Through the generous support of the H Foundation, members of the Basic Sciences Research Division of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University can apply for a pilot project award for use in the Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging designed to stimulate basic and translational cancer research. These pilot awards will provide up to $5,000 on behalf of an investigator directly to CAMI. An additional $5,000 of funding may be requested for projects utilizing both CAMI and the Tumor Biology Core.

Northwestern University's Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging (CAMI) was created to drive interdisciplinary research bridging the gap between basic science and science-based medicine. CAMI provides a wide range of imaging instrumentation and support facilities for molecular imaging of biological events in intact organisms. Currently available modalities for the pilot projects include high field MRI (9.4T and 7T) and whole body bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging (IVIS Spectrum). Please see the CAMI website for additional information: http://cami.northwestern.edu/

To discuss project feasibility, contact Alex Waters in CAMI at EAlexWaters@northwestern.edu or Angki Kandela in the Tumor Biology Core at i-kandela@northwestern.edu

Eligibility and Process: These Awards are available to full members of the Lurie Cancer Center who are specifically affiliated with one of the four Basic Sciences Research Programs.

In order to be considered for a CAMI Pilot Project Award the Cancer Center Member should submit a brief one to two-page application explaining how the proposed research advances cancer-related discovery research at Northwestern University. The application should include an abstract, a background statement describing preliminary studies, a research plan including the research design and methodology. The proposals must represent new work, not enhancements of existing projects. It is envisioned that promising pilot projects will be developed into RO1, RO3 or R21 grants.

Responsibilities of the Awardees:
As a condition of funding, awardees will be expected to submit a written progress report two months prior to the end of the project year.

Evaluation Process:
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Scientific merit
Cancer Relevance

Applications should be sent to Tom O'Halloran via Jenna TerMolen at jter@northwestern.edu.

Application deadline: December 1, 2011. Funding decisions will be announced in late December.

Through the generous support of the H Foundation, the Basic Sciences Research Division of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University has been able to fund research grant applications to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through two funding mechanisms–Incentive and Bridge Awards. Since 2003, our investigators have received 34 of these awards. In the current funding environment, these resources from H Foundation and the Lurie Cancer Center can play a critical role in maintaining the productivity of high-impact basic sciences research programs.

The H Foundation Incentive Awards provide funding for faculty who have submitted and received a score on an RO1 grant to the NCI for the first time in their career. If additional funds are available, awards will be made to other faculty for new, first-time NCI RO1 submissions, which are scored but not yet funded. Awards of up to $20,000 to support research have been made.

The H Foundation Bridge Awards provide up to $20,000 of support for competing renewals of NCI-sponsored RO1 research that missed the payline. If you will be resubmitting an NCI competing renewal that received a score but was not funded,let your Program Leader know or email Tom O'Halloran at
t-ohalloran@northwetern.edu and copied to Jenna Ter Molen at jter@northwestern.edu.

Eligibility and Process:
These Awards are available to full members of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center who are specifically affiliated with one of the five Basic Sciences Research Programs. In order to be considered for either an Incentive or Bridge Award, the Cancer Center Member should submit:

1. A brief cover letter explaining how the proposed research described in an RO1 application to NCI advances cancer-related discovery research at
   Northwestern University
2. The NIH Research Summary Statement (pink sheet) from the submitted grant
3. The NIH Biographical Sketch/CV including support pages of the applicant

Applications should be sent to Tom O'Halloran via Jenna TerMolen . As a condition of funding, awardees will be expected to submit a written progress report two months prior to the end of the project year. Applications for both types of awards will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the funds for the year are expended.

Through the generous support of the Lea Charitable Trust, the Basic Sciences Division of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University has available a pool of funds to support small equipment grants for collaborative research projects or for use by multiple investigators. These awards are available to full members of the Lurie Cancer Center who are affiliated with one of the five Basic Sciences Research Programs. Awards will typically be for $5,000 to $8,000 with occasional exceptions for compelling circumstances. We are requesting one-page applications, identifying the nature of and participants in a collaborative research project or a list of the investigators who would use the equipment. If the request for funds represents partial support of an equipment purchase, please note what other sources of funds would be available to complete the purchase. Applications for funds for the purchase of equipment items should be submitted to Dr. Tom O'Halloran via Jenna Ter Molen. Awards are made on a rolling basis as funds become available. Awards are made on a rolling basis as funds become available.