The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation (Alliance Foundation) announces a request for proposals to support research focused on addressing high priority research areas, defined during the 2023 Alliance Scientific Strategic Retreat.

Background

Every two years, Alliance leaders participate in a scientific strategic retreat, during which research priorities are defined. The goal of these priorities is to focus innovation by Alliance scientific committees on strategic areas, with the expectation that attention to these priorities will challenge researchers to accelerate the development of new treatments, cancer control approaches, and cancer care delivery results. These strategic priorities generally focus on fostering engagement of new disciplines or technologies relevant to Alliance research, or upon work to improve the design and implementation of Alliance clinical trials. Our goal is to identify discrete research projects that directly address one or more of these strategic priorities. The current Alliance Strategic Priorities were announced in January 2023.

Improve Operational and Trial Conduct Efficiencies

• Eliminate burden at all levels (site, patient, NCTN) to improve operational efficiency
• Reduce site burden through EHR based clinical research data transmission
• Scientific validation of streamlined data collection
• Expand implementation science, including de-implemenation

Encourage Biomarker-Based Discovery

• Use annotated banked biospecimens, data, images, or novel methods to discover and/or develop promising biomarkers
• Generate pilot data towards new clinical research and funding opportunities
• Support novel study designs that include biomarkers

Eliminate Inequities/Deliver Optimal Care

• Improve inclusion and data collection from under-represented populations, such as by race/ethnicity or rural versus urban
• Utilize/develop/validate novel methods to support inclusion of diverse populations in research such as telehealth, electronic personalized system, participant navigation

Proposal Requirements

• Principal Investigator must be an Alliance member in good standing
• Proposal must address one of the current Alliance Strategic Priorities
• Proposal must demonstrate that the Specific Aims can be achieved in a three-year timeframe
• If applicable, approval by the appropriate NCI committees will be required before final approval

Review Criteria

The following questions will be used by the review panel to assess the suitability of the proposal and to assign priority for funding:

• How well does the proposal address the relevant Strategic Priority?
• Is the Alliance an appropriate environment for execution of the proposed research?
• Does the work involve collaboration across two or more Alliance institutions?
• Is the work achievable within the three-year timeframe?
• Is the research team qualified to conduct the proposed research?
• If proposal is to set up a new research initiative or program, how will this new effort be sustained after initial funding period?

Funding Source, Funding Amount, and Reporting Requirements

The funding for this RFP is provided by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to support the mission of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. A total of $1,000,000 is allocated for this RFP. Individual proposal budgets are limited to a maximum total cost of $200,000, of which no more than 15% can be allocated to indirect costs. Proposals for projects requiring less than the maximal amount are also welcome. Funds will be dispersed to one principal awardee’s institution. Subcontracts from the primary awardee are allowed, but Alliance will not manage sub-awardee or site payments.

Funding will be available upon confirmation of Institutional Review Board approval of the proposed work (if required), NCI approval (if required), and completion of agreements between relevant research parties and the Alliance Foundation. Progress and financial reports to the Alliance Foundation, detailing scientific progress and funding allocation are required.

Proposal Format, Submission and Timelines

Proposal Format	Proposal Submission	Proposal Timeline and Due Dates
Specific Aims: 1 page maximum Research Plan: 3 pages maximum Relevance to Alliance Strategic Priority: 1 page maximum Qualifications of Research Team: 1 page maximum PI CV Sustainability Strategy: 1 page maximum References Budget and Budget Justification: Max Total Cost - $200,000	Submit online and address to: Eva Galanis, MD Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation https://spa.alliancefound.org	Letter of Intent (1 page): January 15, 2024 Application Deadline: March 1, 2024 Awardee Notification: April 1, 2024 Term 1: July 1, 2024-January 31, 2026 (18 months) Term 1 Progress Report: March 2, 2026 Term 2: February 1, 2026- June 30, 2027 (18 months) Term 2 Progress Report: July 31, 2027