FAQ

FAQs for Grant Applicants

ELIGIBILITY

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

APPLICATION AND REVIEW DETAIL

AWARD TERMS

ELIGIBILITY

What research topics do you fund?

Only lung cancer-related proposals that focus on adenocarcinoma, including BAC, and/or small cell lung cancer, are eligible. Any projects focused on adenocarcinoma must include never smokers in the study population. Projects exclusively focused on tobacco damage will not be funded. Research may be basic or translational.

What institutions are eligible to apply for funding? Must they be based in the United States?

Funded research may be conducted through any not-for-profit academic, medical or research institution, in the United States or Canada.

Do you fund post-doctoral fellows?

Yes, with a supervisor clearly identified. The goal of Uniting’s grant program is to fund the best ideas, regardless of career stage.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for or receive a Uniting Against Lung Cancer grant?

No. There is no requirement that you be a U.S. citizen in order to apply or receive a Uniting Against Lung Cancer grant. However, you must have a valid visa for the length of the grant.

Are H-1 Visa Holders eligible?

Yes. The grant check is endorsed to the individual's employer, to be used to support the financing of the project. So as long as the applicant continues to be employed consistent with the H-1 petition issued on his/her behalf, the applicant is eligible. Note: If the mandate of this grant requires the individual to engage in duties and/or activity which is different from what was originally contemplated in the H-1 petition, the employer should file an amendment to the H-1 petition to incorporate the new responsibilities.

Are researchers who have previously received funding from Uniting Against Lung Cancer eligible to re-apply?

Yes, a researcher may apply for a new grant once the originally-funded project is completed.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

How do I apply for a grant?

Uniting Against Lung Cancer accepts proposals only through our designated Requests for Proposals (RFPs)--we do not accept unsolicited proposals. All proposals must be submitted online through our online submission system.

It is imperative that applicants follow all instructions in submitting a proposal and that they be available after the deadline--or designate someone in their absence--to answer possible questions regarding the application. If an application is submitted on time, but no one is available to answer clarifying questions after the deadline, the application could still be disqualified and removed from the review process.

Does Uniting Against Lung Cancer have to receive my grant by the submission deadline?

Yes. All applicants must submit their applications through Uniting’s online system by 6:00 p.m. EST on the submission deadline date. (Date TBD.)

What makes an application successful?

Successful applications are based on clear scientific ideas that hold obvious potential to impact the lung cancer disease research field--either by conducting important and necessary (though not necessarily new and novel) work, or by pursuing new and/or innovative ideas. Applications should clearly state the scientific question being addressed and provide a detailed research plan.

What is the amount of funding for the two year grant term?

$100,000, disbursed in two annual $50,000 checks.

How do I prepare my proposed budget?

Uniting Against Lung Cancer does not have guidelines to aid in completing the proposed budget form since projected costs of specific activities vary so much from project to project. However, expenditures should be broken down by year and category.

Can my budget include indirect costs? What is the Uniting definition of and policy for direct and indirect costs?

Your budget can include indirect costs. Uniting considers indirect costs to be the percentage charge an institution attaches to all grants, which usually covers expenses such as electricity, use of lab space, etc. Direct costs are budget items required for conducting the study; for example, supplies, equipment usage fees, patient travel (where appropriate for the program), salaries, etc. Indirect costs are the same as overhead costs.

For Uniting grants, indirect costs are allowed at a maximum of 10% of the total budget, meaning that an applicant can allocate no more than $10,000 of a $100,000 grant to indirect costs, with the remaining $90,000 going to direct costs.

Are salary allocations permitted for myself and co-investigators?

Yes. You can request salary support for yourself as well as co-investigators and lab technicians in your proposed budget.

Can the PI can put 5% effort with no salary request?

Yes.

Can I request funding for equipment in my budget proposal?

Funding requests for equipment are discouraged and will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

Do the grants cover travel expenses?

Uniting Against Lung Cancer grants are only intended to cover research expenses and will not cover any travel expenses.

Is there a page limit for the application?

Yes. The written project description portion of the application may be a maximum of 5 pages in a legible size font.

Do I have to provide my IRB approval with my application?

No. Where applicable, you must provide proof of submission for the approval. The final IRB approval needs to be provided by the start date of the project.

How many applications do you received each year and what is your rate of funding?

We do not have a pre-determined rate of funding. The number of applications submitted fluctuates each year. Additionally, the amount of money Uniting Against Lung Cancer is able to provide in grants can change from year to year.

APPLICATION AND REVIEW DETAIL

What are your conflict of interest rules in terms of reviewers?

Reviewers are not allowed to sit in on the discussion for, or score grants submitted by, applicants from their institutions or applicants with whom they have closely collaborated in prior years. They must recuse themselves at that point in the discussion.

