Call for Applications: Young Investigator Grant (US and Canada)

The grants aim to cultivate the best and brightest researchers of the future who demonstrate a commitment to a research career in pediatric cancer. A mentor is required, and a career development plan must be included.

Scope 

• Proposals must fall within the scope of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s mission, focused on childhood cancers. Proposals with a sole/primary focus on patients >19 years of age will not be considered.
• Translational and Clinical Research Projects are encouraged.

Funding Information

• The requested budget should be in proportion to the scope of the proposed project and should be at or under $180,000 USD in direct costs over 3 years. A maximum of $60,000 in total costs may be requested per year.

Ineligible Expenses

• ALSF adheres to the NIH salary cap for principal investigator(s).
• Indirect costs are not allowed.
• The grant may not be renewed; one no-cost extension request is allowed.
• Other budget items may include fringe, travel, supplies and small pieces of equipment. ALSF funds cannot be used for tuition remission.
• If utilizing a subcontract or sub award, you must include this expense in the budget:
  • No indirect costs will be paid.
  • The PI’s institution is responsible for disbursing funds for sub awards and/or subcontracts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant institutions must be based in the United States or Canada. Applicants need not be United States citizens. Funds must be granted to nonprofit institutions or organizations.
• Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD or equivalent and must not have achieved an appointment higher than Instructor. Assistant Professors, including adjuncts at this level, will not be considered. In addition:
  • Applicants from accredited clinical fellowship programs are automatically eligible for the duration of their training and during their first three years at the Instructor level.
  • Applicants not from accredited clinical fellowship programs must meet the following criteria:
    • Applicants holding an MD or MD/PhD must be within seven years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application.
    • Applicants holding a PhD must be within four years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application.
• A minimum of 75% of the applicant’s time during the Young Investigator period must be allocated as non-clinical protected time for all research activities. This percentage of time includes both Young Investigator activities and the applicant’s other research responsibilities.
• Research mentor(s) must be identified and have a track record in pediatric cancer research. If no such record exists, a co-mentor with such a record must be identified. The application must document the mentor(s) involvement in experimental design and execution. A detailed plan for training activities is required.
• Applicants must not hold an NIH independent (R or P Award) or individual training (F or K Award) grant. Institutional training grants (KL2, K12, T32) are permitted. Funding from other foundations is permitted provided there is no scientific or budgetary overlap.

Ineligibility Criteria

• ALSF does not fund proposals for research utilizing human embryonic stem cells or nonhuman primates. Research with human induced pluripotent stem cells is permissible.
• The Young Investigator grant is not transferrable to another investigator or to the mentor. Transfer of the Young Investigator grant to another institution will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Proposals focused on social determinants of health with an emphasis on oncologic outcomes (rather than psychosocial outcomes) are permitted.

For more information, visit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.