The Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (Massey) has a rolling call for pilot research applications for inter-institutional collaborations with between two institutions. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines the priorities and guidelines for 2025.

Purpose

• Provide pilot funding for new concepts in cancer-related research, including but not limited to: discovery, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control, and survivorship.
• Address the most immediate cancer needs of Massey catchment areas including central and eastern Virginia including the cause or reversal of cancer disparities.
• Catalyze discoveries by fostering transdisciplinary and translational collaborations among researchers and clinicians.
• Produce preliminary data to serve as a foundation for future applications to the NCI, other NIH institutes, and/or other agencies or foundations that use a peer review process. 
• Develop and submit collaborative team science application within 2 years of receiving the award.

Eligibility

• Only applications submitted by Multiple Principal Investigators (MPIs) are eligible; each institution should be represented in the MPI leadership. For MPIs, at least one PI must be from each eligible institution and hold a full-time faculty appointment at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). 
• VCU based applicants are required to be an NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG)-eligible Research Member (please verify with Massey Administration before applying by contacting Alex Haynes, haynesa4@vcu.edu).
• Effort between MPIs from different institutions must be comparable, and both MPIs must contribute to the overall project in similar magnitude. 
• An individual may submit only one application as PI or MPI per year. An individual is allowed to be a co- investigator, consultant, or mentor on multiple submissions. A faculty member currently funded in the role of PI or MPI by a Massey pilot research award is not eligible to submit an application to this opportunity unless their current award will end by the scheduled start date.

Award Information

• The Research Development Inter-Institutional Collaboration Pilot Awards represents a partnership commitment between Massey and the other applicant organization which will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $75,000 per project.
• This mechanism aims to support collaborative projects between faculty investigators at Massey and partner institution who are engaged in cancer research. Applications must include Multiple Principal Investigators (MPIs), with both MPIs being comparable in scope and contributing equally to the overall project.
• Total awards are dependent upon available funding. The number of awards and the award amount may increase or decrease each year dependent upon the budget and philanthropic funding available in any given year.
• The number of awards and the award amount may increase or decrease each year dependent upon the scientific merit of the projects submitted for review and the priorities established for this NOFO.
• Projects are expected to be completed within the specific total project period not to exceed 2 years.  
• Budget requests may not exceed direct costs of $75,000 per institution or $150,000 combined. Funding is allocated by institution (Massey and the partner institution) and must be utilized to support the awarding organization’s related costs as outlined on the budget.
• Projects that do not adhere to these guidelines will be disqualified from administrative and scientific review.

2025 Priorities

The primary focus of this funding opportunity is to select cancer-related research proposals that exemplify collaborative, team scientific methodologies.

• Projects that genuinely demonstrate transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, or translational approaches to addressing cancer-related research question(s). 
• Projects that utilize Massey-supported shared resources, especially those applicants who have collaborated with one or more Massey-supported shared resource directors to optimize the full capabilities or innovative capabilities of a shared resource.