ICRF Clinical Research Career Development Awards (CRCDAs)

Grants of up to $45,000 per year to Israel early-career medical researchers employed by public or private nonprofit research institutions for clinical cancer research. Funding is intended to enhance the research capabilities of young Israeli scientists who are in a formative career phase, and who have shown outstanding potential for contribution to clinical cancer research as independent investigators.

The awards are available for persons with research potential who need additional experience in a scientific environment that is conducive to the development of a career in clinical research. The award is not intended for those already established as independent investigators. The award is not intended simply to substitute one source of salary support for another for an individual who is already conducting full-time research, nor is it a mechanism for providing institutional support. Its main purpose is to provide free time for a young medical or pediatric oncologist to devote to a clinical research project conducted in Israel and to obtain additional (post-fellowship) training to become a leader in clinical research programs.

Because this funding opportunity targets development of early career investigators, it is important, and requisite, that a formal mentoring program be established for the investigator. There should be a primary mentor who should be available for guidance at all times. It is preferable that the primary mentor be at the same institution as the investigator. In addition, there should be a small mentoring committee formed of additional senior members who will meet with the investigators quarterly to evaluate progress and give guidance. All CRCDA applications must include letters of support from the primary mentor and members of the mentoring committee.

Definitions of Research Areas

Clinical Research utilizes human subjects or materials and has direct application to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer in the individual or group of individuals under study, or the rehabilitation (including quality of life issues) of the patient. Clinical Research also includes:

1. Cancer Control Research - Investigates how scientifically obtained information on prevention, early detection, early diagnosis, state-of-the-art treatment, or rehabilitation can be efficiently and effectively applied to defined groups of people or at the community level to reduce the burden of cancer.
2. Health Service Research - Also called research on access to care, this research deals with the ways by which people interface with health care delivery systems. It investigates the barriers to health care and the differing, and often changing, needs of patients.
3. Psychosocial and Behavioral Cancer Research - Directed at understanding and improving the motivational factors in cancer prevention and screening, and the social and emotional impact of cancer and its treatment on individuals, their families, and their caregivers.
4. Cancer Genetics and Genetic Counseling Research.
5. Translational Research – Collaboration between basic and clinical scientists with the intent of enhancing the transfer of basic research findings to clinical usefulness.

Allowable Award Costs can be found at https://www.icrfonline.org/sites/default/files/media/CRCDA%20Policies%202020.pdf#page=4.