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, and Albany).

Terms

The term of the Exceptional Project Grant is one year. The grant 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: diagnosis, etiology, immunology, genetics, therapies, prevention and clinical studies.

Grant recipients must submit a brief report documenting progress by June 30, 2013 and a final report by March 1, 2014. Both reports must be written in layman's terms. Failure to submit the progress report will result in forfeiture of any remaining grant funds.

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

Exceptional Project Grant Application Procedure

Before you submit your application, we request that you provide a one-page, 10 pt., single-spaced Letter of Intent (LOI) and a separate CV via e-mail to researchgrants@breastcanceralliance.org by March 30, 2012.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 hypothesis, 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. Applicants will be informed by May 4, 2012 whether to proceed with a formal application. Researchers should coordinate with their institutions as the BCA will accept a maximum of three LOIs per institution.

Final applications must be emailed to researchgrants@breastcanceralliance.org on or before July 31, 2012. 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 will be notified in mid-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, 2013.

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.