Gibbs Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Pilot Grant Program Announced

UofL Health Brown Cancer Center

Gibbs Pancreatic Cancer Research Center Pilot Project Program

Request for Proposals 

This Pancreatic Cancer Pilot Grant Program is funded through the Gibbs Pancreatic Cancer Research Center (GPCRC). The program’s primary objective is to identify and support impactful basic, translational and/or clinical research pilot projects aimed at developing innovative therapeutic strategies to treat pancreatic cancer and increase the numbers/impact of trials targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). All types of PDAC-focused research project applications are welcome but clinical trial projects must be focused on phase 1 studies that are first-in-human, and not, larger, phase 2/3 trials. It is expected that these developmental projects will lead to R21, R01 or other competitive federal grant submissions within 3 years. Select, highly impactful projects may be considered for an additional 2nd year of funding at the GPCRC Directors’ discretion.

Applicants must be University of Louisville faculty members but do not need to be members of the BCC at the time of application (although it is preferred – please email Ashley Curry for membership information: ). Applicants may be at any stage in their career so long as they are initiating new research efforts in pancreatic cancer, and new collaborative projects between laboratory and clinical investigators are especially encouraged. Existing grant support is not a deterrent to this funding, but simultaneous funding for the same project is not allowed.

Pilot Projects will be awarded funding for one year (with a possibility for one-year extensions under certain circumstances), with a total budget of $50,000 in direct costs. Grants will be awarded through the BCC; thus, no overhead will be charged. In this cycle, up to 5 grants will be funded.

There are two phases to the application process: (1) a one-page pre-proposal, and (2) a full proposal, invited by the Steering Committee upon review of the pre-proposals.

Pre-Proposal

Pre-proposals cannot be more than 1 page, and should outline specific aims, objectives, and significance of the research. Pre-proposals should be prepared using 1” margins and font size of no smaller than 11. Please submit pre-proposals by Monday, July 15th, 2024, to David Lian ().

Full Proposal (by invitation only following positive review of pre-proposal)

A full proposal must be submitted in the NIH R21 application format with the addition of a detailed budget (not modular) and the addition of pending and current support to the NIH Biosketches. Submit your proposal AS ONE SINGLE PDF by close of business Friday, August 19th, 2024 to David Lian (). Full guidelines will be provided following review of the pre-proposals.

Full applications will be reviewed by the experts in the field, and reviews will be completed within 2 weeks.  Selected applications will then be reviewed/approved by the GPCRC Steering Committee for notification and funding to begin on September 1st, 2024. 

Upon funding, recipients will receive an account from the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA). The BCC Business Office will administer the grant. Use of these funds is restricted to support of research activities, including technical support, supplies, animal costs, and minor equipment (<$1,000). At least 1% faculty support is required for each investigator. Progress reports will be due annually.  Additional details regarding the format and information required for these progress reports would be forthcoming.

In all instances, regulatory approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC, IBC) are the responsibility of the applicant. No grant will be funded unless all valid, applicable approval letters have been submitted by the time of funding to the GPCRC Program Coordinator, David Lian.

Timeline

Call for Proposals – Monday, July 1st, 2024
Pre-Proposal Submission Deadline – Monday, July 15th, 2024
Request for Full Proposals – Monday, July 22nd, 2024
Full Proposals Due – Friday, August 19th, 2024
Notification of Awardees – Sept 1, 2024
Pilot Project Start Date – Sept 1, 2024