Lustgarten Foundation: Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI) – LOI

The Initiative purpose is to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into clinical trials. Through the CAI, the Lustgarten Foundation will provide academic, clinical researchers the opportunity to propose science-driven concepts seeking to advance the development of new therapies for pancreatic cancer patients while furthering our understanding of disease biology.

Provides academic, clinical researchers the opportunity to propose science-driven concepts seeking to advance the development of new therapies for pancreatic cancer patients while furthering our understanding of disease biology.  The CAI is meant to support trials concepts that are:

• Innovative and highly collaborative
• Based on strong pre-clinical and/or clinical scientific rationale
• Utilizing deep, translational analyses to demonstrate on-target drug mechanism(s) of action and hypotheses around disease biology
• Advancing the development of novel therapies for pancreatic cancer patients with plans for continuation, if successful

Qualifications and Requirements of Research Investigator(s)

Applicants must hold an M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical institution, or other research facility. Proposals may be submitted by domestic and foreign non-profit or public organizations, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship requirements for this program.

Research Investigator(s) funded through the CAI typically:

• Are leading significant pancreatic cancer and/or relevant focus area research
• Have a demonstrated track record of significant contributions to the field as evidenced by publications, peer-reviewed funding and an ability to advance projects to clinical impact
• Are willing to interact and/or collaborate with researchers at outside institutions including the Lustgarten Translational Advisory Group and other Lustgarten Foundation-Funded Investigators

Funding: While the budget and duration of funding will be dependent on the needs of each trial, CAI trials are typically funded up to a total budget of $1.5M – $2M over a period of up to 3 years.