Priority driven research

Search

Priority driven research

Overview

Cancer Australia administers a dedicated cancer research budget of $16 million over the four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09.

The Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme is a new funding program to support research that reduces the impact of cancer on the community and improves outcomes for people affected by cancer.

Cancer Australia has established the scheme to partner with other organisations that fund cancer research to:

better coordinate funding of priority-driven cancer research,
foster collaboration between cancer researchers to build Australia’s cancer research capacity, and
foster consumer participation in cancer research, from design to implementation.

The following funding partners have joined Cancer Australia to fund research projects in 2008: beyondblue, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, The Cancer Council Australia, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) facilitates registration and initial assessment of applications, and will endorse grants funded through this scheme.

Applications for 2008 grants (now closed)

Applications for 2008 grants (now closed)

Cancer Australia and our funding partners – beyondblue, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, The Cancer Council Australia, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation – have invited applications for Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Grants to commence in 2008.

Researchers working in Australia are eligible to apply. Project grants are offered to support research for a period of up to three years. Funding up to $600 000 (GST exclusive) over three years is available with a maximum, in any one year, of $200 000 (GST exclusive). However, all project grant applications ranging from 1 to 3 years within a budget ranging from $10 000 to $200 000 per annum will be considered.

Project grants of one year duration for up to $75 000 (GST exclusive) will also be offered by the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, to support post-doctoral researchers with less than 5 years post-doctoral experience undertaking research into malignant disease.

Grant applications must relate to the research priority areas identified by Cancer Australia and our funding partners, listed below:

Cancer Australia

Trials-based research in cancer prevention/screening
Improving screening programs to ensure that people can be identified and treated appropriately, and ensuring that screening services are effective
Early detection of breast and ovarian cancers
The application of emerging new treatments and technologies, particularly for bowel and prostate cancer
Improvements in cancer outcomes through better coordination of care and a multidisciplinary approach

BeyondBlue Ltd (beyondblue)

beyondblue’s research priorities are collaborative research to achieve increased recognition of the comorbidities of cancer and depression leading to an improvement in psychosocial care for people with any kind of cancer and their carers. This means applied research which is practical, involves multi-disciplinary teams, has specific application and has clearly defined pathways for care from primary to tertiary settings. This may include:

the development of pathways to care and delivery of well-evaluated tools to diagnose and address depression/anxiety and psychosocial distress in people with cancer in various settings;
the development and dissemination of evidence-based, well-evaluated therapeutic guidelines for people with cancer and their families that leads to improved wellbeing and mental health outcomes;
research to identify, create and institute robust pathways to care recognising the psychosocial impact for people with cancer and their families, broadly applied to a number of settings;
trials of interventions which improve the psychosocial mental health of people with cancer, their families and carers in hospital and outpatient settings;
other relevant studies which lead to improvement in quality of care and quality of life for people with depression and cancer, including childhood cancers.

Research supported by this program must demonstrate a multidisciplinary team approach with collaboration between researchers, consumers, carers and stakeholders.

Cure Cancer Australia Foundation

Project grants of one year duration in any field of research (including clinical) into malignant disease, that will be “start up” funding to support post-doctoral researchers with less than 5 years post-doctoral experience at the time of application.

Collaborative projects with co-workers are encouraged provided details of the proposed collaboration are clearly stated; and particular consideration will be given to projects that are innovative, non-duplicative of other efforts. Continuing support of existing projects may not be supported.

The Cancer Council Australia

Clinical trials research priorities in:

Collaborative, innovative and novel approaches, methods and therapeutics, best addressed through Phase I and II studies;
Research areas that are currently under-represented and under-funded, eg cancers of the colon, pancreas, prostate and unknown primary site;
Trials in new technologies, staging and diagnosis.

Clinical trials conducted independent of drug companies are encouraged.

Pancreatic cancer research priorities to:

Develop strategies to identify patients with pancreatic cancer at a potentially curable stage
Develop and assess novel therapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer

National Breast Cancer Foundation

Young women and breast cancer. This includes women aged less than 50 years or those considered to be pre-menopausal;
All aspects of advanced breast cancer;
Translational research, with the potential to deliver outcomes that are clinically relevant or otherwise ready to be implemented to improve the care of women with breast cancer;
Multidisciplinary research, which encourages research across disciplines and boundaries
Novel health service delivery

Particular consideration will be given to projects that are innovative, non- duplicative of other efforts and have the potential for national application.

NHMRC Application form, guidelines and further information

Download Guide for Applicants (PDF)

Download Guide for Applicants (DOC)

Download Additional Questions (PDF)

Download Additional Questions (DOC)

Contact: Dr Paul Jackson at Cancer Australia