Medicinal Chemistry Grants

American Association for Cancer Research Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research

AACR and its Chemistry in Cancer Research Working Group established this Award in 2007 to recognize the importance of chemistry to advancements in cancer research. The Award will be given for outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research, which has led to important contributions to the fields of basic cancer research; translational cancer research; cancer diagnosis; the prevention of cancer; or the treatment of patients with cancer. Such research may include, but is not limited to, drug discovery and design; structural biology; proteomics, metabolomics and biological mass spectrometry; chemical aspects of carcinogenesis; imaging agents and radiotherapeutics; and chemical biology.

The winner of the Fifth Annual AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research will give a 50-minute lecture during the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011 in Orlando, FL, USA (April 2-6, 2011), will receive a commemorative plaque and a $10,000 honorarium, and receive support for the winner and a guest to attend the Annual Meeting.

Eligibility Criteria

* Candidacy is open to all researchers who are affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science anywhere in the world. Such institutions include those in academia, industry, or government.
* The Award will be presented to an individual investigator. Two or more individuals may be selected to share the Award when their investigations are closely related in subject matter and have resulted in work worthy of an award.
* Institutions or organizations are not eligible for the Award.
* Selection of the Award winner will be made on the outstanding quality, novelty, and significance of the candidates' chemistry research and its important contributions to cancer research. No regard will be given to race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.
* Prior recipients of the AACR-Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award are not eligible to be nominated for research previously recognized by the Cain Award.

Nomination Process

Nominations may be made via letter from any scientist, whether an AACR member or nonmember, who is now or has been affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science. Candidates may not nominate themselves.

Nomination letters must be sent electronically to awards@aacr.org by Friday, October 15, 2010, at 4:00 p.m., United States Eastern Time. Preferred file formats are *.doc, *.pdf. Your nomination is not considered fully submitted until you receive a confirmation e-mail from the AACR; confirmations will be sent within two business days.

The following materials must be submitted:

* The nomination letter must be addressed to the Selection Committee; be written in English; and not exceed 1,000 words. The content should include the following:
o the name of the AACR Award for which the candidate is being nominated;
o a brief statement of no more than 50 words summarizing the candidate's cancer research accomplishment(s) for which he or she is being nominated;
o a concise description of the candidate's outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research, which has led to important contributions to the fields of basic cancer research; translational cancer research; cancer diagnosis; the prevention of cancer; or the treatment of patients with cancer, with the publications supporting these accomplishments directly referenced within the letter; and
o a concise description of the impact of these accomplishments on the field.
* The candidate's curriculum vitae in English, including a complete list of the candidate's publications; and
* A summary statement, no more than 50 words, summarizing the candidate's research accomplishments for which he or she is being nominated.

Nominators are asked to maintain the confidentiality of the nomination process and to refrain from informing the candidate about the nomination.

There is no restriction on the number of candidates who may be nominated by any individual scientist. There is no restriction on the number of nominators who may write nomination letters or who may sign a single nomination letter on behalf of a candidate.

If two or more candidates are nominated to share the award, a curriculum vitae and full publication history for all candidates must be submitted along with a combined letter of recommendation that fulfills the above criteria and clearly outlines how the work of the individuals is related and is worthy of the Award.

Selection

Candidates will be considered by a Selection Committee of international cancer leaders appointed by the President of the AACR. The Committee will consider all nominations as they have been submitted; the Committee may not combine submitted nominations, add a new candidate to a submitted nomination, or otherwise make alterations to the submitted nominations. After careful deliberations by the Committee, its recommendations will be forwarded to the Executive Committee of the AACR for final consideration and decision. Selection of the Award winner will be made on the basis of the candidate's outstanding, novel, and significant chemistry research related to cancer. No regard will be given to age, race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.

The winner of the Fifth Annual AACR-CICR Award will be announced in January 2011.
Supporter

Generously supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

Questions?

Lauren Medvetz, Program Coordinator
+1 (267) 646-0689; lauren.medvetz@aacr.org

American Association for Cancer Research
17th Floor, 615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404

Request for Proposals: Novel Approaches to Drug Discovery for Alzheimer’s Disease

ADDF funds drug discovery research programs from domestic and international investigators in academia and biotechnology companies. In addition, ADDF initiates, sponsors, and co-sponsors conferences to stimulate new ideas and approaches in areas of interest to the Foundation, bringing together physicians, scientists, and policy makers worldwide.

As a biomedical venture philanthropy, ADDF seeks to fill the critical translational funding gap between basic research and later stage drug development. We fund high risk, early stage drug discovery and development projects and catalyze scientists to enter the drug discovery field. We have adapted the operating model and principles of venture capital investing to our philanthropic mission in biomedical research. We help to create new biotechnology companies, and to fund early stage biotechnology companies, with programs dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease drug discovery. We seek a return on investment for all of our grants based on the achievement of scientific milestones. When these milestones are met, funds return to the Foundation to increase our ability to support more research.

ADDF FUNDING PROGRAMS
• ADDF Academic Drug Discovery and Development Program seeks to create and support innovative translational programs for Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and cognitive aging in academic medical centers and universities. Biomarker development studies and innovative proof of concept pilot clinical trials of new approaches to treatment, prevention and early detection are also supported.

• ADDF Biotechnology Development Program supports qualified scientific projects in existing, private, early-stage biotechnology companies. ADDF will provide support for qualified projects in more advanced companies if a clear need for non-profit funding to support the project can be demonstrated and justified.

• ADDF Biotechnology Founders Technology Transfer Program supports academic programs that are eligible for technology transfer and the start-up of new biotechnology companies. Up to 35% of funds from these awards may be employed for expenses related to company formation, such as administrative, legal, patent and third-party vendor costs.

RESEARCH FUNDING PRIORITIES
• Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging: ADDF supports drug discovery and drug development efforts towards novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and cognitive decline associated with aging. These may include disease modifying agents for preventing or delaying progression as well as cognitive enhancers. ADDF provides funding for target validation and proof-of-concept studies, high throughput screening of chemical libraries, lead discovery and optimization, rational medicinal chemistry, and pre-clinical drug development. ADDF also supports small proof-of principle clinical research studies.

• Early detection and prevention: ADDF supports the development of biomarkers, such as advanced brain imaging technologies, CSF and blood tests for the early detection of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ADDF also supports clinical research projects to improve early detection of cognitive impairment through population-based approaches that can impact large numbers of individuals at risk.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Grant applications are usually solicited by private invitation. Unsolicited proposals are also accepted, but inquiries with ADDF staff are encouraged to determine the Foundation’s interest prior to application. ADDF provides support for 1 year of research with potential for future follow-on funding. We seek successful long-term partnerships with investigators and research organizations.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Full application guidelines and further information can be found on our website (www.alzdiscovery.org). All applicants are required to complete an electronic "Letter of Intent" (LOI) available on our website. After review of the LOI, we may invite a full application via email with a link to the electronic application form. ADDF will attempt to make a determination of interest within 90 days of receipt of the application.

ADDF accepts grant applications for the “General Request for Proposals” research award programs throughout the year (2010 deadlines for full proposals are January 7, April 1, July 1, and October 1).

If you would like to contact the Foundation, please call (212) 935-2402, or contact us by regular mail at the following address:

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
1414 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1502
New York, NY 10019