Programs & Activities

U.S. - Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program: Cancer Workshop Funding, 2008-2009

I. Introduction

The U.S. - Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program (USJCCRP) is a long standing (1974) bilateral activity coordinated by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The USJCCRP has established a yearly workshop in basic, clinical or epidemiological/behavioral science to support advances in cancer research and clinical care. Ideally, the workshop venue will rotate between Japan and the United States (U.S.). For 2008-2009, the USJCCRP will provide support for a clinical science workshop to be held in the U.S. Participation will be limited to 20 from each side, allowing for a small number of select third country participants as appropriate to the theme of the meeting. Requests for proposals will be conducted by an open call starting on April 15, 2008, with an application deadline on June 30, 2008, and an award announcement in late July 2008, with the workshop to be held between September 2008 and March 2009.

The 2008/2009 workshop can focus any area of cancer clinical science. However, the USJCCRP is particularly interested in receiving proposals in:

1. Development and Utilization of New Biomarkers;
2. New Approaches to Tumor-Targeting or Localized Therapy;
3. Molecular Therapeutics and Individualized Cancer Medicine;
4. Imaging and Radiology-Guided Therapy; and
5. Gastro-intestinal Cancers (including stomach, esophageal, pancreatic, and/or colorectal cancers).

II. Research Objectives

USJCCP recognizes the value of supporting high quality conferences/scientific meetings that are relevant to the scientific mission and public health of the U.S., Japan, and globally. Workshops will allow for the exchange and dissemination of information or to explore or clarify a defined subject, question, or area of knowledge. The support of USJCCPR workshops is highly contingent on the scientist interests and priorities of both the NCI and the JSPS and their affiliated institutions. Please note that agreement to accept an application does not guarantee funding.

III. Eligibility

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to plan and conduct the proposed workshop are invited to develop an application for support. Individuals may be affiliated with for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, state or local governments, national or federal government institutions, domestic institutions, community-based organization, and for the U.S., state, local, or tribal governments.

IV. Schedule, Application and Submission Information

Required Components: USJCCRP Workshop Application Form.

Call for Proposals:  April 15, 2008

Application Deadline:  June 30, 2008

Award Announcement:  July 31, 2008

Workshop Date:  Completed between September 15, 2008 - March 31, 2009

V. Application Review and Selection Process

Applications may be submitted to the U.S. or Japan. Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness. There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications. However, incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will be reviewed by a USJCCRP steering committee and/or its designated panel. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: 1) scientific merit of the proposed workshop as determined by the evaluation process; 2) relevance of program priorities of NCI and JSPS; 3) synergy and value added by the collaborative workshop; and 4) the availability of funds.

In their critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria, which will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to deserve a high priority score.

Significance:  Does this conference/scientific meeting address an important cancer question or problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice advance? What will be the effect of these endeavors on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Approach:  Is the agenda, presentations and participants for the meeting appropriate for achieving the goals of the workshop? How well do the plans for inclusion of young scientists, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities provide for their appropriate representation in the planning, organization, and implementation of the proposed meeting?

Innovation:  Does the meeting employ novel approaches or methods to fulfill its purpose?

Investigators:  Are the primary organizers well suited for organizing and fulfilling the goals of this conference? Are the qualifications of the PIs appropriate and past performance adequate? Are the key personnel and selected speakers appropriate and well suited for their described roles in the conference?

Synergy/Value-added:  How does a bringing together investigator from the US and Japan adds value to that which could be achieved if a workshop with a similar theme were held by either side independent of the other?

VI. Award Information

A formal letter or e-mail notification will be provided to the applicant(s) on or about around July 30, 2008. Awardees have primary authorities and responsibilities to plan, conduct, analyze, and publish results, interpretations, and conclusions of the conference. Logistics and meeting support will be provided by the NCI, Office of International Affairs and/or the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Contacts

U.S.
Dr. Joe Harford
Director, Office of International Affairs
National Cancer Institute, NIH/HHS
6130 Executive Blvd, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: +301-496-5534, Fax: +301-496-3954
E-mail: harfordj@mail.nih.gov

JAPAN
Mr. Tadatosi Kaneko
Head, Research Cooperation Division I
International Programs Department
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
6 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 102-8471
Tel. +03-3263-1985, Fax: +03-3263-1673

Click here for application form (Word).