DoD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Training Award

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The PCRP Physician Research Training Award (PRTA) mechanism was first offered in FY03. Since then, 154 PRTA applications have been received, and 63 have been recommended for funding. The PRTA supports a mentored training experience to prepare physicians with clinical duties and/or responsibilities for productive careers in prostate cancer research. This award emphasizes equally the quality of both the research and the training proposed. The trainee is considered the Principal Investigator (PI) of the application. All applications for the PRTA are to be written by the PI, with appropriate direction from the mentor(s). The PI must demonstrate a commitment to a career as an investigator at the forefront of prostate cancer research and clinical practice; however, the PI is not required to have previous prostate cancer research experience. Applications must include a robust description of an individualized, prostate cancer-focused training plan that will provide the PI with experience in key areas relevant to the proposed work and foster the PI’s development as a prostate cancer researcher. PIs who already possess extensive experience in cancer research may not be viewed as fitting the intent of this award mechanism. This award requires the involvement of at least one designated mentor with an established research program in prostate cancer, evidenced by publications, funding, and successful mentorship. The PI and mentor(s) should work together to design robust training and mentoring plans, which may include coursework, laboratory techniques, conferences, seminars, journal clubs, teaching responsibilities, clinical responsibilities, grant writing, and/or other activities appropriate to the area of study. Training plans that will prepare physicians for careers in basic or population science research are particularly encouraged, although inclusion of translational or clinical research is allowed. In addition, applicants are expected to address at least one of the PCRP focus areas and are highly encouraged to address one of the PCRP overarching challenges. If the proposed project does not address any of the overarching challenges, the application should include a description to justify how the project will nevertheless address a critical need in the field of prostate cancer research and/or patient care. This award is intended to provide aggressive protection of at least 40% of the PI’s time for prostate cancer research. In addition, salary for up to a 50% combined level of effort from up to two key support personnel may be provided by this award. Up to $15,000 in funds per year from this award may be used for research supplies and equipment. These funds may be used for research with laboratory animals and human biological substances, as well as research with human subjects, provided that the funds are not used to support clinical trials. PIs may participate in clinical trials as part of their training for this award, but funding for such clinical trials must come from sources other than this award. All investigators applying to FY13 PCRP funding opportunities are encouraged to consider leveraging resources available through the PCRP-funded Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN) (http://www.prostatebiorepository.org) and/or the North Carolina - Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) (http://www.ncla-pcap.org) if retrospectively collected human anatomical substances or correlated data are relevant to the proposed studies. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) intends that data and research resources generated under awards funded by this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity be made available to the research community (which includes both scientific and consumer advocacy communities) and to the public at large. For additional guidance, refer to the General Application Instructions, Appendix 4, Section K.

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