Developmental Funds

DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDS: ABSTRACT CCSG Developmental Funds provide an essential source of support for the strategic goals of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC). During the current funding period, these funds were used to recruit new research faculty, support early-stage investigators (ESIs), develop new Shared Resources, and fund pilot projects to generate preliminary data in anticipation of successful subsequent independent peer-reviewed funding. In addition, institutionally derived discretionary funds and philanthropic support, while serving as a separate source of support for strategic initiatives, are intentionally leveraged to complement the impact of Developmental Fund investments. The MCCCC Senior Leadership team determines the priorities for allocating Developmental Funds and supplemental institutional support to ensure alignment with the MCCCC’s Strategic Goals. Use of Developmental Funds is overseen by: Cheryl Willman, MD, MCCCC Enterprise Executive Director; Stephen Ansell, MD, Minnesota Site Deputy Director, Richard Bold, MD, Arizona Site Deputy Director, and Roxana Dronca, MD, Florida Site Deputy Director. Jolene Summer Bolster and Cancer Center Administration are responsible for managing the awards including CCSG guideline compliance, announcements, the scientific review process, pre/post award management, and return on investment (ROI). The MCCCC Senior Leadership team provides scientific review for Pilot Projects and makes recommendations for awards to the Center Director/Site Directors. Funds are allocated based on scientific merit, innovation, alignment with MCCCC 2030 Bold.Forward. Strategic Plan, and programmatic relevance. In the current funding period, $2.5M of Developmental Funds were allocated to support the recruitment of 12 outstanding faculty members, 18 pilot project awards, and an additional $57,000 of Developmental Funds were allocated to the development of one Shared Resource. These awardees have secured $34.8M in grants and clinical trials – a 12-fold ROI thus far. The $34.8M includes $31.8M in peer-reviewed grant funding, which is 11 times the amount of Developmental Funds invested. At the end of the prior reporting period (2017-2018), $102.6K of Developmental Funds were allocated to support one recruitment and two pilot project awards, and an additional $125,000 were allocated to the development of two Shared Resources. These funds were not reported in the 2018 application due to timing of disbursement. MCCCC has recognized significant ROI for these awardees, including $6.8M in additional secured grants, initiation of two clinical trials, and generation of 27 publications, five with an impact factor greater than 10. This represents nearly a 29-fold ROI. During the next project period, funding will facilitate recruitment of exceptional established research faculty and ESIs, and secure funding of pilot awards, both of which fulfill strategic needs as defined in the MCCCC 2030 Bold.Forward. Strategic Plan and beyond.