Developmental Funds

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

CCSG COMPONENT 002 – DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDS PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Developmental Funds are critical to the success of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and provide essential support to further VICC Strategic Directions. During the current project period, this support was applied toward the recruitment of new faculty, pilot projects, development of shared resources and support for staff investigators. Eight new faculty members were provided with recruitment support, including five key leadership recruitments in the areas of: cancer disparities; translational research and precision oncology; gastrointestinal cancer; medical oncology, training and research integration; and radiation oncology. A total of 14 pilot projects were funded over the project period with significant publications and return on investment of ~ 10-fold in terms of subsequent funding from extramural sources. Additionally, funds were used to support seven staff investigators and the evolution of the Immunophenotyping Shared Resource from the Antibody Production Shared Resource. A request of $220,000 per year is made to support new faculty recruitments in targeted strategic areas, including but not limited to cancer genetics; genomics and epigenetics; immunology and immunophenotyping; precision oncology; genitourinary and hematologic malignancies; phase I drug development and pharmacology; cancer epidemiology and population-based research; screening and early detection; and cancer control. A request of $150,000 per year will support three types of pilot projects: 1) highly innovative projects focusing on proof-of-concept or translational research, 2) preliminary collaborative investigations leading to multi-investigator grants, and 3) projects that closely align to the VICC Strategic Directions. Developmental funds will also be used to support seven Staff Investigators across the categories of Research, Clinical, and Special Populations. Additionally, $65,000 per year is requested to support early-stage clinical investigators who are actively involved in VICC clinical research efforts through trial leadership, trial development, and recruitment of patients to clinical trials. VICC has a proven track record in stewardship of these funds as measured by the return-on-investment in people and projects that advance discoveries to patients and community. The total budget requested, in concert with the continued commitment of VICC discretionary funds, enables the Director to support activities critical to the sustained research excellence of VICC.