SPORE in Prostate Cancer

Funding Opportunities

Hand holding a plant in dirt

The SPORE program was initiated by the National Cancer Institute to promote interactions between basic and applied investigators as well as to provide them with the flexibility to rapidly evaluate new approaches for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human cancer.

Each SPORE allocates significant effort to two distinct funding programs, the Developmental Research Program and the Career Enhancement Program.

Developmental Research Program

Goal
The Developmental Research Program supports pilot projects focusing on innovative and interdisciplinary translational research. High risk/High impact projects that take advantage of new research opportunities in the prostate cancer research field and promote multidisciplinary collaboration between basic, preclinical and clinical programs are particularly encouraged.

Eligibility
Developmental Research Program Awards are available for faculty members associated with UCLA, the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, or the City of Hope to support innovative translational research in all areas of investigation that impact prostate cancer.

Award
One-year awards of up to $50,000 (direct costs) will be awarded as of September 1, 2023.

  • Awards to investigators affiliated with UCLA will provide direct costs plus institutional F&A costs.
  • Awards to investigators affiliated with the Cedars Sinai Medical Center or City of Hope will be issued as sub-awards. These sub-awards of up to $50,000 are inclusive of your institutional F&A costs.

Funds can be used for technical support or supplies. Principal investigator salaries or purchase of equipment are not allowable. Applications will not be funded until approval is obtained from the appropriate committees overseeing animals, radiation, human subjects, and hazardous materials. Semi-annual and end-of-project reports are required. Carry forward of funds is not allowed. A second year of funding may be requested as appropriate if substantial progress has been demonstrated.

Review criteria

  1. Scientific merit
  2. Translational potential
  3. Relevance to prostate cancer
  4. Potential for collaborative research
  5. Qualifications of the investigative team to perform the proposed research
  6. Identification of proposed resources
  7. Potential for independent research in prostate cancer

Deadlines
Online Submission Opens: Monday, June 19, 2023
Submission Deadline: Monday, June 26, 2023 at 5pm PDT

How to apply
Please attach all required components to the completed application template and submit as one single PDF.

Career Enhancement Program

Goal
The Career Enhancement Program supports junior faculty and established researchers who wish to commit their research interests to or refocus on translational approaches in the prostate cancer research area.

Eligibility
Career Enhancement Program Awards are available for MD or PhD junior faculty and senior faculty associated with UCLA, the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, or the City of Hope. Exceptional postdoctoral fellows with plans to transition to a faculty position within a year may also apply, but must submit a letter from an institution supporting their transition to faculty.

Award
One-year awards of up to $50,000 (direct costs) will be awarded as of September 1, 2023.

  • Awards to investigators affiliated with UCLA will provide direct cost plus institutional F&A costs.
  • Awards to investigators affiliated with the Cedars Sinai Medical Center or City of Hope will be issued as sub-awards. These sub-awards of up to $50,000 are inclusive of your institutional F&A costs.

Funds can be used to support research activities including partial salary support for the candidate, research personnel, supplies, travel, and other expenses. Applications will not be funded until approval is obtained from the appropriate committees overseeing animals, radiation, human subjects, and hazardous materials.  Semi-annual and end-of-project reports are required. Carry forward of funds is not allowed. A second year of funding may be requested as appropriate if substantial progress has been demonstrated.

Review criteria

  1. Quality of the scientific proposal
  2. Candidate's potential for an independent prostate cancer research career
  3. Potential impact of the research on the field of prostate cancer
  4. Relevance to the overall translational research mission of the prostate cancer SPORE program
  5. Commitment of the mentor
  6. Personal career development plan

Deadlines
Online Submission Opens: Monday, June 19, 2023
Submission Deadline: Monday, June 26, 2023 at 5pm PDT

How to apply
Please attach all required components to the completed application template and submit as one single PDF.

Previously Funded Projects

Read more about previously funded projects of the Developmental Research Program and the Career Enhancement Program.