicants must hold a full-time, mentored research position with the title of postdoctoral fellow, clinical research fellow, or the equivalent. This position must have been held for at least one, but not more than three years. They must also have completed their most recent doctoral degree within the past one to three years, and work under the auspices of a mentor at an academic, medical, or research institution in the United States.
There are no citizenship requirements but, by submitting an application for this grant, an applicant who is not a US citizen or a permanent resident assures that their visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term within the United States.
AACR membership is required. Non-members interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR Associate Membership by the deadline.
Online applications must be made by the 26 May 2020 deadline.
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.