Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Complement Other Sources of Biomedical Funding
The Idea Award mechanism has been adopted by other CDMRP programs to introduce new paradigms, challenge current paradigms, or look at existing problems from new perspectives in other disease- or condition-focused research. To support the exploration of highly innovative, untested concepts or theories, the BCRP and the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) developed other award mechanisms known as the Concept Award and the Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award, respectively.
These award mechanisms supporting early concepts and ideas provided complementary and multiple approaches to the most traditional and well-known grant program: the NIH R01 (Research Project Grant Program). In general, an R01 award requires preliminary data, supports the next logical or incremental step, is knowledge focused, has no specific program requirements, and is not focused on a single disease or condition. One of the hallmarks of this type of early idea award was that the preliminary data could then be used to submit a research proposal to an NIH-like R01 award mechanism.
A recent survey of Idea Awards offered by the BCRP from 2006 to 2011 indicated that > 40% of awardees successfully obtained other sources of funding, more than half coming from the NIH. The NIH Common Fund, established in 2006, led to the creation of a high-risk/high-reward program with the Transformative Research Award, which is focused on innovation and challenging existing paradigms, unlike the R01 mechanism. This indicates that although other agencies have developed award mechanisms supporting pilot and feasibility studies (eg, R21 awards–Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant) and high-risk/high-reward research (eg, Transformative Research Award), CDMRP’s creation of these mechanisms has transformed biomedical research and remains an important vehicle in the idea development funding pipeline.
Facilitating Collaborative Partnerships
Many funding agencies have recognized that research collaborations are important for investigating the increasing complexity of disease, conditions, and injuries. The CDMRP-managed BCRP, Ovarian Cancer Research Program(OCRP), and PCRP created collaborative award mechanisms (eg, the Synergistic Idea Award) in which one research project is submitted by multiple investigators whose combined resources are leveraged and their expertise synergized to better address a research question. A unique aspect of these collaborative award mechanisms is that all the investigators (appropriately called partners) receive an individual award, not a subaward, incentivizing investigators to develop partnerships that might not otherwise be formed.
Rewarding Science Teams
Recognizing that research collaborations are important in investigating the increasing complexity of disease and injuries, several of the CDMRP research programs have developed team science award mechanisms. Using the Manhattan Project as a successful example of bringing together the most talented scientists to conduct research and development simultaneously to quickly solve a common problem, the CDMRP Neurofibromatosis Research Program developed a consortium award mechanism to establish consortia of exceptional investigators to conceive, develop, and conduct collaborative pilot, phase 1, and phase 2 clinical evaluations. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the largest dedicated effort in neurofibromatosis research to date. This mechanism has been adopted by several other CDMRP programs to focus on multidisciplinary approaches with investigators from multiple institutions, to address high-impact research ideas or unmet needs.
The PCRP used this framework to support the infrastructure necessary for a consortium consisting of 13 major U.S. cancer centers (Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium [PCCTC]) to rapidly execute early-phase clinical trials of therapeutic agents. The PCCTC consortium now conducts about 25% of all early-phase U.S. clinical trials for prostate cancer and has dramatically impacted the speed at which new options for therapy are available to patients. For example, the drug abiraterone acetate was brought through clinical testing in half the time typically required and represents a new option in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. In addition, the PCCTC also brought MDV3100, another therapy for advanced disease, rapidly through all phases of clinical testing.
The Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) used the consortium award mechanism to create a unique, early detection clinical consortium that includes 4 academic organizations, 4 military treatment facilities, and 7 VA facilities to focus on characterizing, developing, and/or improving early detection modalities for lung cancer. The BCRP has recently introduced the Multi-Team and Transformative Vision Award mechanisms to support innovative teams of scientists, clinicians, and breast cancer survivors, patients, family members, and persons affected by and/or at risk of breast cancer to work together toward making breakthroughs that may have a revolutionary impact in breast cancer prevention or treatment.
Collectively, these team science mechanisms facilitate the exchange of ideas and bring together individuals with special knowledge and skills needed to sustain cross-fertilization. Such collaborations can unravel complex phenomena and significantly accelerate progress, thus shrinking the pipeline of traditional reductionist approaches to novel discoveries and outcomes.
