ThyCa Medullary Thyroid Cancer Research Fund

Geographic Scope: International; open to researchers and institutions worldwide

Focus Areas: Research specifically focused on medullary thyroid cancer, including:

• Pathogenesis of medullary thyroid cancer
• Clinical aspects of the disease
• Treatment of medullary thyroid cancer
• Both sporadic and familial medullary thyroid cancer

Program Overview:
ThyCa established the Medullary Thyroid Cancer Research Fund in 2003 as a second research fund to support research on medullary thyroid cancer specifically. Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for 5-10% of all thyroid cancer cases and has unique features distinct from follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancers.

Key Features

• Dedicated Focus: Specialized research fund separate from the general Thyroid Cancer Research Fund
• Funding Structure: 100% of donated funds go directly to research
• Selection Process: Independent peer review by expert scientific panel of the American Thyroid Association (ATA)
• Grant Terms: Typically 2-year grants with continuation funding based on progress reports
• Tax Deductible: All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by IRS

Eligibility

• Open to researchers at any hospital or research institution
• International researchers eligible
• Research proposals evaluated on scientific merit regardless of institution affiliation

Donor Options

• Donors may designate contributions specifically to the Medullary Thyroid Cancer Research Fund
• Donors may also contribute to both the Medullary Thyroid Cancer Fund and the Thyroid Cancer Research Fund
• Contributions of any size welcome

Contact Information

• Phone: 1-877-588-7904
• Email: thyca@thyca.org
• Mailing Address: ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., Research Fund, PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545
• Website: www.thyca.org

Notable Recipients

• 2005/2007: Matthias Schott, M.D., Heinrich-Heine University of Duesseldorf, Germany - "Induction of Cytotoxic Immunity in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma by Dendritic Vaccination"
• 2006/2007: Xianmin Xia, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland - Research on tumor suppressor proteins affecting medullary thyroid cancer cells

Application Process

Applications are submitted through the American Thyroid Association (ATA) portal:

1. Visit: www.thyroid.org or the ATA professionals/education/grants section
2. Submit Proposal Summary by announced deadline (e.g., March 15, 2005 for 2005 cycle)
3. Selected Proposals: Authors invited to submit complete grant applications (typically due in spring)
4. Expert Review: Scientific panel of the ATA conducts independent peer review
5. Award Decision: Based on scientific merit and relevance to medullary thyroid cancer research

Required Materials

• Initial proposal summary
• Complete grant application (if selected)
• Progress reports (required in fourth quarter of first year for continuation funding)

Notes

• Check ATA website for current application deadlines and specific guidelines
• Applications open to researchers worldwide
• ThyCa coordinates with ATA for all review and selection processes
• Focus must be specifically on medullary thyroid cancer research