How can the application be obtained?

The 2017 online application is now closed.

When is the application due?

Applications were due on December 1, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

A researcher and/or physician scientist who meets the following eligibility criteria may apply:

• Engaged in basic, clinical or translational cancer research.

• Holds an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent graduate degree and performs research in an American not-for-profit institution.

• Appointed at the assistant professor level (or equivalent) on or after July, 2013. A physician engaged in research who also has clinical responsibilities is eligible if appointed at the assistant professor level on or after July, 2012.

• No current R01 funding

• No concurrent scholar award for the same project

When does the funding period begin?

Decisions regarding funding are made by the Medical Advisory Board by mid-April, with funding to begin July 1 of the same year.

How are Scholars selected?

Each application is reviewed by up to three members of the Medical Advisory Board and scored on the basis of quality of prior work, letters of recommendation and current funding. An applicant who is cited for superior work by the reviewers is discussed in depth during an in-person meeting of the full Medical Advisory Board, which makes the final decision on all selections.  Applicants are judged based on the entirety of their scientific work, not just on the new project described in the application; therefore, be sure to reference your “best work,” even if not clearly related to the current proposal for funding.

What are my chances of being selected?

The Foundation expects to receive approximately 150 applications and will support up to 15 new Kimmel Scholars in 2017. For examples of successful candidates, please see the list of current and past recipients and their project descriptions.

Will scores and comments be made available to applicants?

No written evaluation or score is provided to applicants. The Foundation does not retain any records of individual critiques by reviewers.

How do I obtain the cover page for the application?

The standardized cover page is generated automatically upon completion of the online application. The applicant and a responsible institutional official must sign one copy where indicated and submit with a hard copy of the application.

Can I obtain the cover page to facilitate institutional signatures before completing the online application?

Yes, you can print a blank cover page.  Complete the requested information on the cover page PDF, forward to a responsible institutional official for signature, and submit with a hard copy of your application.

In addition, if you choose SAVE and CONTINUE LATER during the application process, you will receive an e-mail containing a link to return to your application and a link to access the cover page.  Be sure to save this e-mail in order to complete and upload your full application at a later time.

Is the Scholar Award open to those conducting basic science research?

Yes. For research involving basic cellular biology, the applicant must clearly state the relationship of his or her work to advancing the understanding of cancer biology.

Are clinical researchers eligible?

Yes. The Board encourages physician scientists, especially those involved in translational research, to apply. The majority of applications involve basic research; however, scientists whose work focuses on epidemiology, cancer prevention, radiation biology, pharmacology and other clinical studies will be given equal consideration. The Board does not consider applications from clinicians who manage only the clinical aspects of early phase human trials.

Who is eligible for translational awards?

The translational awards are limited to physicians (M.D. or equivalent degree) involved in cancer research. Applicant must demonstrate a significant personal involvement in the laboratory component of the translational project described. The research may involve primarily animal studies but must include reasonable application to subsequent human investigation. Those wishing consideration for a translational award should so indicate on the cover page and justify the translational nature of the research in the application. The Board reserves the right to assign a translational award based on its own assessment of the project described and its view of translational research.

How firm is the academic appointment requirement?

Applicants must have attained their first appointment at the assistant professor level (or equivalent) on or after July, 2013. Tenure track appointment is not required.  Physicians engaged in research who also have clinical responsibilities must have been appointed at the assistant professor level on or after July, 2012.  Those not yet at the assistant professor level are not eligible for the Award.

How does current R01 funding affect eligibility?

The Kimmel Scholar Award is designed for cancer researchers at the early stages of their careers, and is intended to support promising scientists until additional funding is obtained. Researchers who have already secured their own R01 funding are not considered for the Award.  Applicants with institutional funding or K08 awards are eligible. Those who are the P.I. on a clinical institutional R01 grant may apply if their laboratory research is not fully covered.

How does current non-R01 funding affect eligibility?

We fully expect that successful applicants may already have research funds in the range of $100,000-$250,000 per year. Those with various grants totaling in excess of $300,000 per year may be deemed well-funded by the Board even if they do not yet hold an R01 grant.

Occasionally, exceptions may be considered for applicants who are well-funded for non-cancer related research but less well-funded for new endeavors related to cancer. Within the budget section of the application, please include all grants currently awarded, yearly amount, date grant commenced and ends, and percent effort. Also state all pending funding and whether an R01 application has been filed.  If an applicant is selected as a Kimmel Scholar, we do allow the Scholar to apply for additional funding, including R01grants and other scholar awards, during the tenure of Kimmel Foundation funding.

What are the restrictions regarding other scholar awards?

Kimmel Scholars may not receive simultaneous funding from similar scholar awards but may have funding from training grants (e.g., ASCO, AACR) or career development awards. An applicant with another scholar award may apply if that funding will end before the Kimmel Scholar Award begins on July 1, 2017, and other eligibility criteria are met. Occasionally, a researcher holding a scholar award from a non-cancer related foundation will be eligible if the work supported does not primarily overlap with the cancer research described in the Kimmel Scholar application.

Are there citizenship requirements for Award recipients?

U.S. citizenship is not a requirement; however, Scholars must perform research in an American not-for-profit institution during the entire period of Kimmel Foundation support.

Are Kimmel Scholar Awards renewable?

No, each Award is for a two-year period only.

How rigid is the proposed budget once submitted?

The budget proposal is requested for general information about the expected use of grant funds. However, the Award is intended to supplement other institutional resources and reallocation of Award funds for salary, research, travel, equipment and project support is permitted, after advising the Foundation of significant budgetary changes contemplated.

What are the guidelines for institutional overhead?

The Award is fixed at $100,000 per year, with no additional funds provided for overhead. If an institution requires overhead, this may be budgeted as part of the $100,000 provided. Since this is an award rather than a project grant, the Foundation requests that institutions limit overhead to 15% or less.

What happens if I have unspent funds at the conclusion of the two year Scholar Award funding period?

We routinely grant Scholars no-cost extensions for 12 months at the conclusion of the two years upon request and with approval of a revised budget.

Can more than one investigator from an institution apply?

Yes, in fact we have occasionally selected multiple recipients from the same institution in the same year. Each application is judged on its own merits.

Can I apply with a co-investigator?

No, this is an individual award. Salary support can be budgeted for postdoctoral researchers and limited funding may be applied to a consultant for work in an outside lab, if integral to the work of the awardee.

If my application is not successful, may I reapply next year?

Yes, reapplication with additional supporting work is permitted as long as all eligibility requirements continue to be met. An applicant can submit an update on the project previously described or submit an entirely new project. We specifically identify repeat applicants to consider their candidacy in the context of research progress in the year since initial application.

Does the Sidney Kimmel Foundation accept applications for other research projects?

No. The Kimmel Scholar Award is the only funding for which applications are accepted. The Kimmel Foundation provides significant support for several educational and cancer research institutions in the United States, but it does not accept requests for individual independent research or institutional program project grants.

Whom can I contact if I have further questions?

Dr. Gary Cohen and Kathryn Fletcher are available to answer questions regarding eligibility and the Kimmel Scholars program.  Please direct technical questions regarding the application to Emily Krohn.