The Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is inviting proposals for pilot/feasibility research projects focused on how demographics, comorbidities and behaviors affect cancer risk, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

Special consideration is given to research related to lung, colorectal, prostate, breast, pancreas and cervical cancers, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the disease’s burden in Indiana and beyond.

The pilot funding is for one year, and the budget should not exceed $50,000. The principal investigator must be an affiliate, research track, associate or full member of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Priority is given to proposals that include more than one research program or include patient advocates on the research team. Awardees will be required to present their findings in a community setting. Members of the Community Outreach and Engagement Office will assist in identifying and organizing the meeting, and help tailor the communication to ensure it is accessible and relevant to the community.

Applicants must submit a one-page letter of intent briefly describing the proposed project, including the study aims and hypotheses/research questions and how the project links a cancer issue in the community with a comorbidity or risk factor.

Priority will be given to applications from investigators who, with this additional support, are likely to obtain extramural peer-reviewed funding. Applicants may have received prior or current extramural research funding, but the proposed project should clearly be separate from the previously/currently funded project.

The letter of intent must be submitted to Vicki Clements at cancrfa@iu.edu by 5 p.m. Dec. 1.