PURPOSE: For the planning and development 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. The cooperative planning
application (U56) represents the first step before achieving
a Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership
(U54) and is aimed at helping MSIs and Cancer Centers
to achieve the following long-term objectives: to increase
the cancer research capabilities at the MSIs; to increase
the number of minority scientists engaged in cancer research
and other cancer-related activities; and to improve the
effectiveness of Cancer Centers in developing and sustaining
activities focused on the disproportionate incidence,
mortality and morbidity in minority populations in the
region the Cancer Center serves.
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 U56 Cooperative Planning Grant
for Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership must
achieve goals that are of clear mutual benefit and 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. 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,
cancer training and career development, cancer education
and cancer outreach activities specifically designed
to benefit minority populations in the region the Cancer
Center serves.
SUPPORT: The direct costs of the two applications
together cannot exceed $500,000 per year and will provide
support for: 1). Developmental funds to support pilot
projects/programs (not to exceed $100,000 in direct
costs per year and continue for no more than three years).
Administrative costs (not to exceed 20% of the total
direct costs) 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 planning
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). The planning partnership would have the
flexibility to discontinue projects/programs and start
new projects/programs based on the regular evaluation
of progress; the funding of pilot projects/programs
through other competitive sources; and identification
of new opportunities through formalized planning, evaluation
and priority setting activities. b. 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. c. Support for research assistants and
research associates in various stages of their career
development as independent scientists. d. Start-up packages
for newly recruited investigators in areas prioritized
for development and stabilization.
GO TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
If the Cooperative Planning Grant for Minority Institution/Cancer
Center Partnership (U56) 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-05-022.html
Supplemental Guidelines for
preparing a Non-Competing Application
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