Developmental Research Program

ABSTRACT The goal of the Developmental Research Program (DRP) of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Leukemia SPORE is to provide seed funding for pilot projects that show potential to make meaningful advances in leukemia prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment. Supplemented by institutional funds, the DRP will provide one to two years of funding to talented investigators or research teams from clinical and/or basic science backgrounds from the MSK community, neighboring institutions, or in support of collaborations with other Leukemia SPOREs. We will invite candidates annually to submit research proposals for peer-review by a committee of experts in leukemia and translational cancer research. We will prioritize research proposals that describe high-risk/high-reward hypothesis-driven work that has the potential to advance new avenues of leukemia investigation, or proposals that bring together exciting collaborative teams who will address ongoing problems in the leukemia field using new approaches and technologies. Applicants for DRP funding should possess an MD and/or PhD degree and should hold independent-investigator status as a faculty member or clinical researcher/research scientist at their institution. Applicants should have demonstrated a clear commitment to translational cancer research related to leukemia. The DRP investigators will be considered full members of the MSK SPORE in Leukemia and will participate ongoing meetings and research seminars (regular meetings and seminars held by the Leukemia Working Group, Leukemia Disease Management Team, Center of Hematologic Malignancies Science in Focus) as well as specialized SPORE meetings (annual, multi- institutional SPORE Retreat; SPORE Seminar Series; monthly progress meetings). The DRP projects will be monitored by the Executive Committee at monthly progress meetings, and will be reviewed to evaluate potential to grow into a full SPORE research project in the current or upcoming grant cycle. The DRP is committed to adhering to and supporting the MSK policies and procedures to promote diversity and strengthen the participation of women and individuals from underrepresented minorities.