Limited Submission Opportunity: Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research

Applications due June 5

This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate up to two candidates (one per project type) for the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research opportunity.

Overview

Gabrielle's Angel Foundation remains committed to funding innovative, translational proposals and to supporting promising independent early-career investigators, rather than well-established, senior scientists. Projects will be funded for a three-year period at $75,000.00 per year (contingent on the submission of acceptable annual progress reports.) As of 2019, applications will also be accepted from both assistant professors and associate professors for *integrative applications only.*

Project Types

It is requested that the foundation identify two outstanding junior faculty members at your institution - one who is conducting mainstream or conventional research and one who is conducting complementary or integrative research.

Integrative Research Projects

• The foundation seeks to support integrative research projects that explore evidence-based complementary interventions, optimize the manner in which mainstream care is delivered and improve the lives of those living with cancer, specifically the hematologic malignancies.
  • Such integrative (complementary) therapies may include:
  • Acupuncture
  • Integrative mind-body interventions
  • Manipulative and body-based therapies
  • Meditation
  • Music therapy
  • Nutrition
  • Physical fitness
  • Use of biologically-based agents (but not in "conventional" ways)
  • Yoga
• The foundation seeks to support clinical trials and/or pre-clinical research which address reducing patients' physical and emotional distress during or after cancer therapy.
  • Examples include:
    • Neurophysiologic, neuroendocrine and biochemical pathways triggered by massage therapy, including animal studies or instrument-based approaches such as imaging techniques
    • Mechanistic studies of herbs, nutritional supplements or natural products to enhance cognitive function or treat depression or anxiety
    • Herb-drug interactions
    • Basic biological mechanisms and processes that underlie acupuncture, meditation or yoga including studies in man or animal models or those employing imaging
  • Research must be compelling with firmly grounded scientific rationale and high-quality relevant methodology.
  • Proposals must reflect a solid grasp of the field and employ pragmatic research methodology and design.
  • Proposals will be evaluated for creativity, originality and scientific rigor.
  • Proposals based on promising preliminary data will be favored

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have an MD or PhD
• Hold a junior faculty position at a 501(c)(3) teaching research institution
• Hold the designation of assistant professor (associate professors may apply for *integrative* projects only)
• Have institutional support in form of tenure track OR be an independent junior faculty member
• Have held their current position for no longer than five years (for conventional projects only)
• Clearly state that they have both independent research projects and independent resources
• Have preliminary results and/or publications from their independent laboratory

Budget Information

• The total award shall not exceed $225,000 total ($75,000.00 per year over three years.)
• Overhead costs cannot exceed 10 percent ($22,500 total or $7,500 per year). This amount is to be included in the $75,000 per year award.

View FAQs for the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research opportunity here.

Internal Selection Process

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt's nominee this opportunity must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on June 5, 2025.

1. Brief (two-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
3. NIH Biosketch or five-page CV

Submissions should reference "Gabrielle's Angel Foundation" in the subject line of the email. Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.