The Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (Massey) and the American Cancer Society (ACS-IRG) would like to announce the ACS Institutional Research Grant (ACS-IRG) for early-stage investigators (ESI) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Virginia State University (VSU) to conduct cancer-related research projects.

Investigator Eligibility

• Only early-stage faculty members are eligible for an ACS-IRG pilot award. Early-stage Investigators are faculty within six years of their first independent faculty appointment or equivalent (e.g., Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor). An individual who is currently an Instructor/Postdoctoral Trainee, but will be appointed as an Assistant Professor by the award date is also eligible (a letter from the Department Chair is required).
• The applicant does not have to be a tenure track faculty member.
• The applicant must be an independent investigator.
• Investigators who have already received a peer-reviewed national research grant are not eligible to apply ($250,000+/year). NIH and other types of Career Development awards do not count as peer-reviewed national research grants for this purpose.
• Citizens, non-citizen nationals, and permanent residents of the United States and its possessions or territories are eligible. Recipients are not required to be US citizens; however, they must hold a visa that will allow them to remain in the US long enough to complete the ACS-IRG pilot project.
• Investigators who have previously been funded through the ACS-IRG and who have not obtained national funding for their research may request an additional year of ACS-IRG funding. In order to obtain the second-year funding, the research must be performed on the same project. New specific aims can be proposed, but it must be a continuation of the original project with the same title. The ACS-IRG review committee will require and review a progress report when considering the application for continued funding.
• Each applicant is required to consult with a biostatistician as part of the proposal to assist with design and statistical methods if applicable. Please contact Dr. Nolan Wages (wagesn@vcu.edu), director of the Massey Biostatistics Shared Resource, as soon as possible or visit the Biostatistics Shared Resource.
• The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement is readily available to assist research investigators who would like to engage a community champion in the development of their proposal. Community engagement is increasingly being required by external funding agencies and is highly recommended. Please contact Dr. Maria Thomson (cancerchamps@vcu.edu) to set an appointment for your consultation.

Research Project Criteria

• The ACS-IRG funds innovative cancer research projects that have the potential for future peer-reviewed funding.
• Research projects currently funded through a national research grant will not be accepted.
• A letter must be provided from a mentor who will provide guidance for the proposed research.

Funding Limits

• An applicant PI can request up to $50,000 for their project.

Award Period

• The proposed award period for the ACS-IRG grant will be one year. If awardee receives external funding, ACS-IRG funding must be relinquished by external funding award date.

Submission Guidelines

• Funding Opportunity Announcement Release Date (February 14, 2025).
• Applicants should submit a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) by (March 7, 2025). This will assist the administration in preparing for reviewer assignments. Please use the LOI form provided via the submittable platform.
• All completed applications will be due on April 7, 2025.