The overall scientific goal of RadCCORE is to develop mitigators of radiation induced damage to protect society. The Developmental Projects Program will use interacting programs in basic research, clinical investigation, career development and core resources to develop and support new and innovative research programs to meet these goals. Development research proposals will be requested from new and established investigators at all participating RadCCORE institutions and other institutions. Collaborative programs between laboratories in RadCCORE institutions and applications from minority institutions will be encouraged. Application deadlines will be semiannual.

 

Applications will be reviewed by Developmental Program Review Subcommittee of the RadCCORE Steering Committee, along with invited reviewers from RadCCORE and reviewers external to RadCCORE. Applications will be reviewed using NIH criteria, with emphasis on applicability to research objectives of RadCCORE, innovation, and the potential for development into full translational research programs with deliverables. Evaluation for feasibility will be similar to NIH R21s, in order to encourage innovation, breakthrough results and new platform technologies.

 

Programs will be funded for up to two years at up to $100,000 per project per year. Programs will be monitored by the RadCCORE Steering Committee for ongoing progress based on specified criteria for progress and continuation. Continued funding of the developmental program will be determined via two mechanisms. First, rapidly productive programs of high priority will be encouraged to develop into full research programs of RadCCORE or to seek external funding via other NIH mechanisms. For programs from minority investigators, supplemental minority NIH funding will be pursued. Second, programs that fail to demonstrate progress as judged from progress reports and review committee evaluation, will be put on alert and reevaluated to determine if the project will be continued or phased out. The committee has specific interest in developmental projects for initial funding, which expand RadCCORE research in biodosimetry. These high-priority and innovative projects demonstrate the ability of the RadCCORE Developmental Projects Program to identify new research projects and investigators to assure a robust RadCCORE translational pipeline

 

A description of previously funded projects can be found here.