The Virtual Cancer Center Director Award (VCCDA) mechanism is a unique, interactive virtual cancer center (VCC) focused on bringing together two established investigators (Director and Deputy Director) and up to nine early career investigators (Scholars) to interrogate the commonalities of cancer. Candidates for Scholars will apply to a separate funding opportunity (W81XWH-20-PRCRP-CDA). The Director and Deputy Director will catalyze the growth and professional development of the Scholars in collaboration with the Scholars’ Career Guides, assess the progress of the Scholars, promote the cross pollination of different cancer disciplines, and facilitate communication and collaboration amongst all of the VCC members. The overarching goal of the VCC is to develop successful, highly productive Scholars in a collaborative research and career developmental environment. The VCC will provide intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for junior faculty. The VCC will give Scholars opportunities to operate in a collegial, highly dynamic, and cutting edge center to lead cancer research to a new frontier. It is the intention that through the VCC, collaborations will foster new growth in different cancers and spur an integrated cancer center to ensure the research advancements across different cancers.
The Virtual Cancer Center Director Award is structured to support two Principal Investigators (PIs). The Director will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The Deputy Director will be identified as the Partnering PI. Initiating and Partnering PIs each have different submission requirements, as described in Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission; however, both PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed VCC. The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal levels of input on the proposed VCC Leadership and clearly define the components to be addressed by each to continue the success of Scholars. While it is up to the Director and Deputy Director to define their roles, both VCC Leaders should have interactions with the Scholars; acting as administrative support does not fulfill the intent of the Deputy Director. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named to an individual award within the recipient organization.
A Congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force was formed with the purpose of identifying ways to help accelerate clinical and translational research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients. As a member of the Metastatic Cancer Task Force, CDMRP encourages applicants to review the recommendations (https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Congressional-Testimonies/2018/ 5/03/Metastatic-Cancer- Research) and submit research ideas to address these recommendations provided they are within the limitations of this funding opportunity and fit within the FY20 PRCRP priorities.