The FY21 LCRP Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award mechanism supports translational research that will develop promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications. Translational research may be defined as an integration of basic science and clinical observations. Observations that drive a research idea may originate from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patient care. The ultimate goal of translational research is to move a concept or observation forward into clinical application. However, Principal Investigators (PIs) should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science.
This mechanism is intended to fund a broad range of translational studies, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Studies advancing/translating in vitro and/or animal studies to applications with human samples/cohorts.
- Late-stage preclinical work leading to/preparing for a clinical trial, e.g., Investigational New Drug (IND) application submission.
- Correlative studies that are associated with an open/ongoing or completed clinical trial and projects that develop endpoints for clinical trials.