NCCF 2014 RFP
National Canine Cancer Foundation
Request for Investigator-Initiated Research Proposals: 2014 Cycle
Issue Date: April 15, 2014
Letter of Intent Due Date: June 30, 2014
Invited Proposals Due Date: September 1, 2014
Anticipated Grant Start Date: November 3, 2014
NCCF 2014 RFP
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The National Canine Cancer Foundation (NCCF) invites applications from eligible
investigators for its 2014 grants cycle for original research projects investigating any
area of canine cancer. This continuing initiative by the NCCF is built on strategic
partnerships that seek to accelerate discovery of new, effective strategies for cancer
prevention, detection, prognosis, and treatment. A letter of intent is required; grants in
amounts up to $75,000 per year (including indirect costs) for 1-2 years will be
considered. Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry
out a research project investigating canine cancer is invited to submit a letter of intent
and develop an application for support.
Applicants may submit only one application per RFP as a Principal Investigator.
II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
a. Purpose
The goal of the NCCF is to reduce the mortality and suffering caused by canine cancer.
This program seeks projects with rapid potential for clinical translation to pet dogs with
cancer, and will use a model for continued support based on milestones. Investigators
are encouraged to consider new ideas and high-risk, high-reward projects. Provision of
preliminary data to support the projects is highly encouraged and is likely to enhance
competitiveness of applications, but it is not absolutely necessary. Funding can be used
to establish the foundation for a larger project, or when applicable, to implement
translation of existing projects. A clear path leading to clinical applications in dogs with
cancer is required. The NCCF is particularly interested in, but not limited to, projects that
address new treatments for canine hemangiosarcoma.
b. Background
Canine cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among companion animals.
Approximately half of all dogs over the age of 10 years will die of cancer. Certain
breeds are predisposed to certain cancers, and the genetic impact of cancer risk
continues to unfold. Regardless of the cause of cancer, more sensitive methods of
detection are needed to improve success with treatment. Less toxic, more targeted
therapies also are needed to reduce morbidity associated with cancer and its treatment.
Companion animals provide unconditional support and improve the health and well
being of their owners/guardians. Pet owners seek advanced care comparable in scope
and efficacy to that provided to people.
It is the goal of the NCCF to make a dramatic impact by facilitating the transition of lifealtering research from the lab into clinical trials, and finally into more effective
treatments to win the battle over canine cancer. The NCCF also seeks to develop new
diagnostic methods to improve early detection and accurate diagnoses of cancer in our
beloved dogs. We expect that the research supported by the NCCF will have the
ancillary result of advancing human cancer research.
c. Objectives and Scope
This funding opportunity is meant to support the inception and implementation of
NCCF 2014 RFP
creative projects that will transform our understanding and approach to canine cancer.
Specifically, the purpose of this request is to encourage high risk-high reward
applications from new and established investigators that are unlikely to receive support
from other agencies. Applications should state a principal long-term goal to develop or
implement an effective strategy for prevention, detection, prognosis, or treatment of one
or more cancer types in dogs in a manner that is consistent with the mission of the
NCCF. Projects investigating any canine cancer are eligible and will be considered;
projects investigating canine hemangiosarcoma are especially encouraged for this
request.
Applicants should submit a letter of intent as described below. Full proposals will be
invited from these letters of intent. Only invited full proposals will be considered for
support. Anticipated start date will be November 3, 2014.
Investigators who achieve excellent progress on all milestones and objectives towards
translation will be eligible for a "fast track" extension process.
III. LETTER OF INTENT
a. Due date
A letter of intent is due on June 30, 2014
b. Content and organization
The letter of intent must follow the format described below. Letters that do not adhere to
formatting guidelines will not be considered. Letters of intent should be prepared to fit
standard US letter size paper (8.5 x 11 “) using 1” margins and Arial or Helvetica 11
point fonts. Paragraph breaks should include 6 point spacing. Use of smaller fonts,
compressed fonts, reduced line spacing, or smaller margins will result in
administrative disqualification.
