Bladder Cancer Career Development Award Grant

The Bladder Cancer Career Development Award supports junior investigators aiming to establish an independent research program in bladder cancer. This three-year grant, totaling $250,000, is targeted at those who have recently appointed faculty positions and lack significant prior funding. Eligible projects may include clinical trials or epidemiological studies directly related to bladder cancer, with a focus on measurable outcomes and milestones throughout the grant period.

This Award is intended to support investigators who have received their initial faculty appointment to establish an independent bladder cancer (including upper tract disease) research program and successful career path. This three-year grant, totaling $250,000, is designed for junior investigators yet to secure their first significant research funding (NIH R01 or equivalent). Training grants and other mentor-linked funding are not considered independent funding. The research proposed for funding may be translational, clinical (including clinical trials), or epidemiological, must have direct applicability and relevance to bladder cancer and/or upper tract urothelial cancer, and must demonstrate the likelihood of translating new concepts into clinical practice. Project proposals should have measurable outcomes during the three-year grant period and include research milestones for the conclusion of the grant.

Eligibility

At the time of submission, the applicant must have a doctoral degree (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, Ph.D., DNP, DSW, PharmD, PsyD, DVM, or equivalent) in the biomedical sciences or a field applicable to health science research and may not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree. The applicant must be an assistant professor, instructor, research assistant professor, or equivalent within seven years of their first full-time faculty appointment. At the time of application submission, the applicant cannot hold the associate or full professor title. Parental, medical, or other well-justified leave for personal or family situations of generally less than 12 months duration is not included in the 7-year eligibility limit.The applicant must be from a US or Canadian sponsoring academic, nonprofit, or governmental institution. Proof of permanent resident status or a valid work visa is required if the applicant is not an American or a Canadian citizen.The applicant must be able to commit at least 50% of full-time effort in research (applies to total research, not just the proposed project) during the Award period.The sponsoring institution must ensure institutional support for the applicant’s research program and career advancement.The applicant cannot currently or have previously served as a principal investigator on major independent research awards or grants (e.g., NIH R01 or equivalent). Applicants who are/were principal investigators on major grants are considered to have already received funding to catalyze their careers and are not eligible to apply. Training grants and other mentor-linked funding are not regarded as independent funding.The applicant may not have another award with significant scientific overlap. Additionally, if an applicant receives notice of funding from another funding agency for a proposal with significant scientific overlap following submission of their CDA application or following award notice, the applicant will have to decide between the awards. BCAN will not allow the applicant to modify the aims for either award.Eligible applicants are allowed to hold only one active grant from BCAN at a time.Applicants must be up-to-date and in compliance with all requirements (e.g., progress reports, final reports) of any past grants from BCAN.BCAN will accept only one proposal from each applicant per announcement.

Ineligibility

While applicants are welcome to include Co-Investigators in their Career Development Award proposal, this mechanism does not allow for Co-Principal Investigators.