2023 LLS Translational Research Program (TRP)

Descriptions

Opportunity link:

Opportunity type:

Grant

Sponsor:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Award amount and duration:

$750,000 over 3 years

Currency:

USD

Eligibility

Type:

Faculty

Citizenship

The program welcomes applications worldwide from appropriate academic institutions and investigators of any nationality.

Degree

Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent degree.

Leadership and Staffing

The Application will require one Principal Investigator who is responsible for the preparation and submission of the proposal including budget, the conduct of the research programs, and adherence with all stipulations made by LLS in this document, the Policies & Procedures document, and in the Funding Agreement, if funded.

The Principal Investigator (PI):

MUST be a person (companies or institutions are not eligible)
MUST be an independent investigator, defined as a scientist who has dedicated laboratory space, directly hires, and supervises laboratory personnel (technicians, graduate students, postdocs, and staff scientists), and makes all decisions concerning research activities and use of the grant funds
MUST be an established investigator, defined as a researcher with more than 3 years in an independent faculty appointment
May only submit one application per application cycle per grant program provided the aims differ
CAN serve as a Collaborator on other applications provided the aims differ
If the applicant can demonstrate a significant track record in malignant hematology and/or blood cancer research, a Co-PI may strengthen the proposal but is not required
If the applicant has scientific achievements and significant expertise in another scientific area and no track record in blood cancer research, he or she MUST have a Co-Principal Investigator who has the required significant track record in hematology and/or blood cancer research

A Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI):

MUST be a person (companies or institutions are not eligible)
MUST be an independent investigator with an independent appointment
If the PI has the necessary track record in blood cancer research, a Co-PI may strengthen the proposal but is not required
If the PI has no expertise or proven track record in any of the blood cancers, an expert Co-PI is REQUIRED
May only submit one application per application cycle per grant program provided the aims differ
CAN serve as a Collaborator on other applications provided the aims differ
MUST be designated at the LOI phase detailing the nature and extent of the scientific interaction
At least one research aim of the proposal fully depends on their expertise, typically performed in their laboratory and/or facility

Scientific Staff/Collaborators/Other Key Personnel:

MUST be a person (companies or institutions are not eligible)
May strengthen the work proposed but is not required
May provide expert insight, guidance, or feedback on research progress
May be included on different projects or programs provided the aims differ

Not eligible to apply for a grant in this program:

Predoctoral scientists or postdoctoral fellows

Relevance

The proposed research should be clinically directed or clinically translatable in hematologic malignancies that is intended to develop innovative approaches to treatment, diagnosis, or prevention.

Summary

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Inc. (LLS) is a voluntary health agency dedicated to the conquest of hematologic malignancies and relevant premalignant conditions. LLS supports research, patient aid, community service programs, advocacy, and public and professional education.

The Translational Research Program (TRP) was formed to enhance the transfer of basic research findings to clinical usefulness. Applications are sought that propose novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of hematological malignancies and related pre-malignant conditions. Proposals should be based on molecular, cellular, or integrated systems findings and be conceptually innovative. The application should have a clear plan for the eventual clinical translation of the studies proposed and the results expected. This feature will be an important consideration of the review process.

Special Topics of Interest: Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)

LLS is calling applicant’s attention to one specialized focused subsection of the TRP program. This program will receive preferential funding as a mechanism to drive for further clinical development of novel agents to improve outcomes for patients. LLS invites innovative and ambitious proposals that can lead to better treatments and cures for Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). In particular, the goals of MCL are to better understand and develop therapeutic approaches for relapsed MCL. However, novel work focused on early disease intervention or improved risk stratification is of interest. LLS calls for the submission of creative proposals with the potential for high impact in MCL. Applications should address both transformative issues in MCL biology and promising new directions in MCL therapy.

General Topics of Particular Interest

1. Personalized medicine approach for cancer treatment. Advances in cancer care have significantly improved lives of patients with hematologic diseases such as CLL, CML, Hodgkin Lymphomas, MM, and ALL. LLS believes that, with time, cures can be achieved for certain diseases or subtypes of diseases. Therefore, LLS will continue to support research that may revolutionize cancer care for any hematologic disease including the use of state-of-the-art technologies for molecular profiling, novel target identification, prognostic/predictive biomarkers that can be associated with patient selection and development of liquid biopsy technology.

2. Development of novel therapies and/or novel therapeutic strategies including those that target mutational and epigenetic events both in the tumor cells and within the microenvironment. Such therapies can be applicable to any hematologic malignancies, but emphasis is warranted in the following areas:

Aggressive subtypes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma including but not limited to DLBCL, tFL, MCL, PTCL, and ALCL
Indolent lymphoma, including but not limited to: CLL, FL, WM (therapies with the potential to provide significant extension of lives of patients or total disease control in defined subtypes)
Myeloid disorders including MPN/MDS/AML as well as lymphoid disorders such as ALL
Multiple Myeloma and pre-emergent conditions
LLS is especially interested in novel immunotherapy approaches and understanding novel immune synapses relevant to blood cancers.

3. Improvements in the safety and efficacy of stem cell transplantation

4. Long-term outcome assessment following therapies

5. Pediatric research. LLS recognizes that new, precision medicine and immunotherapies are needed to improve outcomes for pediatric blood cancers. The goal is to develop curative therapies that have reduced long-term complications compared to current cytotoxic therapies. Research may focus on pediatric leukemias, lymphomas, as well as other pediatric blood cancers such as Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis. We encourage research applications attempting to justify and explore novel therapies for pediatric blood cancers, especially those that uniquely target mutations found in pediatric cancers.

6. Cancer Cell/Microenvironment. Progress in understanding neoplastic stem cell growth and differentiation as well as cancer cell/microenvironment interactions especially with translation to novel therapies.

Application Submission

The application process will be completed in two-stages:

1. Letter of Intent. Each applicant must submit their LOI by October 20, 2023, at 3:00 pm ET via the LLS Research Portal. After clicking the “Submit” button, the applicant will receive an automated email within 2 business days stating that your information was successfully submitted. If you do not receive the email confirmation within two business days, contact researchprograms@lls.org.

LLS Changes Policy: Information collected in the LOI will automatically populate fields in the full application. Once submitted, changes may only be made after receiving prior approval from LLS. The applicant must email LLS (researchprograms@lls.org) requesting any change and identifying the elements to be changed. Any changes made without the prior approval of LLS may result in the disqualification of the application.

To ensure the accuracy of the information given in your LOI, applicants are strongly encouraged obtain institutional approval from the University of Calgary prior to submitting their LOI to the sponsor. Initiate required University of Calgary internal approvals by completing a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS (https://my.rms.ucalgary.ca/)/.

2. Full Application. Applicants will be notified via an automated email whether they are invited to submit a full application or whether their LOI was declined. If the applicant is invited to submit a full application, immediate access to the full application phase is enabled in the research portal. Applicants invited to submit full applications should email Chantal Lemire (chantal.lemire@ucalgary.ca) for additional information on the next stage of this competition.

Full Applications require RSO review and institutional approval from the University of Calgary prior to submission. University of Calgary internal approvals are obtained via RMS (https://my.rms.ucalgary.ca/)/.

Overhead

10% of total costs.

Deadlines

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Type:

LOI

Date:

October 17, 2023 - 12:00 PM

Pre-application program deadline

Date:

October 20, 2023 - 1:00 PM

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

Date:

January 5, 2024 - 12:00 PM

RSO final internal review deadline

Date:

January 16, 2024 - 12:00 PM

Program application deadline

Date:

January 19, 2024 - 1:00 PM

Approvals

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.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via RMS 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.