While serving as a reviewer, you may not receive any payment in any way for any grant in that program (unpaid collaborator roles are acceptable).

How quickly will my full application be reviewed?

In an effort to move projects from the idea stage to the grant-funding stage quickly, Uniting Against Lung Cancer employs an expedited review process--once submitted, applications generally are sent to reviewers one week after the application deadline. The full application review process usually takes about three months (but the Foundation reserves the right to change this as needed).

How is my full application reviewed?

A review committee, made up of experts in the field, reviews the applications. Each application receives independent scientific reviews, with a score assigned by each reviewer, along with qualitative feedback. Scores are averaged. The resulting ranked list of grants is submitted to the Foundation for consideration. The Foundation makes final award decisions based on these scientific recommendations, as well as on funding portfolio considerations (such as whether the proposal in question duplicates another grant already funded).

AWARD TERMS

What is the effective date of the grant?

The effective date of the grant is December 1st.

Am I permitted to have simultaneous funding?

As of the start date of the Foundation grant there can not be any awarded or promised funding other than from Uniting Against Lung Cancer for any of the proposed work described in the application. The principle investigator and Institution are prohibited from accepting any funding for any of the work described in the Project unless you first notify Uniting Against Lung Cancer in writing and Uniting Against Lung Cancer consents in writing to such duplicate funding.

Will the information in my progress reports be used by the Foundation?

Without violating established scientific journals’ or conferences’ “embargo” requirements, Uniting Against Lung Cancer may make public, including through press releases, newsletters and newspaper, magazine and website articles, summaries of the project reports and final reports.

Do I need to acknowledge the financial support of Uniting Against Lung Cancer?

Yes. You must acknowledge the financial support of Uniting Against Lung Cancer on all publications, presentations, abstracts, press releases, and Institution-generated literature resulting from or discussing the Project or the work conducted as part of the Project. In at least one location on the Institution’s webpage there must be a brief discussion of the grant including a link to Uniting Against Lung Cancer’s website www.unitingagainstlungcancer.org. Other alternatives may be accepted.

Can Foundation funding be carried forward from one year to the next?

Decisions about carrying forward funds are made on a grant-by-grant basis, in the context of the grant timeline and suitable progress of the project. Carry-forward requests must be justified and should be communicated to the Foundation staff through required expense reports, or by e-mail if Foundation staff has indicated that it is a case where no expense report is required. Carry-forward requests are subject to approval by the Foundation.

Can funds be reallocated?

Fund reallocation decisions are made on a grant-by-grant basis. To request reallocation of funds, awardees must contact the Foundation for permission in advance of the reallocation. A justification for the reallocation request will be required, as well as an up-to-date expense report for the grant and details of the funds to be reallocated. Reallocations are subject to approval by the Foundation.

I would like to request an extension for my research project. What is the procedure?

Uniting Against Lung Cancer expects all projects to be completed by the termination date but recognizes that in certain situations extra time is needed. If you have determined that you need extra time you can apply for a No-Cost Extension in advance of the end of the grant. A No-Cost Extension provides additional time to work on the project without additional funds from the Foundation. You will need to fill out the No-Cost Extension form and submit it to the Foundation for approval. Awardees must justify the reason for the no-cost extension request, as well as provide a proposed updated timeline for the completion of the work, and a current expense report for the grant. No-cost extensions are decided on a grant-by-grant basis.

How long can I request for my no-cost extension?

As stated on the non-cost extension form you can apply for either a 3-month or 6-month extension. You should apply for the minimum amount of time extension you believe you will require. Requests for additional no-cost extensions will be considered on a case-by-case-basis.

Can funds be transferred to my new institution?

For most Uniting grants, funds stay with the PI. If you change institutions, notify Uniting staff in advance of the transfer. You will also need to provide an acknowledgment from both the current and future institution recognizing the transfer of work as well as funds, and a current expense report outlining spent and remaining funds.

What are the Foundation's IP and sharing policies?

Every Foundation grant contract includes detailed IP and sharing policies, and grantees are required to adhere to these policies. Grantees with questions about the specific IP and sharing terms that apply to their award contracts should contact Foundation.

Does the Foundation ever terminate funding?

The Foundation does terminate funding when necessary. Reasons for funding termination are detailed in awardee contracts, but include misuse of funds or changing of project aims away from the project as funded. The best way to avoid termination of funds is to contact the Foundation before making any changes to your grant project or funds.

When am I required to submit my progress report?

Progress reports are due on October 1st of their first year. View additional information and the relevant form.

When must I submit my Final Report?

The Final Report is due within (60) days of the end of the project period.

What happens if there is money left over at the end of my grant term?

The institution must return any remaining grant funds within (60) days following the termination of the Project. Send the check to: