Notice Number: NOT-CA-06-022

Key Dates
Release Date: April 7, 2006

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov/)

The NCI Tumor Microenvironment Training Program of the Division of Cancer Biology of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces that established and new NCI-funded grantees may submit requests for administrative supplements to support their training (or the training of nominated senior post-doctoral fellows in their laboratories) in the establishment, maintenance, manipulation, and/or characterization of a variety of organotypic and/or orthotopic models of human cancer.

The hands-on training program will be conducted in six different research laboratories, proficient in one of six models, which are listed below. Applicant Trainees may be accepted to visit one of the laboratories and receive assignments based upon of the models that are most relevant to their research interests as identified in their applications. The NCI will provide support for travel and per diem for up to 2 weeks. During residence at the training laboratory the trainees will be exposed to all aspects of establishing and working with the model. The program is intended to allow trainees to transfer the technology learned back to their laboratories. The timing of the visit will be arranged directly with the host laboratory, once applicants have been selected.

Interested applicants can apply to the NCI to be trained at one of the six training sites:

Model                                                 Laboratory                           Location
Breast cancer                                   Dr. Mina Bissell                   Berkeley, CA
Breast Cancer                                  Dr. Joan Brugge                  Boston, MA
Several human cancers                 Dr. Isaiah Fidler                   Houston, TX
Prostate cancer                                Dr. Simon Hayward            Nashville, TN
Melanoma, prostate  cancer          Dr. Mary Hendrix                  Chicago, IL
Skin cancer, melanoma                 Dr. Meenhard Herlyn           Philadelphia, PA

Details of models generated in each laboratory can be viewed by visiting the following NCI web site: http://dcb.nci.nih.gov/.

In 2005-2006, 45 investigators or senior postdoctoral fellows were supported for training. In the coming year (2006-2007), the NCI plans to support the training of approximately 30-35 research investigators. It is hoped that disseminating expertise in such technically challenging models will increase the number of investigators whose research is focused on tumor-host interactions.

Eligibility: NCI-funded grantees may submit and be the principal investigator (PI) of the training request.  The PI must have an active R01, R37, P01, U01, or a Phased Innovation (combined R21/R33) grant award with at least 2 years remaining at the time of anticipated training date of August 1, 2006 (i.e., the grants must be active until July 31, 2008).

Application process:  Briefly describe your ongoing research activities.  Identify the training site and briefly explain how this training will help your overall research program.  The “application” (i.e., the entire letter that presents your request for an administrative supplement to support this training) must be no more than two pages in length.  If you are nominating a senior post-doctoral fellow to learn the technologies, please include a letter of recommendation as well as his/her curriculum vitae (with both being separate and excluded from the 2-page limit for the request letter).

Application receipt date is May 19, 2006.

Applications should be mailed to:
Attn: NCI-Sponsored Tumor Microenvironment Training
Stephen White
Special Assistant to the Director
Division of Cancer Biology                                                                         
National Cancer Institute, NIH
6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 5048, MSC 7387
Bethesda, MD 20892 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier delivery)

Inquiries

For further information, contact:
Suresh Mohla, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Biology, NCI
Telephone: 301-435-1878
E-mail: mohlas@mail.nih.gov

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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