We have received the online portion of your application. There's one more step:
Please prepare a document per the instructions listed below and email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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In no more than 5 pages (suggested), please attach the following:
A: Problem Statement
Start with a clear problem that affects patient outcomes, why existing standards are not sufficient and how your project anticipates changing cancer care.
- What problem does the project address?
- Why is the work important?
- What is your hypothesis/objective?
- Describe why this problem has not been solved previously and briefly mention relevant work that has been done.
Note: Your project is likely to receive a more favorable review if the problem you are solving is clearly important, the methodology promising, and it is clear you know what others have done and how your approach will produce substantially better results.
B. Preliminary Evidence:
Present any key findings from pilot studies or preliminary analyses that demonstrate feasibility of your approach.
C. Dataset or AI Description:
Dataset: Briefly describe your data source, sample size and any unique advantages of this dataset for addressing your research question. When feasible, it is important to have sufficient (validated) data for your proposed work. Please provide details. Note: Letters of Support must accompany proposals utilizing non-public data outside of their institution.
AI/Computational Approach Details: Describe how your AI or computational model adds value beyond current approaches. Address: (1) specific advantages over existing methods, (2) scalability potential (3) sustainability plan including ongoing costs, and (4) feasibility of implementation in real-world settings.
D. Translation Statement:
How will your work translate to clinical use/patient care?
- Identify your clinical investigator. All projects are strongly encouraged to include a clinical investigator on the team to support project translation. While a Co-PI position is ideal, you may list them as an additional member of your team. Attach their bio at the end of the next section.
- Outline concrete steps for clinical implementation - details of the path, challenges, solutions and timing. Specifics are beneficial. Include an estimated time to clinical impact in years. Indicate whether a clinical trial will be needed to translate to clinical use.
E. Data Sharing Statement:
The ICI fund is committed to data sharing and the reuse of tools in a secure and accessible environment. Data or other tools generated from a funded project should be submitted to one or more repositories, commons or other platforms for sharing to support the research community and to help advance cancer discoveries. Please provide a statement to explain how the data or tools resulting from your work will be shared. Please be specific about what you will share, how you will share it and your timeline for doing so.
F. Project Description:
Provide a brief summary of how the project will be accomplished. Describe potential pitfalls/challenges and how you will overcome them.
- Specific Aims:
List the project objectives and rationale and concisely describe the specific goals of the research, including any hypotheses to be tested. For each aim, describe the research design and methodology that will be used. Include the means by which data will be collected, processed, analyzed, and interpreted. Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing techniques. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve the project’s aims. - Timetable:
Provide a timetable for the project. - Mid-Grant Milestones:
Two-year grant applications should include mid-grant milestones (approximately 12 months) for the purpose of evaluating progress towards overall project goals. These milestones must be achieved in order to qualify for the second year of funding.
The following are not included in the suggested 5-page limit:
G. Project Budget, Personnel, and Funding History
We adhere to NIH’s guidelines as they relate to salary cap. The 12% cap on indirects applies to each year.
- Budget:
Provide a detailed budget, broken down by year 1 and 2, if applicable. ICI awards may not be used for laboratory expenses. - Project personnel:
Provide the name, title, and role of all individuals who will be involved in the project, including the Principal Investigator (PI)/Co-PI(s). Indicate the percent effort that each person is expected to devote to the project. - Funding history:
If applicable, indicate any other sources of funding for the proposed or related projects, including the amounts and granting organizations.
H. Project Investigator Biographies
Provide bios of all key project personnel and collaborator(s), preferably in NIH format or similar format that is abbreviated to emphasize experience relevant to the research proposal.
I: References
Although not required, if the investigator has references, they may be included here.
Please send all completed application documents to