About the Innovation Pilot Award
The Innovation Pilot Award supports the early development of high-quality, innovative cancer research projects from all areas, including basic science, laboratory-based translation, clinical investigation and population science. Funded through an annual request for applications, the Innovation Pilot Awards aim to support new scientific directions and is open to all Massey research members. One to two projects per Massey research program will be selected annually.
Award details
- Funds should be used to support a discrete, specified hypothesis-driven research project from a Massey research member. Other team members may include non-members.
- The awards can range in size, but cannot exceed $75,000 for a single principal investigator (PI). Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.
- Multi-PI submissions are highly encouraged but not required.
- The proposed project period should not exceed 1-year.
- A Massey investigator may only hold one active pilot research award at a time
Research program project considerations
- Cancer Biology: Projects should be focused on the development of new insights across the hallmarks of cancer biology.
- Developmental Therapeutics: Projects should address the development of innovative strategies for cancer treatment.
- Cancer Prevention and Control: Projects should be focused on addressing cancer prevention and control.
Learn more about Massey's research programs
Upcoming deadlines and award dates
Now accepting submissions for the 2024 cycle:
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) release: February 23, 2024
- Letter of Intent due by 5:00 pm EST: March 15, 2024
- Selected applicants invited to submit full application: March 25, 2024
- Full applications due by 5:00 pm EST: April 29, 2024
- Earliest start date: June 1, 2024
If you have questions about the Innovation award, please contact Alex Haynes at haynesa4@vcu.edu or (305) 915-4200.
Previous awardees
| Awardees | Project |
|---|---|
| M. Imad Damaj, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology |
Understanding the Role of Vitamin D in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy |
| Wook Jin (Eddie) Chae, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Microbiology & Immunology Hisashi Harada, Ph.D. Professor, Oral & Craniofacial Molecular Biology |
Tumor-promoting Immune Mechanisms via DKK1 in Head and Neck Cancer (HNSCC) |
| Yuesheng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology Hamid Akbarali, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology |
Mechanism and Prevention of the Late Onset Irinotecan-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity |
| Awardees | Project |
|---|---|
| Larisa Litovchick, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Internal Medicine |
Role of DREAM Complex in Lung Cancer |
| Ashlee Loughan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Neurology |
FearLess in Cognitively Intact Patients with Glioma |
| Alexander Neuwelt, M.D. Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine |
High Dose Acetaminophen Re-invigorates Exhausted T-Cells for the Treatment of NSCLC |
| Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D. Professor, Radiation Oncology |
Combined Immune Checkpoint Blockade and ATMi Radiosensitization of Glioma |