AACR Issues Call for Ideas for a $12 Million Dream Team Translational Research GrantSubmissions Due May 6
March 4, 2015—- PHILADELPHIA — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is now accepting submissions of ideas for the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)-Cancer Research UK-Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team Translational Research Grant. The grant provides up to $12 million over a three-year period for research on prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of pancreatic cancer by a “Dream Team” of top scientists.
The grant will be a transatlantic collaboration, with Dream Team leaders or principal investigators based in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
“Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates at less than 7 percent and almost 50,000 new cases expected in 2015,” said Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, Nobel laureate, institute professor at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and chair of the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee. “At this time of unprecedented progress in cancer research and development of new cancer therapies, we are working hard to change the course of this terrible disease.”
The Lustgarten Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing science related to the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of pancreatic cancer, will contribute $6 million to support the new Dream Team. It will be the third Dream Team supported by the Foundation, bringing the total Lustgarten Foundation investment in SU2C’s research program to $12 million.
“We are pleased to again partner with SU2C for a third pancreatic cancer Dream Team and to newly partner with Cancer Research UK. Together, we will focus on new approaches to treat those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer so that more patients can benefit and live longer lives,” said Kerri Kaplan, executive director and chief operating officer of The Lustgarten Foundation, America’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research.
Cancer Research UK, the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the world, supports a broad range of research to better understand, diagnose, prevent and treat all cancers. The transatlantic partnership between SU2C and Cancer Research UK launched in the United Kingdom in 2012. The U.K. SU2C campaign, a partnership between Cancer Research UK and U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, has since generated more than $35 million to accelerate ground-breaking cancer research. This will be the first Dream Team supported by the transatlantic partnership between SU2C and Cancer Research UK.
“Quite simply, we need to make faster progress against pancreatic cancer, which devastates tens of thousands of families across the world each year,” said Iain Foulkes, PhD, executive director for strategy and research funding of Cancer Research UK. “Coming together in this way with SU2C and The Lustgarten Foundation is a signal of our intent. We will bring together the world’s best scientists in a unique transatlantic partnership and over the next three years find new ways to beat this terrible disease.”
A Joint Scientific Advisory Committee (JSAC) will conduct a unique, interactive, rapid, and rigorous evaluation of the applications via a multistep scientific review process. The JSAC is composed of highly accomplished senior laboratory researchers and physician-scientists, as well as advocates.
Sharp will serve as chair of the JSAC. The co-chairs will be David A. Tuveson, MD, PhD, director of research for The Lustgarten Foundation and director of The Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Lab at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; and Richard M. Marais, PhD, FMedSci, director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, where he also heads the Molecular Oncology Group.
As the official Scientific Partner of SU2C since its launch in 2008, the AACR provides scientific leadership, expert peer review, and grants administration for SU2C’s extensive research program. Letters of Intent for the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)-Cancer Research UK-Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team Translational Research Grant are due by noon ET, May 6, 2015, via proposalCENTRAL.
Inquiries may be directed to the AACR Scientific Review and Grants Administration Department at 267-765-1049 (00+1+267-765-1049 from the U.K.) or su2c@aacr.org. Grant recipients are scheduled to be announced in November 2015.
##
Media Contacts:
AACR
Rick Buck
215-446-7162
rick.buck@aacr.org
SU2C
Jane Rubinstein
646-386-7969
jrubinstein@eifoundation.org
The Lustgarten Foundation
Sabrina Strauss
212-576-2700
LustgartenPR@goodmanmedia.com
Cancer Research UK
Stephanie McClellan
+44 203 469 5314
stephanie.mcclellan@cancer.org.uk
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 35,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in 101 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 25 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with over 18,500 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www.AACR.org.
About The Lustgarten Foundation
Founded in 1998, The Lustgarten Foundation is America’s largest private foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Based in Bethpage, New York, the Foundation supports research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, facilitates dialogue within the medical and scientific community, and educates the public about the disease through awareness campaigns and fundraising events. Since its inception, the Foundation has directed more than $110 million to research and assembled the best scientific minds with the hope that one day, a cure can be found. Due to the support of Cablevision Systems Corporation, a leading media and telecommunications company, 100 percent of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to pancreatic cancer research. The Lustgarten Foundation and Cablevision are also partners in the curePC public awareness campaign in support of the fight against pancreatic cancer. For additional information, please visit http://www.lustgarten.org.
About Cancer Research UK
• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
• Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years.
• Today, 2 in 4 people survive cancer. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that 3 in 4 people will survive cancer within the next 20 years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
About Stand Up To Cancer (UK)
Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising event from Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK.
• 2014’s campaign raised £15,585,444.15
• In 2014, the live fundraising event was hosted by Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Dr Christian Jessen and featured celebrity interviews and moving real life stories
• Stars such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Noel Gallagher, Nicole Scherzinger, Pharrell Williams, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gillian Anderson, Britney Spears, Idris Elba, Andy Murray, Bradley Cooper, Taylor Swift, Martin Freeman, Jamie Oliver, Kathy Burke, Miranda Hart, Paul O’Grady and Richard Ayoade are just some of the talent who supported Stand Up To Cancer
Visit standuptocancer.org.uk or channel4.co.uk/SU2C for further information
About the Stand Up To Cancer Initiative
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry’s resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about cancer prevention as well as progress being made in the fight against the disease. As SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, conduct rigorous, competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.