Research funding call launching May 2021: The Covid-Cancer Rapid Response Award

During and after treatment, people with cancer can experience physical, psychological, and social concerns that can negatively affect quality of life. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated existing challenges for patient care and outcomes, but also created new ones. While there is optimism that public health measures and vaccination will reduce the burden for wider society, it is anticipated that Covid-19 will affect these aspects of cancer care for several years to come.

To address the urgent needs of people affected by cancer against the backdrop of Covid-related challenges, the Irish Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) will shortly be launching the Covid-Cancer Rapid Response Award. 

Aim and funding:

The aim of this award is to help mitigate the burdens brought about by Covid-19 on people living with or beyond cancer. 

Funding of €75,000 has been allocated to each of three priority areas: 

1. Mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on the psycho-social needs of people affected by cancer (non-palliative).
2. Mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on people with cancer receiving palliative care, those with metastatic/advanced disease, or their family/caregivers.
3. Mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the general survivorship needs of people affected cancer (other than the palliative and psycho-social needs addressed in priority areas 1 and 2). 

Applicants may submit proposals that address one (max funding €75,000), two (max funding €150,000), or three (max funding €225,000) priority areas. The funding is available for awards of six to 18 months duration. 

Eligibility:

Applications will be accepted from both academic and clinical applicants (clinicians, nurses, AHPs). Proposals must be patient-focused, seek to take direct action, innovate, and drive immediate improvements in the grant priority areas. Proposals should consider how research outcomes will be adopted and implementation into the wider social care and health system in Ireland. 

Applications may focus on a specific cancer type or be more general in focus e.g. children’s, adult, or geriatric cancers etc.

We welcome applications proposing late-stage intervention development (e.g. implementation) or any other methodology that aims to generate tangible and immediate improvements in patient care and outcomes. Applications are ineligible if the research is exploratory; seeks to quantify rather than address the problem; primarily synthesises literature; or is an early-stage intervention development study. 

While not a requirement, preference will be given to applications that leverage co-investments from other health public health agencies, industries, or funding agencies to increase the speed and/or scope of the research. 

Stakeholder Involvement:

Due to the nature and immediate need of this research, applications should be multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary. Public and Patient Involvement should heavily inform applications and preferably be co-developed in partnership with people affected by cancer. It is expected that research proposals will include significant involvement (not participation or engagement) throughout the lifetime of the award. 

Successful applicants will be expected to begin their project as soon as feasible, but no later than Q4 of 2021.  

Tentative timelines:

Please note that details, including dates, are being finalised and are subject to change pending formal award launch.