This is a pre-announcement that a Call for Grant Applications will be issued on or around August 15, 2006 for cancer-related research projects to be funded by the new Bankhead-Coley Program, with funding anticipated to begin on or around January 1, 2007.
On June 13, 2006, Governor Bush signed into law House Bill 1027 which provides for a new program to be known as The William B. “Bill” Bankhead, Jr., and David Coley Cancer Research Program. The purpose of this program is to “advance progress towards cures for cancer through grants awarded through a peer-reviewed, competitive process.” This law also provides for an annual appropriation of $9 million to provide grants to researchers seeking cures for cancer, beginning in fiscal year 2006-2007.
By statute, the Bankhead Coley Program has been charged with achieving three long-term goals:
- Significantly expand cancer research capacity in the State;
- Improve both research and treatment through greater participation in clinical trials networks;
- Reduce the impact of cancer on disparate groups.
In pursuit of these goals the Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Board has recommended to the Department of Health a pair of grant mechanisms for the inaugural year of the Program. Highlights of these two grants are:
1. Bridge Grants
Bridge grants will provide interim support for promising cancer-related research projects that have been highly rated in recent federal competitions, but have not been funded due to budgetary constraints. To be eligible, applicants must have already submitted an investigator-initiated research application to a federal agency (such as an R type from NIH) and have received a peer review summary statement and rating within the top 30th percentile, or equivalent, on or after September 15, 2005. Projects must be cancer related, and may involve basic science, translational or clinical research, medical devices, bioinformatics, epidemiology, or human behavior.
Florida investigators at all levels of experience may apply, and awards will be up to $200,000 for one year; new investigators may be eligible for two years of funding.
2. Shared Instrument Grants
The intent of this mechanism is to support Florida investigators who are conducting cancer-related research by improving access to state-of-the-art research instruments that can only be justified on a shared-use basis and for which meritorious research projects are described.
Applications may be submitted by any university or established research institution in the state. Awards will be up to $500,000 for one year of funding, and applications will be limited to two per institution.
The application submission deadline for both grants is anticipated to be on or around September 15, 2006.
Additional detailed information, including specific eligibility requirements, allowable fund use, and application evaluation criteria, will be provided in the Call for Grant Applications document. A formal question and answer period will also be indicated in the Call. In the meantime, while it may not be possible to answer general questions, comments about these grant mechanisms or the Bankhead-Coley Program may be sent by email to programsupport@floridabiomed.com. New Program information will also be posted on the Program website at www.floridabiomed.com. If you know of others that would be interested in receiving the Call for Grant Applications notice, direct them to subscribe to receive Program notices at www.floridabiomed.com.
