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An Evaluation of the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Program
ALYCE L. TUCKER, WILLIAM R. VOGLER, JAMES L. KEPNER
AbstractBackground The American Cancer Society (ACS) allocated competitive funding for Research Project Grants (RPG) to investigators and health care professionals early in their careers. This study explored the process of applying for an ACS grant and determined the differences, if any, in applicants that were funded and applicants that were not funded. Methods. Applicants applying for RPG funding in the spring of 1996 were sent a questionnaire. Results. Most variables between funded and unfunded applicants did not show significant differences. The perception of the application process varied significantly between groups. Conclusions. The application process of RPG was highly valued among funded applicants. J Cancer Educ. 2007; 22:165-167.
I n 1995, the American Cancer Society (ACS) organized a Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) consisting of leaders in the cancer field to examine its research and professional training programs to ensure that these programs enhanced the societys impact on cancer prevention and control. Among the many recommendations made by the BRC was that the research and training grant programs should emphasize support for investigators and health care professionals at the beginning of their careers. Individuals seeking support for Research Project Grants (RPG) should do so within the first 8 years of their academic appointment. These changes were announced in 1996.1
The BRC further recommended that mechanisms be created to allow ongoing evaluation of the research and training programs. The program was initiated in the spring of 1996, and this report is an evaluation of that program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A list of all new applicants submitting RPGs in the spring of 1996 was generated from the ACS database. Many applicants who were not funded in spring 1996 resubmitted their applications and some of these were subsequently funded. A questionnaire was developed and sent to each applicant via e-mail seeking the status of their academic appointment; percentage of time devoted to research, teaching, clinical work, and administrative work; year and age of first faculty appointment; prior and subsequent research support; current status regarding research and type of research; whether they had served as officers in professional organizations, obtained ACS supported inventions
and patents; number of invited keynote talks at...