Introduction
The SASS Foundation for Medical Research, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is committed to education, research, and education in various hematological and malignant diseases. As a part of research commitment, the SASS Foundation offers research grants annually to bright young post-doctoral fellows to pursue innovative ideas that have the potential to develop into independent investigators with sustained extramural peer-reviewed (e.g. NIH, ACS, NSF etc) funding. The Transition Grant funding is provided for two years; for 3rd fellowship and for 1st year of junior faculty appointment (Assistant Professor).

Goal and Scope of Program
The goal of The SASS Foundation Fellowship award is provide salary stipend for novel research projects related to cancer to be conducted by senior postdoctoral fellow (3rd year) under the guidance of an able mentor in order to advance to junior faculty level. The intent of this award is to help transition of promising senior post-doctoral fellow to junior faculty level by providing support during 3rd year of fellowship and 1st year of junior faculty appointment. The Foundation is especially interested in hypothesis driven novel research and not an extension of Mentor’s research.

Eligibility
The award is open to any postdoctoral fellow with MD, Ph.D. or both degrees who have completed 2 years of postdoctoral training at the time of the award (entering 3rd year fellowship at the time of award in an academic non-profit institution), and an institutional commitment for fellow to progress to junior faculty appointment in a U.S. Institution. The mentor should have established record as an established independent investigator.

Type of Research
Applications will be entertained in the area of cancer biology. Preference will be given for translational research.

Conditions of Award
Awards are for the salary support only; $50,000 for 3rd fellowship and $70,000 for 1st year of junior faculty appointment. 2nd year funding is contingent upon a satisfactory progress in research, and the appointed as a junior faculty member (Assistant Professor) at a U.S. Institution. Indirect costs will not be supported. Funded candidates MUST present their work at The SASS Foundation’s annual Gala Dinner and/or during the Sass Visiting Professorship at Weill Cornell University Medical College, New York. The award cannot be used for laboratory or office equipments or travel overseas. Any and all publications resulting from this funding must be acknowledged as “This work was supported by the Sass Foundation for Medical Research, Inc, Roslyn, New York”. A copy of publication should be sent to the Director of Scientific Development of the Foundation.

Application Deadline and Review Process
The Letter of Intent should be sent by e-mail to Dr. Sudhir Gupta, Director of Scientific Development of The SASS Foundation at sgupta@uci.edu no later than March 1, 2010 at 5:00 PM. The deadline for submission of full proposal is May 1, 2010 at 5:00 PM. Late proposals will not be accepted. All proposals must be sent in both Word and pdf format via e-mail to sgupta@uci.edu. An Ad Hoc Scientific Peer Review Committee of The SASS Foundation will review all applications. A priority score (NIH style) will be given by members of the Scientific Peer Review Committee will vote. Awards will be made strictly by the assigned priority score. Applicants will be notified by June 16, 2010. A brief written summary of the review will be provided. The funding will start from July 1, 2010.

2009-2010 FELLOWSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS

Dr. Christopher Dillon - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Dr. Francine Garret-Bakelman - Weill Cornell Medical College
Dr. Vincent Chih-Wen Shu - Burnham Institute
Dr. Omid F. Harandi - University of Massachusetts Medical School
Dr. Shilpi Paul - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory