Seed grants for cancer health system research and policy research in C/Can cities
Supporting the implementation of quality cancer care.
The City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can)’s research initiative is committed to capturing evidence on how to improve cancer care in Low-and Middle-Income Countries and promoting locally-led research.
For a second consecutive year, we are offering seed funding to support researchers in C/Can’s network of cities, who are investigating health systems and policy research projects through an implementation science lens.
The seed grants form part of our efforts to embed an implementation science approach through our technical support across C/Can cities and ensure a sustainable contribution to the global health community, as we accelerate improvements in cancer care.
Eight funded grants of a maximum of $5,000 each are available to nurture research projects that respond to local cancer care needs in the cities of Arequipa (Peru), Greater Petaling (Malaysia), Kumasi (Ghana), León (Mexico), Nairobi (Kenya), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Rosario (Argentina), and Tbilisi (Georgia).
The aim is to generate exploratory studies or early-stage research, while developing research capacity among rising junior and mid-career investigators. The research project proposal must respond to the gaps identified in the city needs assessment, and in alignment with the principles of C/Can’s Research Initiative.
Preference will be given to applications that are related to the implementation of city and cross-city projects as part of the C/Can city process.
Submissions are now closed.
C/Can advocates for seed grants as an avenue to empower local healthcare stakeholders and to promote multidisciplinary collaborations to advance the understanding of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship within health systems.
We look forward to receiving innovative and impactful research proposals that respond to local cancer care needs and contribute to strengthening the quality of health systems.
Candidates will be notified of their application status in December 2024.
Areas of interest
We are particularly interested in research proposals that address the following domains within health systems:
- Patient-Centric Care. Improve the way healthcare services prioritise the needs, preferences, and experiences of patients.
- Development of Human Capital. Capabilities and capacities are strengthened and sustained across the health workforce (including diversity inclusion).
- Equitable Access to Cancer Care Services. Accessibility and affordability of healthcare services to all people – including city catchment areas – are improved.
- Quality of Cancer Care. The healthcare providers in the city operate within agreed standards of effectiveness, safety and quality.
- Local knowledge generation and exchange. The city is established as a knowledge hub for cancer care by leveraging their resources, expertise, and collaborative networks. The city makes evidence-informed decisions.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for a C/Can Seed Grant, applications must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be junior and middle-career individuals working in the cancer care space and engaged in the C/Can initiative through its city governance platforms (City Executive Committee or City Technical Committee) or project teams in selected C/Can cities.
- The applicant must be a cancer care professional who is trained in any branch of oncology (surgical, medical or radiation) or any specialty allied to cancer care (pathology, medical imagine, nursing, palliative and supportive care).
The applicant must reside and work in one of the following C/Can cities: Arequipa (Peru), Greater Petaling (Malaysia), Kumasi (Ghana), León (Mexico), Nairobi (Kenya), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Rosario (Argentina), and Tbilisi (Georgia).
Note that C/Can cities who are currently at a pre-project implementation phase of the initiative will not be invited to submit applications in 2024, but will be considered for subsequent editions of the programme.
- Curriculum Vitae of all key investigators, including peer-reviewed publications.
- A letter of support from a supervisor with answers to the following questions (max 500 words)
- How long and in what capacity does the supervisor know the applicant?
- A statement regarding the candidate’s research experience and interests
- How is the seed grant likely to benefit the participant / institution?
- An assurance that the supervisor/institution will support the applicant to complete his/her research project
- A statement that there is no objection to being contacted by the C/Can’s team regarding the participant
- Title, abstract, and a detailed research plan that does not exceed five pages.
- Budget and budget justification including only direct costs arising from the design and execution of the research project.
- Description of the expected impact and dissemination plan.
The research project proposal must respond to the gaps identified in the C/Can city needs assessment, and in alignment with the principles of C/Can’s Research Initiative. Thus, researchers and healthcare professionals in above cities who are working on cancer research proposals on the following areas within health systems:
- Patient-Centric Care
- Development of Human Capital
- Equitable Access to Cancer Care Services
- Quality of Cancer Care
- Local knowledge generation and exchange.
Grant recipients will be required to provide regular progress reports and a final report at the end of the project
Projects should have a clear relevance to cancer health systems research and apply an implementation science methodology.
Preference will be given to applications that are related to the implementation of C/Can city and cross-city projects. For more information on existing projects, visit citycancerchallenge.org/projects/
All received applications will undergo a phased evaluation process, including both internal and external panels with global experts.
- All research project proposals will be assessed in terms of quality (scientific integrity), potential impact (relevance for the global community), and alignment with C/Can city projects.
- C/Can reserves its right to deem this supported spot empty if no suitable applications are received. For further inquiries and submission of proposals, please contact capacity.development@citycancerchallenge.org.