Developemental Research Program

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1. Describe the process used by the SPORE for identifying and selectively funding innovative pilot studies within and outside of the SPORE institution Bert Vogelstein, MD, will continue to serve as Principal Investigator of this Program. The Program has been a major focus of the SPORE because it provides for a continuous flow of innovative ideas and activity to stimulate investigation in the context of SPORE translational research. The Developmental Research Program provides a means to respond to new opportunities, and is designed to encourage and facilitate new research efforts. The Program takes advantage of the broad expertise of researchers at The Johns Hopkins University and of external investigators by providing funds for pilot projects with potential for development into full-fledged translational research avenues, collaborations, and new methodologies for integration into other Research Projects. In most prior years, the Cancer Center has augmented the funding provided to each of our pilot project recipients by approximately 50% per award (on average). In the past two years, the formation of a Gl Cancer program within the Oncology Center has also provided support for additional basic and clinical pilot projects that are not intended to be as translational as the goals of the SPORE Developmental Projects. Within this year, we also have gained a commitment for an additional two pancreatic cancer pilot projects to be funded by institutional sources each year. These resources, and funding pressures from a reduced overall budget for the proposed SPORE funding period, have allowed us to shift some of the financial sources from the SPORE to the institution, as reflected in the newly proposed Developmental Research Budget. 2. Provide a summary identifying the achievements of all projects supported during the last project period. Specifically discuss whether they were promoted to a full project in the SPORE, led to other grant applications, or were terminated because of lack of success. For ongoing activities during the past 12 months, report on progress 3. Provide brief examples of projects that may be supported during the grant period. It seems premature to speculate on projects that may be supported in the distant future. Good ideas for pilot projects should ideally find a source of initial support within a 6-month period, and at most by one year. In our current solicitation, we have favorably evaluated a proposal from Dr. Eshleman to extend his pilot project for a second year to begin July 2006. We are also considering a new proposal to test a nonabsorbable, orally administered antiproliferative agent in patients having had colectomy for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. 4. Provide a description of the process by which projects will be (or have been) promoted to full translational research projects within the SPORE. Two of the past pilot projects were elevated to the status of Research Project, and two became subjects of SPORE clinical supplemental grants. Elevation to the status of Research Project occurs when a budgetary opportunity occasions a solicitation for new Research Project(s) in the SPORE; thus, the Pilot is required to out-compete all other alternative projects if it is to become a Research Project. In other words, a successful pilot can be a means to prepare an application for the SPORE, and the Developmental Research Program remains keenly aware that a successful pilot program can be a potent source of rejuvenation for the SPORE. Budgetary openings represent a limited window of opportunity, and thus a second pathway has also been made available, which is to incorporate the best directions of our pilots into our ongoing Research Projects or into our Cores. It is by this method that the cytogenetics project of Dr. Griffin became a component of our Tissue Core for a number of years, that the studies Dr. Maitra became associated with the current Project 2A (which is the proposed Project 3C, to be co-led by Dr. Maitra), and that the studies of Dr. Pandey became associated with the proposed project 3B.