DoD Lung Cancer Research: Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Grant

The FY18 LCRP Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award mechanism supports translational research that will develop promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications. Translational research may be defined as an integration of basic science and clinical observations. Observations that drive a research idea may originate from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patient care. The ultimate goal of translational research is to move a concept or observation forward into clinical application.  However, Principal Investigators (PIs) should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science.

This mechanism is intended to fund a broad range of translational studies, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Studies advancing/translating in vitro and/or animal studies to applications with human samples/cohorts.
• Late-stage preclinical work leading to/preparing for a clinical trial, e.g., Investigational New Drug (IND) application submission.
• Correlative studies that are associated with an open/ongoing or completed clinical trial and projects that develop endpoints for clinical trials.

Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.

Military Relevance: The LCRP seeks to support research that is relevant to the healthcare needs of military Service members, Veterans, and their families. Military relevance will be considered in determining relevance to the mission of the DHP and FY18 LCRP during programmatic review. Investigators are strongly encouraged to consider the following characteristics as examples of how a project may demonstrate military relevance:

• Use of military or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient populations, biospecimens, data/databases, or programs in the proposed research.
• Collaboration with Department of Defense (DoD) or VA investigators. 
• Involvement of military consultants (Army, Air Force) or specialty leaders (Navy, Marine Corps) to the Surgeons General in a relevant specialty area.
• Description of how the knowledge, information, products, or technologies gained from the proposed research could be implemented in a dual-use capacity to address a military need that also benefits the civilian population.
• Explanation of how the project addresses an aspect of lung cancer that has direct relevance to military Service members, Veterans, or other Military Health System beneficiaries, including environmental exposures other than tobacco.

The proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.

The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY18 LCRP Investigator-Initiated Translational Research award will not exceed $400,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

The FY18 LCRP Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award mechanism supports translational research that will develop promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications. Translational research may be defined as an integration of basic science and clinical observations. Observations that drive a research idea may originate from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patient care. The ultimate goal of translational research is to move a concept or observation forward into clinical application.  However, Principal Investigators (PIs) should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science.

This mechanism is intended to fund a broad range of translational studies, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Studies advancing/translating in vitro and/or animal studies to applications with human samples/cohorts.
• Late-stage preclinical work leading to/preparing for a clinical trial, e.g., Investigational New Drug (IND) application submission.
• Correlative studies that are associated with an open/ongoing or completed clinical trial and projects that develop endpoints for clinical trials.

Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.

Military Relevance: The LCRP seeks to support research that is relevant to the healthcare needs of military Service members, Veterans, and their families. Military relevance will be considered in determining relevance to the mission of the DHP and FY18 LCRP during programmatic review. Investigators are strongly encouraged to consider the following characteristics as examples of how a project may demonstrate military relevance:

• Use of military or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient populations, biospecimens, data/databases, or programs in the proposed research.
• Collaboration with Department of Defense (DoD) or VA investigators. 
• Involvement of military consultants (Army, Air Force) or specialty leaders (Navy, Marine Corps) to the Surgeons General in a relevant specialty area.
• Description of how the knowledge, information, products, or technologies gained from the proposed research could be implemented in a dual-use capacity to address a military need that also benefits the civilian population.
• Explanation of how the project addresses an aspect of lung cancer that has direct relevance to military Service members, Veterans, or other Military Health System beneficiaries, including environmental exposures other than tobacco.

The proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.

The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY18 LCRP Investigator-Initiated Translational Research award will not exceed $400,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.