One week left to register applications for the competition of clinical research projects in oncology

Applications submission is open for proposals of randomized clinical trials in oncology and related areas, including cancer prevention, diagnostics, monitoring and treatment, rehabilitation and quality of life of cancer patients. Application due date is July 01, 2019. Online pre-registration is required by June 20, 2019.

There’s a major problem of oncology clinical research funding in Russia. If we don’t take into account trials that are initiated by pharmaceutical companies, Russian investigators have limited opportunities for implementing investigator-initiated trials. RakFond’s activities are largely devoted to the development of scientific interest among young specialists and established scientists in Russia, assistance in their research projects promotion, as well as facilitation of study management for the development of the most promising research ideas in oncology.

“By providing support for clinical research, we advance the emergence of novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, methods of supportive care and rehabilitation,” — Kristina Zakurdaeva, the founder of RakFond, comments. — “In doing so, we contribute to the future better care for cancer patients.”  

The award includes funding of up to 500k rubles for clinical research expenses, as well as the expert assistance from the leading industry participants. OCT will provide the best applicants with the assistance in the clinical trial statistical design and data analysis. The best applicants will also receive access to online service for clinical trials management from Enrollme.ru. The results of the competition will be announced in September 2019.

“Comparing to other developed countries, philanthropy and project support in healthcare and science in our country is only gathering pace. That is why, it is so important to unite fair contribution from everyone into joint socially significant activities, which are already implemented by RakFond. We are very proud to support their initiatives to identify promising projects. We believe that our professional capabilities will help to create the environment where these selected ideas will come true – only by the joint effort we can achieve solid changes in oncology,” – said Dmitry Sharov, President of the OCT.

This is not the first competition initiated by RakFond. Last year two research projects were funded jointly with the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology (RUSSCO). The final results of one of them were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual meeting on June 3, 2019, in Chicago, USA. Earlier this year the project to study the efficacy mechanisms of cell immunotherapy in solid tumors was funded as a result of the joint competition with SciStoreLab, LLC.

Detailed terms and conditions of participation in the competition, instructions for applications submission, links to forms and templates can be found on the competition web-page: http://www.rakfond.org/rfp-2019-01-en/.