Sponsor
V Foundation
Sponsor deadline:
Internal deadline:
Award Details
UBC is invited to nominate one^ candidate for this award.
V Foundation is seeking to fund translational research in the broad area of adult cancers. Applicants may propose adult cancer research that moves a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial or uses specimens from a clinical trial to develop biomarkers or mechanisms. The research should apply in some direct way to human beings within the time frame of less than 3 years from the end of the grant. If biomarker research is undertaken, a validation set or independent clinical trial is essential. A plan for biomarker validation, if applicable, must be included in any proposal. The endpoint of the project should be the planning or initiation of a new clinical trial.
For 2025/26, a biostatistical or bioinformatics plan is required for all proposals. Proposals without this element will not be considered for funding.
Research areas such as epidemiology, behavioural science, and health services research are not eligible for this competition.
Award Support: The grant amount is $800,000 (USD), paid in four annual instalments, and allows for 10% indirect costs (not to exceed $80,000 within the award).
Eligibility:
- Nominees must be the lead Principal Investigator (PI) on the Translational research team and must meet all of the following criteria by the nomination due date:
- Nominated by their Cancer Center Director, Department/Institute/Faculty Head. This person must be able to sign off on institutional supports, research time and space.
- Hold a UBC appointment (or cross-appointment). This is an invite-only grant and the invitation is held by UBC.
- Faculty must have dedicated lab space and committed research time.
- Additionally, they must be able to apply for PI status on major research grants (such as the equivalent to R01 in the US, CIHR Project Grant in Canada).
- Clinical Faculty (and all Faculty designations/roles) are eligible so long as they meet the above criteria.
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Internal Process
UBC is holding an internal competition to identify one candidate for nomination to the sponsor.
UBC internal selection deadline: November 14, 2025 (5pm)
• Sponsor nomination deadline: December 5, 2025 (2pm)
• Full application deadline: TBC; expected date of January 5.
Interested candidates should submit the following items by the internal selection deadline of November 14 to kevin.mccartney@ubc.ca:
1) Draft recommendation letter (3 pages max), with confirmation that this has been vetted by a Department Head empowered to allot resources (e.g. teaching and service release, lab space, etc.), addressing:
- Why you should be selected
- Institutional resources that will be available to you
- If the nature of the research is bench to bedside with patient contact, describe your record and intentions regarding patient advocacy/communication
- Your record and intentions regarding science communication with diverse audiences
2) Summary of research proposal (1 page max)
3) UBC CV
^In 2025/26, the sponsor is allowing UBC to nominate a second candidate for an "All-Star" grant. Only those who have previously won and completed a V Foundation grant/award are eligible for "All-Star" grants. Please contact ORPA (Kevin McCartney) if you are considering nomination as an "All-Star."