Development Research Program

Project Summary/ Abstract The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Breast Cancer’s Developmental Research Program (DRP) will fund focused investigator-initiated projects with direct cost budgets of between $50,000-75,000. Federal SPORE funds will make up $75,000 per year, with possible increases in subsequent years depending upon the availability of funds. Institutional commitment from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) will provide up to $75,000 per year, with possible increases in subsequent years depending upon the availability of funds. Up to an additional $25,000-50,000 per year will be provided by the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Breast Program and up to $50,000 will be provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) for meritorious proposals. Therefore, approximately $175,000 to $200,000 total funds per year will be devoted to the DRP. Given the success of the DRP during the SPORE’s prior funding periods, as evidenced by high impact publications, new grants and innovative clinical trials, we will make every effort to add additional philanthropic funds to the program. The DF/HCC SPORE in Breast Cancer Administrative Core will initiate a broad call for proposals to ensure that the most promising and innovative research projects are submitted and considered for funding, and faculty members at all DF/HCC member institutions will be eligible to submit proposals. The DRP has a rigorous and transparent peer-review selection process that incorporates defined criteria for funding decisions including novelty, clinical impact, and feasibility. Proposals are evaluated and funding recommendations are made by the Developmental Research Program and Career Enhancement Program (DRP/CEP) Selection Committee, comprised of the SPORE PIs, established DF/HCC faculty members from participating institutions, and patient advocates. Recipients are required to interact with the SPORE and provide progress updates and will have access to all cores and resources. The purpose of the DRPs is to (1) explore novel ideas and concepts that have the potential to be transformative in the field of translational and clinical breast cancer research and (2) engage a larger group of investigators in the breast cancer SPORE community. During the current funding cycle of the SPORE, DRP projects led to numerous high impact publications, additional government and foundation grants, clinical trials, and one past DRP now comprises the new Project 1 in the renewal application. Every effort will be made to use this pilot funding as a starting point for future grant applications within or outside of the SPORE.