2023 AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grant

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

• 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.
• Applicants must be AACR Active members. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR Active membership by the Competitive Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline. 
• Investigators may submit only one letter of intent for the AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grant but may concurrently apply for other AACR grants. However, applicants are expected to accept the first grant they are awarded.
• Current AACR Grantees may apply if their current grant ends before the start of the grant term of this funding opportunity (December 1, 2023) and must be up to date with all reporting requirements to be considered eligible.
• Multiple applications for the AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grant or AACR-Novocure Career Development Award for Cancer Research may be submitted from the same institution as long as the applicants are not collaborators on an active grant.
• There are no citizenship requirements; however, by submitting an application for this grant, an applicant applying from an institution located in a country in which they are not a citizen or a permanent resident assures that the visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term at the institution from which they applied.
• Employees or subcontractors of a U.S. government entity or for-profit private industry are not eligible (but may serve as collaborators, and no grant funds may be directed toward these individuals).
• Postdoctoral or clinical research fellows or the equivalent who are working under the auspices of a scientific mentor are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Research Projects

Research proposals must incorporate the Inovitro® system into the experimental design. For grant recipients who are affiliated with institutions that do not currently hold a Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA) with Novocure for use of its devices, Novocure will provide this system to complete the research.

Research projects should examine the use of TTFields as a therapeutic modality for cancer. Proposals may include 1) Basic and translational approaches, promoting the transition of TTFields in vitro work into in vivo systems, 2) Studies that link preclinical and clinical data, or 3) Studies with ability to translate into the clinic for the treatment of cancer. Projects focused on one or more of the areas outlined below are strongly encouraged:

• Key cancer-related signaling and cellular pathways
• Metabolic effects of TTFields
• Studies that include Omics data (genomics, transcriptomic, proteomics)
• TTFields immunological aspects and the potential combination with immunotherapy
• Combinational studies with approved agents, preferably to include mechanistic aspects

Summary

The AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grants represent a joint effort to promote and support independent investigators who are currently conducting innovative research focused on Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; intermediate frequency, low intensity, alternating electric fields that disrupt cell division in cancer cells) as well as to encourage independent investigators to enter the TTFields research field. The Inovitro® system (which will be provided by Novocure, if needed), must be included in the experimental design. These grants are intended to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of this novel anti-cancer treatment modality and to accelerate the development of new treatment strategies to advance therapeutic options for cancer. The research proposed for funding may be basic or translational in nature; however, studies promoting the transition of in vitro work into in vivo systems, combination therapies involving TTFields, or translational projects bringing treatments involving TTFields into the clinic will be prioritized.

Each grant provides $350,000 over three years for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient and any collaborators, postdoctoral or clinical research fellows, graduate students and/or research assistants; research/laboratory supplies; equipment; travel; publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project; other research expenses; and indirect costs. (*Note that inter-laboratory collaboration is encouraged, particularly for applicants new to TTFields research.). In addition, training on the use of Inovitro® system will be provided by Novocure, if needed.

The AACR requires applicants to complete an online Letter of Intent submission by 1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, using the ProposalCentral website at https://proposalcentral.com. Letters of Intent submissions require aninstitutional signature page in order to be considered, and thus must be submitted for research services approval via RMS.

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all guidelines and instructions carefully before submitting a Letter of Intent.

Overhead

10% of total direct costs.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

About the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. The AACR has more than 54,000 members in 130 countries and territories around the world; 32% percent of members live outside the United States. Twenty-two percent of AACR’s international members are located in countries with emerging economies. The AACR offers seven categories of membership to support each aspect of our members' professional development and enhancement in cancer research. In support of the professional development of early-career investigators, no annual dues are required for Associate membership. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 22,500 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes ten prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

About Novacure

Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer by developing and commercializing its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Tumor Treating Fields is a cancer therapy that uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt solid tumor cancer cell division. Novocure’s commercialized product is approved for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma. Novocure has ongoing or completed clinical trials investigating Tumor Treating Fields in mesothelioma, brain metastases, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and liver cancer.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Novocure has U.S. operations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Malvern, Pennsylvania and New York City. Additionally, the company has offices in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit www.novocure.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/novocure.