Radiation Oncology Research Prizes

HOSPIRA WITHERS & PETERS FELLOWSHIP PRIZE and

ONCURA BOURNE & LANGLANDS PRIZE

HOSPIRA WITHERS AND PETERS FELLOWSHIP PRIZE

Purpose
The purpose of the Hospira Withers and Peters Fellowship Prize is to promote the culture of Radiation Oncology research among Fellows of the College, by supporting our most able and committed young researchers to carry out significant research projects.

It is hoped that recipients of this Fellowship Prize will go on to have careers in which research plays a significant role, to the benefit of patients, the recipients themselves and the wider oncology community.

Researchers will be encouraged to sit for higher academic degrees based on the work carried out during their Fellowship. It is hoped that at least two Fellowships will be available at any given time, depending on the funding available.

You can read about the background to the development and naming of the prize in the Inside News December 2008 Edition.

How will the Fellowship Prize be paid?
The College recognises that financial disadvantage can be associated with the pursuit of full time Research. The Fellowship Prize will therefore be paid as a supplement to an existing salary from an institution, or in addition to grants already received, with a view to providing additional support and incentive.

Funds will be paid directly to the University or Hospital Fund nominated by the candidate. Payment can be made only into such a fund and not to an individual. The trainee will be required to pay tax on the funds awarded.

How much will the recipient receive?
In 2010 there are two Hospira Withers and Peters Fellowship Prizes available each to the value of $25,000AU.

Who can apply?
Applicants must be:

1. Student members or Fellows of the RANZCR, who have passed their Fellowship examination.
2. Employed as a Fellow or Registrar or equivalent, but not a consultant in Radiation Oncology.
3. Principal investigator of an eligible research project.
4. Employed at a College accredited centre. However, by way of exception, Fellowships will be considered for researchers to carry out work at centres of excellence overseas, provided the Fellow undertakes to return to work in Australia, New Zealand or Singapore within five years.

Types of research studies eligible for fellowship:
All projects must be directly or indirectly related to clinical oncology. Projects may comprise any or a combination of the following:

1. Clinical Research
2. Translational Research
3. Basic Science
4. Health Economics
5. Educational Research

Guidelines for submission of Research Projects
Applicants are required to submit a detailed research proposal. This will be a detailed proposal, discussing the background to the project and outlining any hypotheses to be tested and methodology. Consideration should be given to ethical and statistical issues. Relevant literature should be quoted. Candidates should state that the research project will be completed in the allocated Fellowship time. Projects submitted through TROG will be encouraged. Candidates are encouraged to follow the NHMRC guidelines in submitting their application.

Who will judge the applications?
A panel of reviewers will be established by the FRC to assess and grade the applications. Expert outside reviewers with particular relevant specialist knowledge will be asked to contribute to the process. A consumer will also be included on the Panel of reviewers. Members of the Panel will be required to declare any conflict of interest that they may have.

How can we ensure fairness across potential sites?
Only truly outstanding projects and candidates will be funded. It is recognised that centres vary in their ability to support and produce home grown research. While excellence should not be compromised, consideration will be given to achievement in relation to opportunity. Decision of the Faculty/College in announcing the successful candidates will be final. The grant will be awarded at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCR.

What criteria will be used in judging applications?
These will include:

1. Scientific quality and significance & innovation of the project
2. Relevance to Radiation Oncology
3. Potential of the study to benefit patients or advance scientific understanding
4. Potential of the study to expand into a continuing program of research or become a multicentric phase II or phase III clinical trial under the auspices of TROG or another collaborative clinical trials group.
5. Potential for collaboration with other researchers or Institutions
6. Track record of the Investigator
7. Track records of co-Investigators
8. Evidence of intention to submit for higher degree
9. Letter from the Director of the Institution the candidate is affiliated to: [a] supporting the application and [b] confirming that protected time is available to the candidate for the research activity detailed in the application
10. Declaration of the source, duration and level of funding already available to the candidate.

How much time will the Fellow be required spend on Research?
It would be desirable that the Fellow will be working full time in Research during the period of the Fellowship. However it is recognised that the Candidate may be required to carry out some clinical duties as part of his or her contract. Under these circumstances the minimum time allocated to Research activities should not be less than 0.6FTE. This needs to be certified in writing by the Director of the Institutions the candidate is affiliated to.

Monitoring of Progress of the Fellowship
The candidate will be required to:

1. Submit a progress report before the end of each Fellowship year, outlining Research activities completed and planned. Before proceeding to a second year of funding, satisfactory progress or evidence of sufficient effort must be provided.
2. Notify the Faculty of any unexpected delays to or suspension of the project.
3. Notify the Faculty if the Candidate transfers to another Institution and is able to continue on with the project. Should this be the case, the candidate would need to provide appropriate documentary evidence from the existing Institutions Director and the Director of the new Institution.

Criteria for withdrawing funding:

1. False or misleading information provided during the application process, which comes to light subsequently.
2. Where the candidate prematurely terminates the project (excluding reasons beyond the candidate’s control) detailed in the application.
3. Where the candidate transfers to another Institution and is no longer able to continue on with the project in a satisfactory manner.
4. Where the candidate fails to comply with the objectives of the project specified in the application.
5. Unsatisfactory progress as judged by the RANZCR FRO Research Committee.

How do I apply?
Detailed applications should be submitted in writing addressing the following headings:

1. Title of Project
2. Name of Applicant(s)
3. Department
4. Aims of Project
5. Research Plan
1. Background (including timeline)
2. Method
3. Relevant References
6. Budget
7. Justification of Budget
8. Other funding received or applied for related to the Project
9. Signature of applicant(s)
10. Publications of applicant(s) during past 5 years
11. Approval of Head of Department
    N.B. Applications from Student Members should be assessed before submission by a Fellow of the College, who should give guidance in respect of the preparation and presentation of the research plan and budget.
12. Approval by Ethics Committee

Applications should be sent to:

Education Officer – CPD and Research
Faculty Research Committee
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists
Level 9, 51 Druitt Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Applications must be submitted by no later than 5 March 2010.

Download a copy of the Hospira Withers and Peters Fellowship Prize Guidelines

Late applications can not be accepted.

For further information please contact us mentioning Research Fellowship Prize in the subject line.

ONCURA BOURNE AND LANGLANDS PRIZE

The Oncura Bourne and Langlands Prize will be available annually to trainees whose research requirement submission is deemed to be outstanding.

You can read about the background to the development and naming of the prize in the Inside News December 2008 Edition.

The assessment of trainee research requirement submissions has previously been two tiered with trainees awarded a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. At a recent review the FRC and the Education Board felt that excellence was not being recognised or rewarded. Each submission will now be graded as unsatisfactory, satisfactory or outstanding. Any submissions graded as outstanding will automatically be considered for the prize.

It is hoped that the establishment of this prize will provide candidates with a greater incentive for excellence, and a sense of achievement.

The prize will only be awarded in the case of an exceptional submission. The prize, an amount of $1 500, will be available annually at the RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting.

For further information please contact us mentioning Oncura Bourne and Langlands Prize in the subject line.

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