PURPOSE: For the implementation of Comprehensive
Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnerships between
Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and NCI-designated
Cancer Centers (or groups of Centers) in order to develop
a stronger national cancer program aimed at understanding
the reasons behind the significant cancer disparities
and impact on minority populations.
ELIGIBILITY: Applications will only be accepted
from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) either in
the United States or in territories under U.S. jurisdiction,
and from institutions that are NCI-designated Cancer
Centers or from other institutions that can demonstrate
organized, highly integrated research efforts focused
on cancer. Both MSIs with medical schools and MSIs with
more focused research and education programs (e.g.,
Masters, and Ph.D. programs) are invited to participate
in this initiative. MSIs that offer only baccalaureate
degrees, and Tribal Institutions (e.g., Colleges) are
encouraged to participate in this initiative as full
collaborators, especially in the development of educational
programs aimed at motivating students to enter careers
in cancer research.
PROGRAM: The U54 Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer
Center Partnership must be based on extensive planning
and priority setting activities and must achieve goals
that are of clear mutual benefit. The partnership activities
must be predominantly focused on cancer research and
one or more of the following targeted program areas:
cancer training and career development, cancer education
or cancer outreach to minority communities. Applicants
are expected to work toward the following objectives:
1). Build and stabilize independent, competitive cancer
research projects and cancer research training and career
development programs at MSIs; 2). Create stable, long-term
collaborative relationships between MSIs and Cancer
Centers in the areas of cancer research, cancer training
and career development, cancer education and/or cancer
outreach that increase the emphasis on problems and
issues relevant to the disproportionate cancer incidence
and mortality in minority populations; 3). Improve the
effectiveness of the Cancer Center research, training
and career development, cancer education and cancer
outreach activities specifically designed to benefit
minority populations in the region the Cancer Center
serves; 4). Export successful approaches in addressing
disproportionate cancer burden in minority populations
to other MSIs, Cancer Centers, and key networks supported
by the NCI (e.g., Cancer Genetics Network, Clinical
Cooperative Groups, Early Detection Research Network,
and the Special Populations Network).
SUPPORT: The U54 will provide support for: 1.
Administrative costs (not to exceed 20% of the total
direct costs per year) for managing the partnership,
such as salaries for key personnel; equipment and supplies
to support an administrative structure. 2. Planning
and Evaluation may include the costs for travel for
internal and external activities (key personnel; travel
and per diem for Program Steering Committee members,
workshops, seminars, retreats and other forums to strengthen,
stabilize and consolidate interactions and cooperation
in areas of existing high priority; to merge existing
cancer programs into consolidated collaborations; to
identify new areas of opportunity and high priority
as the partnership evolves; and for reviewing pilots/full
projects/programs, recruitments and resources. 3. Developmental
costs for: a. Pilot cancer research projects or pilot
programs (cancer training and career development, cancer
education and/or cancer outreach (not to exceed $100,000
in direct costs per year per project/program for no
more than three years). b. Up to three full projects/programs
per year may be funded (not to exceed $250,000 in direct
costs per year per project/program for no longer than
three years) in areas prioritized for development and
stabilization through subsequent competitive funding
(e.g., R01, K12, P01, P50, T32, R25). One of one, one
of two, or two of three Full projects/programs must
be focused primarily on research. The partnership would
have the flexibility to discontinue projects/programs
and start new projects/programs based on the regular
evaluation of progress; the funding of Full projects/programs
through other competitive sources; and identification
of new opportunities through formalized planning, evaluation
and priority setting activities. c. Resources and infrastructure
(e.g., tissue resources) that augment the cancer research
capability of the MSI, the collaborative research of
the MSI and the Cancer Center, and/or specifically enhance
research focused on minority issues. Shared infrastructure
could be placed in either the MSI or the Center or in
both locations. d. Support for research assistants and
research associates in various stages of their career
development as independent scientists. e. Start-up packages
for newly recruited investigators in areas prioritized
for development and stabilization.
GO TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
If the Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center
Partnership (U54) is appropriate for your needs, click
below to go to the request for application guidelines,
which will give you more detailed information about
this award and instructions for preparing and submitting
an application.
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-05-021.html
Supplemental Guidelines for
preparing a Non-Competing Application
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