Investigator Development

CRN Development Pilot Funds Program

NCI awarded the CRN a developmental pilot fund program to be funded through April 2012. In the fall, the program invites the submission of proposals for pilot activities that are consistent with the CRN's scientific priorities and leverage unique features of the CRN. The expectation is that the funds invested in this activity lead to a fundable proposal. Pilot activities involve at least one CRN site and have the potential to lead to research projects that involve two or more CRN sites. All investigators from within the 14 CRN sites are eligible to submit proposals. The CRN also welcomes new collaborations, including investigators who are not employed by a CRN site.

Read more on page 30 of "The HMO Cancer Research Network: Capacity, Collaboration, & Investigation".

Cancer Research Network Investigator Development Core

The CRN Scholars Program is a 20-month training activity that aims to help junior investigators develop research independence, specifically, being a PI on a successful investigator-initiated grant and/or being first author on a peer reviewed, published article reporting original research.

Primary aims of this Program are:

1. To help junior investigators achieve two landmarks on the path to being successful, independent investigators: being first author on an original research paper reporting on research led by the investigator and published in a peer reviewed journal and becoming PI on a successful R01 grant or an equivalent. Although a successful R01 may take more than the 20 months participants spend in the Program, Scholars are expected to undertake activities, such as developing a pilot study or writing an R01 proposal, that will ultimately lead to a funded R01.
2. To develop in participants the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed for successful collaborative research, which are central to success in the CRN and somewhat different from those needed for locally based research.

Secondary aims of the Program are:

1. To build skills in the use of resources specific to CRN, especially the VDW.
2. To increase junior investigators' competence in applied research skills (such as identifying important questions, grant writing, addressing peer reviewer critiques, authorship negotiation, manuscript writing, responding to letters from editors, and establishing a balanced career portfolio, etc.) which are generally not taught in classroom instruction during postgraduate studies.
3. To create a forum for exposing junior investigators to a broad range of expertise and resources in CRN, beyond those present at a single site, and to experts in cancer research outside of CRN.

Participants of the Program develop grant applications and/or manuscripts through one-on-one mentoring by one of the co-directors of the Program and by participating in twice-monthly conference calls with their peers in the Program. They also work with a local research mentor. Additionally, the 20-month Program introduces participants to the people, resources and opportunities in the CRN, promoting research collaboration among CRN sites. The Program "curriculum" is based on principles of adult learning: participants identify their own needs and faculty act as facilitators.

Read more on page 31 of "The HMO Cancer Research Network: Capacity, Collaboration, & Investigation".