Susan G. Braun Discusses the Expanding ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Portfolio
In 2008, ASCO and The ASCO Cancer Foundation celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Society’s grants program, which provides some of the significant and most sought-after funding for clinical and translational cancer research in the world. (For more detail on the anniversary of the grants program, see the article in the Saturday edition of Section B.)
In the interview that follows, Susan G. Braun, Executive Director of The Cancer ASCO Foundation, talks about the importance of the grants program and The Foundation’s plans to expand its portfolio of research funding opportunities in the future.
Q: Why is it important that The ASCO Cancer Foundation create new grants to help support young and established researchers?
A: We believe it’s important to support those who want to pursue a career in translational and clinical oncology research — at all stages in their careers — because that will help to both recruit and retain the best and the brightest in the field. The work being done by these researchers is key to expanding our understanding of the complexities of cancer and to achieving the advances we are seeking in cancer care.
Q: How do you see The ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Program progressing in the next 5 to 10 years?
A: Research will continue to be a key to success in cancer treatment. Because ASCO is dedicated to taking care of people with cancer with the most cutting-edge therapies, research will be at the center of what we do. Our goal is to grow The Foundation’s ability to promote more translational and clinical research by providing grants to support innovative programs and promising investigators. We’re exploring new ways to raise funds and create grants specifically aimed at these goals.
What makes The ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Program stellar is the caliber of volunteers who have served on the Grants Selection Committee, who over the years have reviewed the grants, guided our selection, and led the development of research award mechanisms. The Grants Selection Committee has tripled in size during the past decade and currently includes more than 30 oncologists who apply the rigorous peer review process to all the submitted grant applications. These are the best and the brightest in the world of oncology research, and we’re fortunate that not only are those individuals ASCO members, but they also are extraordinary volunteers. We owe them a debt of deep gratitude. Through our volunteer leadership and committee members, the program will gain additional strength in the next 5 to 10 years.
Q: What steps will The ASCO Cancer Foundation take to develop new goals and initiatives?
A: We will continue to work with The ASCO Cancer Foundation Board of Directors on an innovative strategic plan for targeted growth. We will work collaboratively with other organizations to define and fill gaps. We also rely heavily on many dedicated volunteers throughout ASCO, and in particular on the members of the Grants Selection Committee, to provide us with guidance on the best ways to invest our research dollars.
Q: Why was the newest grant, the Translational Research Professorship, created?
A: The Translational Research Professorship is designed to provide flexible funding to outstanding translational researchers who have made and are continuing to make significant contributions that have changed the direction of cancer research and who provide mentorship to future translational researchers. The award is intended to support qualified individuals who are dedicated to bringing advances in basic sciences into the clinical arena and to mentoring other translational researchers.
Translational research is critically important to cancer. What we learn from basic research is that an intervention has promise but until that promise has been translated into reality through clinical research, we can’t really make a difference in the lives of patients. It’s those important intermediary steps that allow us to move the findings of basic research into protocols that are clinically relevant, and that is one aim in creating the Translational Research Professorship, along with securing a workforce for the future to carry out this important research. We also recognize that new investigators seeking to make strides in translational research require the guidance and support of the current experts. Therefore, a heavy emphasis on teaching and mentoring is included in this award.
