Closed for 2007

• General Information
• Application Instructions
• Requirements, Terms, and Conditions

General Information
The University of Iowa / Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE) is a center grant funded through the National Cancer Institute. The mission of the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE developmental research programs is to encourage innovative laboratory and clinical studies in lymphoma research, and to provide funds to support previously untested hypotheses or other innovative research objectives that address problems in lymphoma. The project duration is one year from the award notification.

Eligibility
Investigators planning to conduct their research in universities, hospitals, research institutions, and federal agencies are eligible to apply. Applicants must hold either a PhD or MD degree or equivalent.

Amount of Awards
A maximum of $25,000 per year in direct costs will be provided through the Iowa/Mayo SPORE grant with $25,000 provided in matching institutional support from each institution for a total award of $50,000.

Additional Information
For additional information, please contact Tami Thompson 319-353-8987 or Vicki Foubert 319-384-5299 (Iowa) and Karen Best 507-266-2040 (Mayo) or the Project Directors, Steven Lentz, MD, PhD (Iowa) or Stephen Russell MD, PhD (Mayo).

Please submit materials to:

Cancer Center Administration
Attn: Tami M. Thompson
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
UI Health Care, 5970Z JPP
Phone: 319-353-8987

MAYO

Karen Best
Mayo Clinic
Hematology Research, ST628
Phone: 507-266-9276

Deadlines:

Letter of Concept Deadline: Friday September 21, 2007
Invited Full Proposal Deadline: Friday, November 9, 2007
Anticipated Project Start Date: Friday, February 1, 2008

Application Instructions
Members of the Lymphoma SPORE: George Weiner MD, Principal Investigator, Thomas Witzig MD, Co-Principal Investigator, Steven Lentz, MD, PhD, Director, SPORE Developmental Research Program, and Stephen Russell MD, PhD, Co-Director, SPORE Developmental Research Program are available to consult with investigators to provide advice to applicants as they develop their proposals. Applicants are encouraged to meet with these senior investigators prior to submission of their letters-of-concept.

Step 1 - Letter-of-Concept.
A 1-2 page letter-of-concept describing the proposed research, in addition to a statement outlining the potential of the research to improve the detection, diagnosis or treatment of lymphoma, should be submitted to the attention of George J. Weiner, MD, PI (Iowa), 5970 JPP AND to Thomas Witzig, MD, PI (Mayo). Letters-of-concept will be reviewed by the Developmental Research Committee of the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE with selected investigators invited to submit full proposals.

The letter-of-concept should include the following information:

• Overview of the proposed project
• Area of expertise of the PI and other investigators
• Relevance of the project to Lymphoma research
• Statement of how the proposed project will lead to a full research project with funding potential.

Step 2 - Invited Full Application: Deadline 5:00 P.M. November 9, 2007
THE ORIGINAL AND 7 LEGIBLE COPIES PLUS 1 ELECTRONIC COPY WITH ALL SECTIONS IN ONE PDF OR WORD DOCUMENT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED

A full application will be requested from individuals with meritorious letters of concept that meet the P50 Lymphoma program goals. The narrative of full applications will be limited to eight pages and should follow the NIH guidelines found in PHS 398 for R01 submissions. The application should consist of the printer cover sheet (Page AA, PHS 398) and consecutively numbered continuous pages.

The application should include the following:

1. Printed cover page (Use PHS 398 FACE page) - These applications do not need to be routed through the Division of Sponsored Programs Office.
2. Abstract - PHS Abstract page
3. Budget Page with justification. Please use NIH Budget Format Page outlining expenditures for the project (supplies, technical assistance, and other expenses). Please note: funds may not be used for travel, equipment or faculty salaries. All budgetary requests must be justified.
4. Biographical Sketch of PI and Co-PIs and bibliography with five of the most relevant publications of the Applicant (NIH format; four-page limit)
5. For residents or fellows who apply:
   1. Biographical Sketch and bibliography of the mentor are required.
      A letter from the Mentor evaluating the applicant's qualifications for the proposed research project, and indicating the applicant's potential in lymphoma research.
      A letter from the resident or fellow indicating their commitment to 100 percent research effort for the duration of the research award.
6. Current funding including source, amount and percent effort.
7. Research Proposal: The proposal will follow the general instructions for R01 grants appearing in the PHS 398 instruction booklet, with the exception that the proposal length is limited to eight pages, single-spaced and a minimum font size of 11-pitch.
   *Applications must meet all NIH requirements for human and/or animal studies.
8. Human Studies (Per PHS 398, including discussion of inclusion of minorities)
9. Animal Studies (Per PHS 398)

Human Subjects and Animal Studies
Applications must meet all NIH requirements for human and/or animal studies. Documentation of protocol approval by the appropriate institutional committee will be required. Copies of all assurances and certifications must be provided to Iowa/Mayo Administration before funds can be allocated.

Core Resources Access
Access to SPORE Core resources (Administrative, Biospecimens and Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and Clinical Trials) may also be available if justified in the application.

Requirements, Terms, and Conditions

Requirement of Award
Developmental Research Project recipients will be asked to present their research project at the monthly SPORE videoconference held in the Holden Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic and will be required to submit an annual progress report and brief updates as needed. Reports should include project accomplishments, publications and presentations, current budgetary expenditures, research impediments and future plans.

Evaluation and Selection
The Developmental Research Committee, which is composed of investigators from the University of Iowa, Mayo Clinic, and the SPORE External Advisors panel, will review all developmental research applications. Applications will be rated on the basis of scientific merit, originality, and for relevance to the objectives of the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE program. Proposals will be given priority scores for each category and ranked with other submissions. A letter notifying the applicants of the funding decision will be sent subsequent to the deliberations. It is expected that the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE will fund a total of three developmental research projects.

Term of Awards
The term of the award is for one year with the potential of renewal for an additional year. Renewal will be based on documented progress toward the research goals, ranking among competing applications, and availability of funds. The funds are intended to provide initial support for the development of innovative new hypotheses with the long-term goal of securing support from other funding agencies.

Financial Records
A separate account must be maintained for each funded grant, and this account must be available for audit by program officials at the University of Iowa and the National Cancer Institute. Reports of expenditures and the return of any unexpended balance must be submitted to the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE at the end of each year. Extensions may be granted upon request.

Patents
No patent application for work done under a grant from the Specialized Program of Research Excellence at University of Iowa or Mayo Clinic shall be filed by the grantee institution or by the investigator, without prior written approval of the National Cancer Institute and the applicant's institution.

Publications
Publications (including abstracts or presentations at scientific meetings) resulting from projects supported by the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE must carry the acknowledgement: "Supported in part by Public Health Service grant number P50 CA097274 from the University of Iowa /Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE) and the National Cancer Institute." Two reprints of all publications must be submitted to the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE with the progress report.

Special Conditions
Should the investigator discontinue the project, or leave the designated institution, the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE must be notified two months in advance of these changes. Failure to comply with this policy may jeopardize any future awards to the institution(s). Unexpended funds from the award must be returned to the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE within sixty days.

Please include the checklist with ALL application copies:
      * Approval Form Checklist

2006 Developmental Research Award Recipients