Exceptional Project Grant Description

The Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists whose primary focus is breast cancer to apply for an Exceptional Project Grant at any stage of their careers. This award recognizes creative, unique and innovative research and is open to applicants at institutions within a 200 mile radius of Greenwich, Connecticut (an area that includes cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, Connecticut and Albany, New York).

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Breast Cancer Alliance is to fund innovative breast cancer research and to promote breast health through education and outreach. Breast cancer survivors, their friends and health-care professionals are fulfilling this mission.

To accomplish this, the Breast Cancer Alliance:

Funds a diversified portfolio of breast cancer research
Funds Breast Surgery Fellowship programs
Funds the purchase of equipment for research
Provides timely information on breast health and the importance of early detection
Supports outreach and case managerial services, education, counseling and mammograms for underserved and underinsured women in mid to southern Connecticut and Westchester County , New York

Terms:
The term of the Exceptional Project Grant is one year and provides salary support and project costs of $100,000. Administrative costs, which are included in the $100,000 award, must be limited to 8% of grant funds.

The research project must be directly related to the field of breast cancer. Areas of relevant research may include but are not limited to: etiology, immunology, genetics, therapies, prevention and clinical studies.

Successful candidates must submit a 1-2 page summary documenting progress after six months and a final report within 60 days of the award end date. Both reports must be written in layman terms.

Any publication associated with the research must recognize the Breast Cancer Alliance as a sponsor.

2011 Exceptional Project Grant Application Procedure

Before you submit your application, we request that you provide a one-page, 10pt, single-spaced Letter of Intent (LOI) and a separate CV via e-mail to reserachgrants@breastcanceralliance.org by April 2, 2010. The LOI must include the applicant's name, job title and institution at the top of the page, and the applicant's contact information. The document should state the project title and hypothsesis, outline the research aim(s) and methods, and include a brief discussion of the project's potential impact. The CV can be in the NIH biosketch format. An Independent External Review Committee will evaluate the LOI. Researchers should coordinate with their institutions as the BCA will accept a maximum of three LOIs per institution.

An independent External Review Committee will review and evaluate the LOIs and the BCA Grants Committee will inform applicants by May 1, 2010 whether to proceed with a formal application.

Please click here to view grant application. Applications must be e-mailed to the Breast Cancer Alliance on or before July 31, 2010. In addition, one hard copy must be mailed to the Breast Cancer Alliance.

An Independent External Review Committee will review and evaluate the applications. Based on their results and subsequent review by the Grants Committee, recommendations are made to the BCA Board for final approval. Applicants are notified in December of the decision regarding their proposals.

Arrangements for contracts and payment will be made at that time. The grant term will begin January 1, 2011.

All applications are confidential and are available only to the Board of Directors, the Grants Committee, the Medical Advisory Board and the Independent External Review Committee.

If any grantee or sponsoring institution fails to adhere to the policies and qualifications listed above, the grant is subject to termination.

Please contact researchgrants@breastcanceralliance.org with any questions.