Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY The primary purpose of the NCI Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) is to support clinical investigators in the pursuit of a career in academic clinical trials and grow participation in NCI-sponsored trials at designated NCI cancer centers. The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the premier cancer center in Alabama and the surrounding regions. The proposed ECIA application is specifically designed to provide salary support for dedicated protected time to Dr. Charles Peyton, a urologic oncologist at UAB. As such, the protected time will be utilized with the following objectives to improve upon the genitourinary (GU) cancer service line at UAB. (1) Accelerate the growth of GU clinical trial portfolio, development and accrual at UAB, emphasizing NCI-sponsored clinical trials. Methods will include research infrastructure development, implementation design and expansion of clinical trial awareness institutionally and regionally. (2) Increase cross departmental and multi-institutional collaborative engagements with UAB through NCI designated avenues and clinical trial opportunities. Methods include scheduled collaborative meetings and attendance of NCI designated collaborative networking and task force groups. Line item, achievable goals will be designed, executed and audited. (3) Elevate the ECIA recipient as an institutional clinical trial leader. Methods will provide Dr. Peyton with time dedicated to participating in institutional clinical trial leadership. Achieving these strategic objectives will elevate the UAB GU cancer service line to a collaborative, multifaceted leading clinical trial group, providing cutting-edge clinical trials to Alabama and the Southeast United States.