1) Page 1
a) Grant title
b) Principal investigator (note: co-investigator information provided as addenda at
the end)
i) Name
ii) Institutional affiliation and contact information, including Principal Investigator
email
c) Name, title and contact information (including email) of officer authorized to sign
for the institution
d) Direct costs and duration of project
i) Grants up to $75,000 (total costs) per year, for 1-2 years will be considered
e) Is this a resubmission? If yes, provide a brief document (>1 page) responding to
the critique as an addendum
f) Has this proposal been submitted in any form to another organization? If yes, the
outcome for that application (score, reviews) and an explanation for why it should
be considered for this program is required as an appendix
g) Investigator Qualifications (200 words)
NCCF 2014 RFP
2) Page 2
a) Cancer type(s) to be investigated
b) Long term objective
c) Translational potential (200 words)
i) How might this project change the current paradigm of prevention, detection,
prognosis, or treatment of this cancer in dogs?
ii) What is the timeline to clinical translation?
(1) Briefly describe the plan and timeline to translate this technology for dogs
with cancer. Projects should have a capability for clinical translation, or at
least be able to establish if the project will likely have translational
relevance within two to three years. Timelines that extend up to three
years into the future do not require additional justification. Projects that
envision a longer time to translation must justify the timeline and clearly
describe how they are responsive to this RFP.
d) Hypothesis and objectives (300 words)
3) Page 3
a) Proposed milestones and timeline
i) Describe specific, attainable milestones that can be used to negotiate and
maintain financial support of the project, how each milestone relates to the
specific objectives, and how the milestones will establish a framework for
translation
4) Pages 4-5
a) Proposed budget and detailed justification
i) Personnel
(1) Support for up to 10% effort of principal investigators is allowable, but not
required. Proposals that commit <5% effort for principal investigators will
not be considered.
(2) Key personnel salaries and customary fringe benefits for the institution.
Applicants from small businesses or non-profit entities that do not have set
fringe benefits must justify fringe requests based on actual costs.
ii) Supplies and reagents
(1) Laboratory or clinical supplies are eligible and must be described in detail.
For proposals that address prevention, control, or therapy without
laboratory components, office supplies, mailing costs, survey research
costs, web costs, financial incentives, and contract costs will be
considered.
iii) Facilities costs
(1) Facilities costs, capital equipment, and renovation are not allowable
iv) Travel
(1) Travel to meetings or for sample collection will be considered if it is
essential to complete the milestones
v) Other expenses
(1) Charges from core facilities and other essential components that are not
included in categories above will be considered if they are essential to
complete the milestones
vi) Administrative overhead
NCCF 2014 RFP
(1) A rate of 11.1% of the direct costs will be considered for administrative
overhead
vii) Subawards
(1) Subawards are allowable, but additional overhead costs will not be
provided to manage subawards
viii)Justification (no page limit)
(1) A detailed justification for funds requested in each category is required
(2) Any unconventional funding requests (for example, supplementation of
NCCF funds with institutional funds) will require approval from the
Foundation Board prior to submission of the Letter of Intent. Please submit
such requests at least 4 weeks in advance of the Letter of Intent to Mr.
Gary Nice at gnice@wearethecure.org
5) Addenda (use one page for each co-investigator, and as many pages as needed)
a) Grant title
b) Co-investigators
i) Name
ii) Institutional affiliation and contact information (including email)
c) Subcontract (Yes/No)
i) If Yes: Name, title, and contact information (including email) of officer
authorized to sign for the institution
d) Response to NCCF reviews (if applicable; <1 page)
e) Score and reviewers’ comments if application has been submitted to another
agency
Applicants are advised to pay special attention to the following categories that will be
used by the reviewers to assign a priority score to each application. Selection criteria
and funding decisions will be the sole purview of the NCCF Board of Directors.
 Principal Investigator - does s/he have relevant experience, is s/he well suited to
lead the project, and did s/he commit sufficient effort?
 Key Personnel - does the team possess the required expertise to achieve the
milestones?
 Project – is there evidence of innovation, achievable milestones that will fulfill the
objectives, and a clear path for clinical translation (to dogs with cancer)?
 Current and future funding potential – is this project a good fit for the RFP? Are there
other agencies and mechanisms that are better suited to fund this project? If the
investigators achieve the milestones, does it create additional opportunities for
funding?
 Institutional Commitment – matching costs are not required, but will be considered.
Cost-sharing faculty effort will not be considered as matching costs.
Letters of intent must be submitted as a single PDF file to Gary Nice, President and
CEO of NCCF by email at gnice@wearethecure.org no later than 5 PM CDT on June
30, 2014. Review is expected to occur by July 20, 2014 when successful applicants will
receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. Invited proposals will be due no later than
September 1, 2014.