SPHERE Breast Cancer Health Services Research Fellowship

Purpose of Award

The purpose of the award is to fund a top post-doctoral fellow (PhD or MD) with a focus on health services research related to breast cancer. The award is intended to provide valuable training experience in clinical research and to foster critical thinkers within breast oncology research who can be future national leaders in the field.

The research focus of the successful candidate should align with those of the Strategies for Precision Health in Breast Cancer (SPHERE) research program, which is part of the Breast Cancer Research and Education Program.

The priorities of the SPHERE research program include:

• Real world evaluation of treatment and outcomes using multidimensional data including patient reported (PRO), large datasets, genomic and diagnostic integrating AI, machine learning (ML) and advanced analytic methods
• Treatment outcomes for special populations
• Best practices for patient-centered care

Duration

The term of fellowship support is 1 year with the possibility of a renewal for a 2nd year (24 months max). Renewal for the second year is contingent upon satisfactory progress in research work of the trainee as well as participation in the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute training activities and events.

Use of Funds

A research stipend and/or salary for the fellow.

Eligibility

Candidates are eligible to apply for the SPHERE Breast Cancer Health Services 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. Membership can be sought post award.
• Applicants must be working on health services research related to breast cancer.
• Successful applicant/awardee will be registered with the Charbonneau Cancer Institute as a trainee.
• The applicant may not hold other internal or external postdoctoral fellowship awards such as CIHR, NSERC, and other agencies. (Current holders of internal or external fellowship awards are eligible only if funding from these sources will be ending within 12 months from the application deadline).

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 the priorities of the SPHERE program, particularly health services research related to breast cancer
• 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.