Arthur Child Precision Oncology Research Fellowship

Purpose of Award

The purpose of the award is to fund a top post-doctoral (post MD or post PhD) fellow focused on the use of molecular/multi-omic profiling, liquid biopsies, biomarker development and companion diagnostics, targeted therapies, computational and artificial intelligence approaches, and/or other areas of precision oncology. The award is intended to provide valuable training experience and to support the development of competitive applications for external salary awards at the provincial or national levels.

Use of Funds: A research stipend and/or salary for the fellow.

Number of Awards: 1

Duration of Award: The award must be used within 2 years (24 months)

Eligibility

Candidates are eligible to apply for the Arthur Child Precision Oncology Research Fellowship if:

• The applicant is being recruited for or is currently in a postdoctoral (post MD or post PhD) research training position affiliated with the University of Calgary with a primary supervisor who is a member of the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute.
• Applicants must be working on research related to precision oncology. This may include molecular/multi-omic profiling, liquid biopsies, biomarker development and companion diagnostics, targeted therapies, computational and artificial intelligence approaches, and/or other areas of precision oncology, with the goal of advancing discovery science, diagnostic innovation, therapeutic innovation, and clinical innovation.
• NOTE: if the successful applicant is a clinical fellow, clinical activity must be no less than 20% AND no more than 30% of the fellowship. At least 50% of this clinical activity must include activities related to the field of study and cannot be used to generate additional income.
• Successful applicant/awardee will be registered with the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute as a trainee.
• The applicant holds total scholarship funding less than $75,000 at the time of the award announcement.

Financial Support

The total award is $75,000. For Postdoctoral (nonclinical) Research Fellowships the award will be disbursed $37,500 x 2 years, with the requirement of matching funds to meet the minimum postdoc funding guidelines at the Cumming School of Medicine. The matching funds can come entirely from the Supervisor or if (approved) by the CSM postdoctoral scholars’ program.

For clinical trainees, the funds can either be spent as $75,000 for 1 year if the fellowship is combined with at least 1 year of clinical fellowship training, or as $37,500 over 2 years with expectation of matching funds (as above).

Reporting Requirements

A final report must be submitted detailing knowledge translation outputs, external scholarship applications, and awards received.

Selection Process

Eligible applications will be reviewed by the selection committee as assigned by the Charbonneau Training and Education Committee. Applications will be adjudicated based on the following criteria:

• Alignment of the proposed work to precision oncology methods and approaches.
• Track record of the applicant.
• Quality of the research proposed.
  • scientific rigor of the project
  • potential impact of the research
• Quality of the research and training environment provided by the applicant’s supervisor, and co-supervisor if applicable.
• Potential impact of the support on the career development of the applicant.
  • applicants demonstrated commitment to research and scholarship
  • clarity of the role of the applicant in the research.