Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Awards

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is pleased to announce a new mechanism for supporting transformational prostate cancer research. We hope to accomplish this through funding cross-disciplinary teams of investigators in strategic areas that advance translational research. The Challenge Award proposals PCF currently seeks represents the implementation of a new scientific strategic plan for 2008-2012. Our new strategic plan incorporates the concept that longer term funding of milestone-driven research is needed in our field with the potential to reduce death and suffering from prostate cancer.

We seek proposals from teams of at least three highly experienced investigators capable of providing unique scientific expertise to the solution of a significant problem in prostate cancer research. A team may be assembled from one institution, or from several institutions. PCF Challenge Awards are intended to accelerate progress towards the reduction of death and suffering due to recurrent or advanced prostate cancer and reward high risk-high return research ideas. Although potentially high-impact basic science projects will be carefully considered, translational research projects will be given the strongest consideration, particularly if they manifest originality, innovation, and attention towards clinical translation and ultimate patient benefit. These awards will cover direct costs of the research and will range from $300,000 to $1,000,000 per year for 3 years. The period of support may be extended based on ability of PCF to raise additional philanthropic funds for programs making exceptional progress.

The expectation of a PCF Challenge Award is not the same as a Program Project Grant, where significant infrastructure is often mandated (cores in reagents, biostatistics, etc.). Rather, PCF is interested in funding a team that will use the award to perform research in ways that existing grants and awards are NOT now available to address challenging research problems. The application of novel biotechniques and inclusion of new research expertise to a challenging problem in prostate cancer basic or translational research is strongly encouraged from applicants. Partnerships of investigators doing “first in field” cancer research currently working outside the field of prostate cancer are encouraged to join with established prostate cancer investigators in these teams. 

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