EORTC Gastrointestinal Cancer Group launches its Young Investigators & Early Career Investigators’ Program for 2021

The EORTC Gastrointestinal Group cordially invites you to apply for the 2021-2023 term of the EORTC GI Group’s Young Investigators & Early Career Investigators’ Program.

This program offers a scholarship for a total of 3 investigators from institutions which are providing a certain standard of cancer care and research, with active participation in clinical or preclinical/translational research activities.

The scholarship includes:

• A research grant of 50,000 euros for the submitted research proposal
• responsibility for a distinct research project, e. g. clinical research in an ongoing large scale EORTC GI project (e. g. for a secondary endpoint)
• “active membership” in the project groups and one of the task forces (CRC, gastric, hepatobiliary or pancreatic)
• the research project could take advantage of data available at EORTC according to the EORTC rules for access to such data.

The scholar is expected to:

• actively contribute to scientific activities, discussions and projects of the group
• write task force reports for the Group’s newsletter (supported by the task force coordinator)
• participate in protocol development and research activities
• submit an annual written report to the group

You are an eligible candidate for the program if you are:

• a physician with any specialty (oncologist, surgeon, biologist, pathologist, radiologist, radio-oncologist, statistician, etc.)
• max 10 years after graduating as a medical oncologist (ECI definition as per EORTC POL023)
• experience in clinical/translational research, documented by publications (+/- abstracts)
• an active member of the EORTC GITCG (please consult POL023 or check our membership page for registration)
• Committed to be active in the GI group for a minimum of 2 years
• With mentor who is an active member of the GI group
• With a project proposal in line with the objectives and mission of the GI group that might support the development of future EORTC clinical trials or research projects

Your application should include:

• A research proposal (2-3 pages outline)
  • Background
  • Objectives
  • Primary endpoint
  • Scheme if applicable
  • Clinical data and biomaterials needed
  • Mentor / institutions who will participate
• a CV including a list of publications
• a motivation letter
  • Objectives, expectations, interests
  • your expected contribution to the GI group
• a list of activities in the field of GI Oncology.
  • From your mentor:
  • CV
  • Letter of commitment
    • Objectives, expectations
    • General plan on how he/she will supervise

Feasibility of the proposal will be evaluated by the chairs of the YI & ECI program and chair and secretary of the GITCG, together with EORTC headquarters;

Selection process:

• First round of review
• Most interesting ideas will be selected; priority will be given to project based on existing EORTC datasets and samples
• First level assessment of feasibility
• Second review
• Discussion with candidates (+/-mentor) about scientific and feasibility (web conference)
• Methodology assessment
• HQ and GI group assessment of resources
• Projection of timelines

Winner(s) will be announced during the next Group strategy meeting (End August 2021).

Important note: The research grant will only be released upon approval of the research project and corresponding cost estimates by the GITCG Group officers and by any applicable HQ review committee, and after an agreement is in place.

Please send your application no later than June 30, 2021 to gitcghq@eortc.org.

For more information, please feel free to contact Hanneke van Laarhoven (h.vanlaarhoven@amsterdamumc.nl) or Michel Ducreux (michel.ducreux@gustaveroussy.fr)

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

Chairs of the program:

Hanneke van Laarhoven, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, The Netherlands

Michel Ducreux, Institut Gustave Roussy, Paris, France