ASTRO-AstraZeneca SCLC Therapy Challenge RFP Grant

The ASTRO-AstraZeneca SCLC Therapy Challenge RFP aims to enhance research on limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) through innovative combination therapies, particularly integrating immunotherapy with advanced radiation techniques. Proposals are encouraged to explore various aspects, including care patterns, treatment workflows, prognostic biomarkers, and toxicity management. The target budget for projects ranges from $175,000 to $375,000, with consideration given to higher requests based on scientific merit, fostering significant advancements in radiation oncology.

The purpose of this grant is to advance collaborative research in the treatment of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC), fostering leadership in radiation oncology through multimodality combination therapies, with a special focus on integrating immunotherapy and innovative radiation techniques.
Challenge Statement/Research Areas of Interest
How can treatment and outcomes for LS-SCLC be improved through the combination of immunotherapy (IO) and advanced radiation therapies?
Research proposals in the following topic areas are encouraged:
Analyzing care patterns for multimodality concurrent chemo-radiation (cCRT) combined with IOExploring optimal workflows for administering cCRT + IO in clinical settingsIdentifying prognostic biomarkers for predicting patient response to treatmentInvestigating disease relapse patterns and treatment efficacy (cCRT + IO vs. cCRT alone)Managing toxicities associated with combined treatmentsPilot studies using novel radiation methods (e.g., SBRT, hypofractionation) alongside cCRT + IOLeveraging AI for SCLC detection and predicting complications like pneumonitisEvaluating the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the era of combined therapies
Studies of interest may evaluate the following:
Clinical outcomes (i.e., PFS, MFS, local control, etc.)Biomarker identificationSafety/Adverse Events (AEs)Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)Translational research such as exploratory biomarkers and mechanistic studies
Budget
The target budget for each individual project grant is between U.S. $175,000 to $375,000 (total costs, which include both direct and indirect costs). However, individual projects requesting higher amounts will be considered based on scientific merit and funding availability. Overhead (indirect cost) rates of up to 25% of the total proposed project budget are allowed.