The Lustgarten Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for the 2026 Dr. Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative. The program supports science-driven clinical trial concepts that accelerate the translation of research discoveries into new therapeutic approaches for patients with pancreatic cancer while advancing understanding of the disease’s biology.
Proposed trials should be innovative, highly collaborative, supported by strong preclinical or clinical evidence, and incorporate deep translational analyses to demonstrate drug mechanisms of action and test hypotheses related to pancreatic cancer biology. Projects should also include plans to continue developing the proposed therapy if the trial is successful.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold an M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., Ph.D., or equivalent degree.
- Applicants must hold a faculty position or equivalent appointment at a college, university, medical institution, or other research facility.
- Applications may be submitted by domestic or international nonprofit or public organizations.
- Eligible institutions include universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, state and local government units, and eligible federal agencies.
- There are no citizenship restrictions.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated record of important contributions to pancreatic cancer or another relevant research field.
- Applicants should provide evidence of research productivity through publications, peer-reviewed funding, and the ability to advance projects toward clinical impact.
- Funded investigators must be willing to collaborate with researchers at external institutions, the Lustgarten Foundation Translational Advisory Group, and other Lustgarten-funded investigators.
- Trial concepts must be based on a strong preclinical or clinical scientific rationale and include substantial translational analyses.
- The program does not support incremental trials, first-in-human safety studies, or dose-finding studies without a broader therapeutic-development strategy.
- Projects must align with the Lustgarten Foundation’s mission and seek to advance novel therapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer.
Funding Details:
- Clinical Accelerator Initiative trials are typically funded at a total level of USD 1.5 million–2 million.
- Funding may be provided for up to three years.
- The total award and project duration will depend on the scientific and operational requirements of the proposed trial.
- Funding may support the clinical trial, deep translational analyses, and applicable indirect costs.
- Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of direct costs.
- Continued funding is dependent on the timely submission of biannual progress reports and annual financial reports.
- Funded investigators will be expected to interact routinely with the Lustgarten Foundation and its Translational Advisory Group.
- Clinical and translational data generated through funded trials will be incorporated into the Lustgarten Foundation Clinical Information Database, known as LUCID.
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent submission deadline: November 2, 2026.
- Invitations to present trial concepts to the Translational Advisory Group: by January 2027.
- Invitations to submit full grant applications: by March 2027.
- Award notifications: by July 2027.
Further Information:
- Letters of Intent must be submitted through ProposalCentral.
- Questions regarding the program may be directed to Sasha Singh, Grants Manager, at ssingh@lustgarten.org.
- Scientific questions may be directed to Sejin Chung, Ph.D., Program Scientist, Research, at schung@lustgarten.org.