Special Projects Discovery Grant program launched for brain tumor diagnosis research

The American Brain Tumor Association has launched a new Special Projects Discovery Grant program to support fresh and creative research ideas for solving the challenges of brain tumor diagnosis and treatment.

"While there have been some significant scientific breakthroughs over the past decade resulting in better treatments and longer lives for many patients, a brain tumor remains a devastating diagnosis," said American Brain Tumor Association Executive Director Elizabeth Wilson

"Through this program, we hope to stimulate and invigorate greater engagement in brain tumor research across and beyond traditional medical and scientific research disciplines and specialties and bring new perspectives, ideas and dreams to the foreground," said Wilson.

Each year, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor and more than 150,000 have cancer that spreads to, or "metastasizes," to the brain.

The American Brain Tumor Association Special Project Discovery Grant pilot program - one of four grant programs offered through ABTA's Research Awards Program - will offer one-year, $50,000 grants for high-risk, high-impact projects deemed to have the potential to change current diagnostic or treatment paradigms for adult and/or pediatric brain tumors.

Investigators from sciences outside traditional biology fields are encouraged to apply. Proposed studies should be at the hypothesis-driven level. Priority will be given to proposals that address underfunded areas of brain tumor research. Of particular interest for this first round of funding are proposals pertaining to meningioma or oligodendroglioma, however, other research topics are also invited.

Eligible researchers include advanced post-doctoral trainees, junior faculty, and principal investigators who have not received funding at the equivalent of NIH RO1, or higher level.

Projects will be pre-screened by letter of intent, due October 15th, 2009. Select individuals will be invited to submit proposals.

The American Brain Tumor Association Research Awards Program will again offer Basic Research Fellowship and Translational Research Grant awards for 2009-2010. Basic Research Fellowships are two-year, $80,000 training awards that support young researchers entering the field of brain tumor research. One year, $75,000 Translational Grants help scientists to further develop research that is on the cusp of moving from the laboratory into patient testing.

Basic Research Fellowship and Translational grant applications will post at the ABTA web site, in the Research Progress section, by October( )15th.. Applications for these awards are due no later than January 8, 2010.