FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2016 METAvivor Research Grant

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2016 METAvivor Research Grant PROGRAM DESCRIPTION METAvivor Research and Support Inc. is a charitable organization whose mission includes funding research with the goal of ending death from metastatic breast cancer. The METAvivor Research Program was established in fiscal year 2009 to promote innovative research specifically aimed at eradicating death due to metastatic breast cancer by relegating it to a chronic manageable disease status. METAvivor is run by volunteers, most of whom are living with metastatic breast cancer.

AWARD DESCRIPTION METAvivor defines metastatic research as studies that specifically address the mechanistic understanding and treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Examples of proposed research include: Identification and characterization of metastasis genes and/or their regulation, novel molecular targets, development of treatment regimens, including immunotherapy, identification of biomarkers for metastatic breast cancer prognosis and treatment response, and, the development and characterization of novel animal models for metastatic breast cancer. Proposals must explicitly address metastatic breast cancer and have potential to impact patients currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Proposals solely focused on prevention of metastasis or diagnosis of metastasis will be administratively withdrawn and not further reviewed. The proposed research areas may be Basic, Clinical or Translational. Preference will be for research that will lead directly or conceptually to translational outcomes. It is expected that the proposed plan will present an exceptional level of knowledge and expertise. In preparing the proposal, please note we encourage the incorporation of experienced patient advocates in the application and review process for all of our grants.

ELIGIBILITY All individuals with a clinical doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., D.V.M., D.O) or with a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.Ph.), and actively engaged in areas of metastatic breast cancer research and treatment are eligible. Senior fellows (or equivalent) with more than three years of postdoctoral training in cancer research are also eligible to submit applications. Eligible candidates for an award must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence.

FUNDS AVAILABLE METAvivor research grants may be funded for one year with potential extension for an additional year. Each award given will be up to the amount of $40,000/year in direct costs (including salary, materials and supplies, and travel up to $1500) of which 5% may be in indirect costs. METAvivor funds cannot be used for purchase of equipment. Extension of funding for year two will be merited based on progress report submitted for year one

as well as budget justification for continuation of proposed research. Funding decision is expected to be made in October 2016.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND DATES Pre-application submission A .PDF file of the pre-application should include a cover page with the PI’s name and contact information and a one-page Letter of Intent (LOI) narrative briefly describing the research to be conducted. The LOI narrative will be administratively reviewed prior to peer review. Pre-application should be submitted via email to [email protected] before March 11, 2016. Pre-applications that are deemed to meet the METAvivor research goals will be invited to submit proposals. Invitations to submit proposals will be extended on or before April 8, 2016. Proposal submission Only invited proposals will be accepted for submission. The proposal should be submitted as a single PDF document Lastname_2016.pdf and sent as an attachment to [email protected]. Applications lacking all the required information in the correct format will be summarily rejected. Application is due by 11:59 PM ET on June 10, 2016.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Each proposal should contain the following components in the order prescribed. 1. Title Page (One page) Please provide your project title, name of the PI, address and contact information. If your proposal title is substantially different from the title submitted in the LOI, your application may not be accepted, unless METAvivor is notified of the title change. 2. Table of Contents (One page) Please provide a one page Table of Contents with page numbers. 3. Research Plan (Five page limit) The five page research plan includes the following sections: Background and Significance, Specific Aims, Preliminary Data and Research Design. Please provide appropriate detail of methods and materials in the Research Design section, address caveats/alternative approaches and include a brief plan that identifies critical milestones and technical solutions that will be implemented to accomplish the milestones. The Bibliography does not count toward the five page limit. If using vertebrate animals provide brief yet succinct information on experimental protocol including species, sex, strains and number of animals used. A detailed description of animal care and approval from the institutional animal welfare review board will be required prior to funding approval. If using human subjects or human anatomical substances, briefly but succinctly justify such use and describe the clinical protocol. A detailed description of the protocol and local IRB approval will be required prior to funding approval. Use Arial, Times New Roman or Helvetica typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 11 points or larger. A symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; the font size requirement still applies. The application must be single-sided, single paged, with one half-inch margins. All pages must be numbered and carry the name of the PI in the page header.

4. Pathway to “RO1” statement (One page limit) METAvivor research funds are raised through much hard work on the part of donors, metastatic patients, third party fundraising teams and METAvivor volunteers. We only aim to fund research projects that show substantial potential in moving the field of metastatic research towards our funding mission. Therefore, we would like the applicant to outline how the results from the METAvivor award will be leveraged to secure an R01-type grant. Please note that this criterion will be weighed equally with the scientific merit of the research proposal during the review process. Therefore, please be as specific as possible when advocating for your research idea. You can use preliminary data or figures to illustrate your plan. 5. Supporting Documents Please attach supporting documents in the following order: i. Budget METAvivor research grants will be funded for one year with potential extension for an additional year. Each award given will be up to the amount of $40,000/year in direct costs (including salary, materials and supplies, and travel up to $1500), of which 5% may be in indirect costs. METAvivor funds cannot be used for purchase of equipment. Although year 2 extension is contingent upon progress report submitted for year 1 as well as budget justification for continuation of proposed research, we request you submit a budget for both years if you plan to request extension. Please use the format below. BUDGET CATEGORY

INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD (YEAR 1)

ADDITIONAL BUDGET PERIOD (YEAR 2)

SALARY (Applicant organization only) MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TRAVEL (UP TO $1500) Indirect Costs (F&A) (Cannot exceed 5% of total grant fund i.e. $2000) Total Costs Total costs for entire proposed period $ Please justify and indicate compensation if any to collaborators or consultants:

ii. Public Abstract (One page limit) The Public Abstract is NOT the Scientific Abstract. The purpose of the public abstract is to convey the science to the general public, particularly the METAvivor patient, support and advocate community. Using language readily understood by the lay person, clearly address the rationale and goal of the research proposal. Where appropriate, explain the potential clinical applications, benefit and caveats for stage IV metastatic breast cancer treatment and management. If the research is basic, explain the interim outcomes and how the research is

significant to persons with breast cancer metastasis. Please keep in mind that the public abstract will be published on the METAvivor web site if the grant is awarded. iii. Scientific Abstract (One page limit) The Scientific Abstract is NOT the Public Abstract. Using technical terms, briefly state the Background, Hypothesis, Specific Aims, Study Design, and Potential Impact of this research proposal in regard to advancing the field of Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer Research. iv. Biographical Sketch (Four page limit) Clearly name the biosketch file with Principal Investigator’s last name and save the file as a .PDF.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS The following additional documents may be required prior to funding approval: 1. Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk All research involving human subjects, human anatomical substances and/or human data must follow the rules and recommendations of the local Institutional Review Board (IRB). Documents attesting to approval of the clinical protocol by the local IRB will be requested by METAvivor at the time of funding. It is therefore advisable to submit the protocol for IRB review prior to funding approval. 2. Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research A document detailing use of vertebrate animals in the research proposal along with approval of the protocol by the institutional Animal Welfare board will be required prior to funding approval. The document should 1) justify use of animals as described in the research proposal, including strain, number and sex of the animals; and 2) provide detailed information on the veterinary care of the animals used, including procedures used to minimize discomfort and pain, and methods of euthanasia in accordance to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia. 3. Letters of Recommendation If the PI is a senior postdoctoral or clinical fellow, submit two letters of recommendation including one from the mentor. All recommendation letters should be submitted directly from the recommending individual via email to [email protected] and submitted no later than June 24, 2016. Letters should include name of applicant and title of the research proposal.

CONTACT For more information write to [email protected].