Komen Tissue Bank Opens New Challenge

The Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center (Komen Tissue Bank, or KTB) is a one-of-a-kind biorepository containing breast tissue and blood products from donors that show no evidence of breast cancer at the time of donation. Since 2007, over 8,000 women have donated their blood or tissue.

Within the framework of the ‘Komen Tissue Bank Challenge: Using Normal Tissue to Fight Breast Cancer’, funding is available for the best ideas in innovative research using samples or data derived from the Komen Tissue Bank. Examples of research questions that would be appropriate for the KTB Challenge include, but are not limited to:

Are there changes that take place in the normal breast, including the microenvironment, that increase the risk of developing metastatic breast cancer?

How do established risk factors (eg obesity or alcohol consumption) impact normal breast biology and contribute to breast cancer development?

How do gene mutations shared between family members (eg mothers and daughters) influence breast cancer development?

How do environmental or socio-economic factors contribute to disparities in breast cancer risk?

Are there unique characteristics in the breast tissue of women who never develop breast cancer?

Applications may be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI). Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) are not allowed, however collaborators or co-investigators are permitted. The PI must have a doctoral degree, including MD, PhD, Dr.PH, DO, or equivalent and hold a full-time faculty appointment with an accredited institution.

The applicant is not required to be a United States citizen or resident.

The research must be carried out at a non-profit institution or organisation, which may be based anywhere in the world.

The grant has a value of up to $200,000 for up to two years.

Application submission is a two-step process. Firstly, a Letter of Intent (LoI) must be submitted by the deadline of 25 September 2019.

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.