Developmental Funds

Abstract: Developmental Funds Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) Developmental Funds provide discretionary support to help Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) achieve the goals established during strategic planning and evaluation activities. During the current period, HCC used these funds to make key faculty recruitments, launch innovative ideas, adopt technical advances within our Shared Resources, and support Staff Investigators. The HCC Senior Leadership Team (SLT) determines the priorities for the allocation of Developmental Funds and supplemental institutional support, with input from the Research Executive Advisory Committee (REAC) and the External Advisory Board (EAB), to ensure alignment with CCSG guidelines and the HCC strategic plan. CCSG Developmental Funds supported 10 faculty recruits; 21 pilot projects that allowed members to pursue innovative, high-risk ideas or work in high priority research areas; added new technologies and capabilities for re-configuration of HCC Shared Resources; and supported 3 Staff Investigators who significantly contributed to research, clinical, and educational efforts at HCC. Developmental Funds leveraged institutional support and generated a significant return on investment, with $948K CCSG funds allocated to 10 new faculty recruits over this grant period, generating a total of $19.5M in external awards and clinical trials; a 20.5-fold return on investment (ROI). The $19.5M includes $7.5M million in NCI funding, an ROI of 7.9-fold on the invested CCSG funds. Given the successful use of Developmental Funds in the current project period, we request $534,736 per year to be used in the following categories: 1) Recruit faculty in areas of strategic need to strengthen basic, clinical, translational, and population sciences research; 2) Support pilot projects that allow HCC scientists to pursue innovative, high-risk ideas or work in high priority research areas, including team science projects; 3) Develop new Shared Resources or capabilities, such as the Microbiome Facility and Population Survey Facility; and, 4) Support CCSG Research, Clinical, and Early-Stage Clinical Staff Investigators to drive collaboration, science, and clinical activity across the HCC.