ACGT Opens 2020 Cancer Cell & Gene Therapy Research Grant Program Focusing on Solid Tumors – Glioblastoma and Pancreatic Cancers
STAMFORD, Conn., Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to funding cancer cell and gene therapy research, announced the availability of grants up to $500,000 each for the 2020 grant cycle. The 2020 awards will focus on research in solid tumors – with a preference for applications in glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer.
Since 2001, ACGT has funded 59 grants totaling over $30 million in research grants, supporting Young Investigators for basic research and Clinical Investigators. The organization's early support of CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and lymphoma included the groundbreaking work, leading to the first cancer cell and gene therapy FDA approvals, of Dr. Carl H. June at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Michel Sadelain at Memorial Sloan Kettering. To date, ACGT has funded critical research advances led by 59 researchers at 36 of the top institutions in the US and Canada.
"It's a crucial time for cancer cell and gene therapy," noted Kevin Honeycutt, CEO and president of ACGT. "We've seen exciting results with CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and a rapid succession of FDA approvals of new cancer treatment breakthroughs. These successes have led to life changing treatments for some patients, but for others, especially those battling solid tumors, the outlook is less positive. In 2020, we are addressing the most difficult challenges by funding research in pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma – two cancers currently with extremely low survival rates for patients."
"Thousands of people with lung, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, brain and other cancers are waiting for their potential cures" said Barbara Netter, Co-Founder with her late husband, Edward, of ACGT. "Taking pancreatic cancer as an example, five-year survival rates are just 9% with standard treatment, while the median survival for adults with glioblastoma is only 11-15 months. That's why ACGT is funding science that we believe will lead to life-changing treatments for highly aggressive cancers like these, and why we're focusing on areas, identified by our Scientific Advisory Council, that could have the greatest impact for the patients with the fewest options."
Scientists interested in applying for ACGT's Investigator Award in Cancer Cell and Gene Therapy may review submission requirements at acgtfoundation.org. Submissions must be made electronically via proposalCENTRAL, an outside service provider hosted by Altum. Cancer researchers interested in submitting an application for the ACGT Investigator's Award must hold a MD, PhD, or equivalent degree and must be tenure-track or tenured faculty. The investigator must be conducting original research as an independent faculty member. ACGT has no citizenship restrictions; however, research supported by the award must be conducted at academic medical centers or research centers located in the United States or Canada. The deadline for abstract submission is December 3, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. (EST).
ACGT's esteemed Scientific Advisory Council reviews all Investigator Award letters of intent, and then invited applications are peer reviewed by a minimum of two experts in the field. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of scientific and technical merit and a corresponding fit with the research objectives of the grant. Grant Awards will be announced in Spring 2020.
About Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)
In 2001, Barbara and Edward Netter founded ACGT to accelerate progress and fund the best research at the most prestigious institutions developing cell and gene therapies for cancer. Since then, thousands have come to know and support the amazing work of ACGT, which has awarded $30.2 million through 59 grants to 57 research fellows representing 36 top medical institutions in the United States and Canada.
One hundred percent of contributions go directly to research.
Read the Request for Applications