The Avon Foundation seeks breast cancer research and program proposals

The Avon Foundation has two annual funding opportunities available for breast cancer research and access to quality healthcare program grants: The Breast Cancer Research Program and the Safety Net Program: Access to Diagnostics and Care.

The Breast Cancer Research Program supports collaborative research efforts towards understanding the causes of and prevention of breast cancer. The focus of the foundation is to develop new strategies to prevent breast cancer by understanding the causes of breast cancer in women, changes in breast cells that give rise to cancer, markers for disease, and how breast cancer progresses. Applications in the area of prevention should clearly identify if they are proposing studies of the etiology and causes of breast cancer, primary prevention (prior to breast cancer development), prevention of the spread or recurrence (after a breast cancer diagnosis), or risk-reduction.

Faculty members at OHSU are eligible so long as the research they propose is in line with the Foundation’s priorities. Avon Foundation funding cannot be used to support animal studies, although preliminary research may contain previous studies in animals. Research must include human studies and the Avon Foundation also encourages researchers use the Army of Women to obtain volunteers. This opportunity requires internal coordination since OHSU may submit one application. If you intend to apply, complete a limited submission form at http://ozone.ohsu.edu/research/rda/funding/limsubform.php by January 8, 2010. The Knight Cancer Institute will review and select an applicant to apply on behalf of OHSU.

Deadline: Internal: January 8, 2010 / Avon Foundation: February 1, 2010
Amount: Up to $150,000 total costs per year for up to 2 years.

The Safety Net Program: Access to Diagnostics and Care supports programs that improve access to quality breast diagnostics and access to breast healthcare for the medically underserved. The emphasis of this initiative is to provide hospitals and healthcare centers with patient navigation programs, partial equipment support, other personnel and infrastructure support that will enhance their breast cancer care services to the medically underserved. Note, that this is not a research grant, but coordination is necessary if interested in applying, as OHSU can only submit one application.

Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to providing breast cancer care to the low-income, at-risk, uninsured, and medically underserved. The Avon Foundation will accept only one application in response to this opportunity.  Interested applicants must apply for OHSU Foundation Proposal Tracking & Clearance Form by August 6, 2010. The OHSU Foundation will provide strategic and editorial assistance.

Deadline: Internal: August 6, 2010 / Letter of intent (required): September 15, 2010 / Full application (invitation only): October 15, 2010
Amount: Up to $150,000

Note that for both of these opportunities, the OHSU Foundation will provide strategic and editorial assistance.