2024 CCF Innovation Grant:
Cholangiocarcinoma Immunotherapy Resistance Research

Background

The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation’s (CCF) mission is to find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Founded in 2006 in Salt Lake City, UT, by a family who lost a loved one to cholangiocarcinoma, CCF has grown to become the leading global resource in research, education, and public awareness.

Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded over $2.64 million for innovative, high-quality research. In accordance with the Foundation’s Research Philosophy, CCF supports promising projects that are less likely to get traditional funding. Open-access research that catalyzes collaboration and focuses on finding a cure is a core value of the program.

The CCF Innovation Grant is a new program that is aimed at addressing specific research questions and fostering multi-centered collaboration. The 2024 CCF Innovation Grant will focus on advancing the study of acquired immunotherapy resistance in cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose

The overarching objective of this funding opportunity is to unravel the complex immunological dynamics underlying acquired resistance to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic modality for diverse cancers. Recent randomized trials, namely TOPAZ-1 (2022) and KEYNOTE-966 (2023), have demonstrated a survival benefit when combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). However, only 1 in 4 patients derives a long-term benefit (survival at two years), and the intricacies of immune resistance, evidenced by primary and secondary resistance in a subset of patients, need to be addressed. This RFP solicits collaborative grant applications from academic research centers (involving two or more centers), up to $250,000, aimed at identifying factors contributing to acquired resistance, specifically in the context of CCA over 12 months (research period, with additional time for write-up). The knowledge gained will inform the refinement of clinical trial paradigms, optimizing the application of immunotherapy and facilitating precision medicine.

This grant opportunity is made available with the support of the Bachrach Family Foundation, making available a generous grant of $250,000 to advance the study of acquired immunotherapy resistance in cholangiocarcinoma.

CCF chooses grant recipients carefully to ensure they build collaborations between researchers, institutions, and industry and share information, samples, and expertise with others in the field. Prior experience in the field of cholangiocarcinoma is not required. Learn more about the program's research philosophy.

Key Dates

Letter of Intent (LOI) Due Date:
December 22, 2023 @ 11:59 pm (EST)

LOI Reviews/Invitation to submit a full application:
January 15, 2024

Application Deadline:
March 1, 2024 @ 11:59 pm (EST)

Scientific Merit Dateline:
March 22, 2024

Award Notification:
March 29, 2024

Funding

  • One year of grant support up to $250,000
  • Funding for expenses related to the research project, which may include the salary and benefits
    of the grant recipient, may be used
  • CCF will not fund indirect costs or institutional overhead

Areas of research interest include, but are not limited to the following

  • Determine mechanisms of acquired resistance to treatment in patients with CCA treated with
    immunotherapy
  • Identify strategies to overcome resistance
  • Inform the design of clinical trials to test the emerging hypotheses
  • Basic Science: Research using laboratory-based models without clinical data from patients
  • Translational Science: Research studying human samples or data obtained from human samples,
    annotated with clinical outcome data
  • Clinical Science: Studies of outcomes in human patients, including population and epidemiology
    research

Eligibility Information:

Degree

  • Doctor of Medicine
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Academic Level

  • Full Professors
  • Associate Professors
  • Clinical Researchers (MD, PhD)
  • Research Scientists
  • Epidemiologists
  • Biostatisticians
  • Postdoctoral Fellows

Institutional Requirements

  • Academic, medical, or research institutions based anywhere worldwide
  • New or established multi-center (2 or more) collaboration
  • Demonstration of the capability to undertake proposed work

Other Eligibility Requirements

  • Prior CCF grant award recipients are eligible to apply
  • Prior experience in the field of CCA is not required
  • There are no restrictions for applicants regarding age, gender, race, disability, or national
    origin/residence

Key Components of a Letter of Intent

  • The LOI should provide a summary of the proposed research project, specific aims and rationale,
    scientific approach, significance, and innovation (Three-page limit)
  • References (One-page limit)
  • NIH Biosketch (preferred) or CV (Three-page limit) for main lead PI at each collaborating institution.
  • Research that can impact cholangiocarcinoma patient outcomes
  • Hypothesis-driven specific aims with well-designed analyses
  • A feasible project completed within the period of the grant
  • Statistical rigor
  • Development of an Early Career Researcher as part of the application

Evaluation of Letters of Intent

  • The Letters of Intent (LOI) will be reviewed by the CCF Scientific Review Committee, comprised
    of established clinical, translational, and basic science researchers as well as patient research
    advocates.
  • Applicants whose LOI is deemed most worthy are invited to submit complete applications.

For further information or questions, please contact us at research@cholangiocarcinoma.org

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