The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research Seed Grant Award Program:

Aim:

• To provide start-up funding for basic scientists and clinicians who intend to test innovative ideas for improving the diagnosis and current therapies and to develop new treatment modalities for pancreatic cancer.
• To obtain preliminary data required for additional funding from other agencies for pancreatic cancer research.
• To impact on the understanding of pancreatic cancer cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, morphology and response to therapy.
• To establish collaborations within the field for mutual projects that can be considered for further funding.

Eligibility and expectations:

• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.
• Academic institutions of the U.S. and their investigators with the intent of developing a strong curriculum in pancreatic cancer research.
• All levels of academic faculty (assistant, associate and full professors).
• Research scientists and research associates with recommendations from their academic faculty supervisor(s).
• Postdoctoral fellows and young investigators after two years of completed training in pancreatic cancer research in any academic or private institution of the U.S..
• The Foundation expects that seed grant awards will generate quality abstracts, papers, presentations, as well as new proposals.  The Foundation seeks and supports investigators whose primary intent is to build a strong curriculum in pancreatic cancer research. 

Deadline:

• August 15^th of each year, as long as the program is in effect. The deadline for 2008 is August 15th.

Review process, timetable, funding amount & schedule:

• Peer review and priority scores assigned by the Seed Grant Advisory Board of the Foundation.
• Internal and external reviewers are recruited by the Foundation, however recommendations for or exclusions of potential reviewers by the applicant are also considered. 
• Successful application starting date is November 15^th of the same calendar year.
• Funding is provided on a year-to-year basis in the amount of $50,000.  Programs can be extended for one more year upon a competitive renewal/ progress report, which is evaluated by the Advisory Board. (No indirect costs will be paid)
• Each applicant is obliged to submit a 3 page progress report by July 15^th of the following year, regardless of future funding from the Foundation.
• Progress reports must include abstracts, papers, presentations and grant proposals (in preparation, completed or already submitted to other funding agencies) as the result of the seed grant fund from the Foundation.

Format:

• Blank forms are available in MS Word format by clicking the link here.
• Specific Aims, short Background and Research Plan are obligatory elements of the proposal.
• Preliminary data are optional if available.
• The proposal must be limited to five 12 font typed pages omitting the administrative pages, abstracts and literature cited.
• Proposals must be written in English and must include a public information and a scientific abstract of not exceeding 250 words.
• For animal or human cell culture studies obtaining IRB approval is the responsibility of the applicant.
• Established publication track record in pancreatic cancer and previous funding are desirable but not required for consideration for funding under the Hirshberg seed grant program.
• Please submit one electronic copy of the proposal and completed forms on or before the submission deadline to the Foundation’s contact address at ahirshberg@pancreatic.org in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.  It is not necessary to submit a hard copy of your application. When your email is received you will receive an email confirmation. Official signatures are obligatory in the electronic forms, with all contacts (Applicant, Department Chair and Grants Officer).  The administrative information must be filled out, printed and signed, then scanned and inserted in the submitted electronic application forms in PDF.  In case electronic signatures are available or the application is a PDF file the Foundation requests the signatures on the forms after scanning the administrative pages. Grant proposals are delivered to reviewers electronically with the necessary evaluation forms attached by the Foundation. 

PDF Form is here

Word version is here