METIOR Incubator Application
Overview
The METIOR Incubator is a program that aims to attract early career scientists across disciplines to collaborate on hypothesis-driven projects for which they will receive nine months of mentorship from experts in the field. Selected applicants will receive year-long mentorship from medical oncologists, research scientists, business experts, and NIH/FDA grant officers with a goal of generating successful team projects and novel collaborative efforts that leverage the unique strengths of the participants.
The inaugural program's provocative question is:
Immunotherapy does not work in all patients, yet--Can you improve the outcome?
METIOR Retreats
The program will entail progression toward collaborative grant application development, punctuated by three in-person retreats: the "Anti-Educational Summit," the "METIORic Progress" meeting, and a final convocation at which the METIOR Committee will announce the winning collaborative project. The winning team will present their grant proposal as part of the Early Career Session at SITC 2018.
Project Implementation
Following the first anti-educational meeting, METIORites will briefly formulate a hypothesis-driven project focused on a specific topic/hurdle in immunotherapy. The topic will be released at the time registration opens. An online communication and project management platform will be provided to foster successful grant writing on an ongoing basis and to promote continued relationship development within the groups. Participants will take advantage of the three in-person meetings (see above) and monthly teleconferences to provide the committee and mentors with project updates. Two months before the last meeting, each group will submit a grant application that will be considered for presentation at SITC 2018.
Application Process
Candidates will apply by submitting their completed application to education@sitcancer.org. Applications are due by January 31st 2018 at 11:59pm EST. Selection will be made on a competitive basis by a dedicated review committee. A balanced Cohort with diverse representation across expertise (i.e. basic science, physician and industries) and compatible project concepts will be primary considerations during the selection process.
Eligibility
- There are no citizenship or VISA requirements to apply. However, depending from the applicant’s citizenship there might be requirements to travel to the US and Canada. It is up to the applicant to review the requested travel documents. More information is available at the following websites:
https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit.html and
https://travel.gc.ca/returning/travelling-to-canada
- Researchers, clinicians, those working in Industry, bioinformatics professionals, statisticians and all SITC members are encouraged to participate. PhD candidates must have obtained their PhD within the last eight years, and MD candidates must not be above the level of assistant professor. SITC membership is not required to participate.
- Must complete and submit an application by January 31st 2018 at 11:59pm EST. All documents listed on the application web-page and on page 3 of this document should be turned in; incomplete documents will void the application.
Time Commitment
All participants must attend ALL THREE (3) in-person retreats. Retreats will be held March 9-11 2018 (Anti-Educational Summit, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Sept. 6-8th 2018 (METIORic retreat, London, Ontario, Canada), and the SITC 2018 meeting, Washington DC).
METIOR will arrange participants’ complimentary hotel accommodation and will provide reimbursement for travel. Upon selection into the program there is a one-time $500 registration fee.
The METIORites will have approximately 12 months to formulate and write a collaborative proposal. The best project would win the presentation spot at SITC 2018.
Program Outcome
- Participants will have the opportunity to develop their hypothesis-driven research skills and receive nine months of mentorship.
- One innovative proposal will be funded.
- Teams will work across disciplines to enhance training experience and generate novel translational work.
- A dynamic network of young scientists will be formed to foster individual professional growth and promote collaboration between Academia, Clinic and Business.
- Informal communication loops will be formed between emerging leaders and mentors.
METIOR Alumni
After participation in the METIOR incubator program, METIORites will have the opportunity to create an alumni network with the goal of sharing the training experience with new recruits and establish and maintain collaborations with other METIORites.
Complete Application Requirements and Review Criteria
A candidate’s personal statement, biosketch/CV, letter of intent and one letter of recommendation must be emailed to education@sitcancer.org by January 31, 2018 at 11:59pm EST.
- Personal statement (1 page maximum):
• This document should briefly state: specific interest(s) within immunotherapy, career goals and objectives, expectations from the METIOR Incubator, how you plan to contribute to the success of your team.
• Include responses to short answer questions:
• What makes you an ideal candidate for this program (i.e. what do you value most in mentorship programs such as this)?
• Tell us of an experience when collaboration proved fruitful in your research endeavors.
• Name one or several things that you would like to see changed or addressed in the field of immuno-oncology.
- Biosketch/CV
- LOI including (1 page maximum):
• Name and title of the investigator
• Full address, phone and email
• Name of the medical, scientific not-for-profit organization or industry
• Project title
• Hypothesis on which the project should be based
• Brief description including goals of the project, significance/innovation, relevance and impact to the METIOR incubator question
• A concise description of the Specific Aims
- Reference letters from:
• Laboratory-based applicants: the principal investigator and department chair (feasibility)
• Clinic-based applicants: clinical or research mentor and program director (for trainees) or department chair (for faculty)
• Industry applicants: supervisor or direct superior
Review Criteria
The review committee will assess the following items per each candidate:
- Major points:
- Potential of the applicant to be a team player and establish fruitful collaborations
- Strength and likelihood that testing the submitted hypothesis will lead to a successful project
- Personal drive in the cancer immunotherapy field
- Knowledge of and experience in cancer immunotherapy
- Minor points
- Publications record
- Grants/awards received
- Current work environment
Application Deadline: January 31st 2018 11:59pm EST
If you have questions regarding the application or the METIOR Incubator program please contact:
Alex Cadena, BS, BA
MD Anderson Cancer Center
APCadena@mdanderson.org
Sebastiano Battaglia, PhD
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
sebastiano.battaglia@roswellpark.org