Grant applicants sought for OHSU program to reduce cancer’s impact on Oregonians

Research
Jackilen Shannon, Ph.D., R.D.
Jackilen Shannon, Ph.D., R.D.

The Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is seeking grant applicants statewide to receive funding through a program dedicated to supporting community-specific projects that meet cancer-related needs.

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program grants can be used to fund community projects that address needs anywhere along the cancer continuum. This includes everything from projects that promote ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease to detection efforts, treatment and, ultimately, efforts that support survivors.

Three tiers of grants are available to support a wide variety of projects that could range from conducting an assessment to explore a community’s cancer-related needs to developing and implementing a program that addresses those deficits. Early stage grants provide up to $10,000 in funding, developmental grants offer up to $25,000 and program advancement grants supply up to $50,000. Any organization with an interest in reducing the burden of cancer or cancer-related health disparities in their community is encouraged to submit a proposal. Projects accepted for funding will also gain access to a range of OHSU resources to support evidence-based project development, aid in planning evaluation measures, and share best practices.

“The Community Partnership Program was designed to provide communities with the resources necessary to tailor programs so they work to meet the specific needs of their residents,” said Jackilen Shannon, Ph.D., R.D., co-director of the Community Partnership Program. “The multiple tiers of funding offer organizations the option to apply regardless of the phase of work they are in. They can use the support to develop an initial idea into a project. As it moves through the funding tiers over time the project can develop into a sustainable program for the community.”

The Community Partnership Program in February awarded $462,656 in funding to 17 projects statewide as part of the first round of grants. Projects selected in the initial round represented 23 Oregon counties and a wide range of populations in both rural and urban communities. The goal of the second round of funding is to continue expanding the program to build on that success.

“Cancer is a complex disease that has multiple health implications for each individual it touches that can impact that individual’s ability to work, their family and social life. Those impacts reverberate in different ways for each individual and their community,” said Kerri Winters-Stone, Ph.D., co-director of the Community Partnership Program. “The Community Partnership Program is designed to support the people and organizations who understand how cancer is affecting the people in their communities and how best to help them.”

The Community Partnership Program website provides information about the grant application process, including the initial process of filing an Intent to Apply form. It also has information on the request for proposals (RFP) and applicant assistance webinars available in July and August. Intent to Apply forms are due by noon on Aug. 13; full proposals are due by noon on Sept. 8. Applicants who seek to reach a program representative to answer questions about developing a proposal, may send an email to knightcancerCRO@ohsu.edu, or call 503 494-1617 and select “option 6” for the Community Partnership Program.

“Among the Community Partnership Program’s goals is strengthening relationships between the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and the Oregon communities it serves. Working together will help foster sustainable programs that benefit the health and well-being of all Oregonians,” Winters-Stone added.

About the Knight Cancer Institute

The Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University is a pioneer in the field of precision cancer medicine. The institute's director, Brian Druker, M.D., helped prove it was possible to shut down cells that enable cancer to grow without harming healthy cells. This breakthrough has led to treatments that make once-fatal forms of the disease manageable and ushered in a new generation of precision cancer therapies. With $1 billion in new funding from the conclusion of the Knight Cancer Challenge, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is expanding upon its expertise in precision medicine with a plan to improve the early detection of lethal forms of the disease. The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center between Sacramento and Seattle – an honor earned only by the nation's top cancer centers. It offers the latest treatments and technologies as well as hundreds of research studies and clinical trials.

 


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