Proactive grant making strategy for the cancer research program

May 20, 2020

Introduction

The Rising Tide Foundation has developed a proactive grant making strategy for its scientific programs. Through this we aim to expedite the achievement of our mission “to exert an indelible influence and support groundbreaking and pioneering clinical cancer research to help patients improve their quality of life and win the fight against cancer” by pro-actively reaching out to partner and investigators around defined focus areas. The foundation’s long-term research ambition is to optimize partnerships and attract the best in Phase I to Phase III clinical research trials that aim at bringing maximum patient benefit in the shortest time possible. This will result in the creation of less toxic therapeutic approaches, earlier cancer detection and innovative prevention strategies which will lead to an increased quality of life and survival, contributing to the cure and avoidance of cancer, and position the Rising Tide Foundation as a key player in the cancer research philanthropic space.

Principles we adopt

Patient centricity
We recognize the pivotal role of patients in the development of recommendations for the management or diagnosis of cancer. Patient representatives should engage with researchers to help improving methodology and research outcomes, to give credibility to the results and to acknowledge the fact that for normative reasons patients should have a say in health care and health research when it is expected that decisions in these areas will have an impact on their daily life.

Maximal impact in the shortest time
We highlight our sense of urgency core value, i.e. research projects should exert a patient impact within 3 to 5 years and start within 6 months upon official award notification. Exceptions regarding patient impact should be accepted when investigating the prospective assessment of biomarkers in a clinical trial, prevention strategies and treatment de-escalation. These represent urgencies in the perspective that they are underserved research and activity areas within the global cancer funding landscape.

Partnerships to maximize reach
We are one of many players in this area and share objectives with a broad range of other organizations worldwide. Co-funding and innovative funding models can be further explored and will be more attainable due to a better definiton of our main funding interest. A multi stakeholder partnership can result in a greater impact and contribute to our positioning as thought leaders.

Partners can engage with RTFCCR around information-sharing and networking with scientists and other institutions interested or with experience in the foucs areas and topics we select. The network will also expand our capacity leading to improved reviews and better grants.

Grantee referrals can continue to provide leads to projects we might consider to support or to other organizations we can partner with. It is also important to seize the potential these partners have to disseminate important results from RTF already funded projects.

Definitions of the focus areas

Our strategy takes into consideration the following guiding principles:

 

RTFCCR aims at supporting effective interventions that enable symptom management during and after treatment, empower patients to better handle their disease and become actively involved in their care decisions.

We also look to support research that advances therapeutic approaches that provide the best possible outcome with the least toxicity for each individual patient.

These approaches aim to reach:

  • Improved disease control
  • Reduced side effects
  • And have a high probability to reach patients globally

RTFCCR aims at supporting novel strategies for high impact clinical research in prevention, early detection, and interception of cancer.

Exceptional clinical research outside of these areas may also be considered.

Outlook

Connect, discuss, act!
Several activities are lined up in the next 3 years to activate our focus areas. We will be proactively approaching partners to engage in funding call-for-proposals covering specific, underserved topics under each of the focus areas. We will also be working closely with patient groups and plan to form a Patient Expert Advisory Board to support our grant selection and funding strategies.

From aspiration to impact
The current strategy will be revisited every 3 years to give us flexibility and ensure out activites are impactful and keep us at the forefront of phylantropic engagement in clinical cancer research.

RTFCCR Pro Active Grant Making Download (PDF)

 

 

 

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