Apply to the Specialized Center of Research Program

Supports teams of researchers representing different disciplines and engaged in collaborative efforts to discover new approaches to treat patients with blood cancers

The submission period for SCOR is now closed. Thank you for your Letters of Intent.

LLS’s Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) grant program is intended to bring together established investigators from one or several institutions to develop a focused research program, foster new interactions and cooperation, and enhance interdisciplinary research among the participants. The overall goal of this mechanism is to enhance the development of innovative strategies for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of hematological malignancies. Strategies that move discoveries from the bench to the clinic are of high importance as are integrated translational projects.

Click here to see our active SCOR portfolio.

 
Please find all SCOR program documents available for download here:
2022 SCOR Guidelines & Instructions
SCOR Funding Agreement Template
Research Programs Policies & Procedures (Revised April 2020)

 

Program Description

A major emphasis in the SCOR grant program is on clinical translation of scientific results. Ideally, a SCOR application will propose a combination of basic and translational laboratory research that will lead to eventual clinical translation. There should be clear and direct “bench to bedside” translational trajectory from one or more of the Projects in the SCOR. It is important to note that the inclusion of a clinical trial in and of itself may not satisfy this requirement. Any clinical translation must be a coherent and integrated extension of other SCOR activities, and there should be substantive interactions and synergy between clinical trials and more basic or early translational Projects in the SCOR.

Each SCOR is comprised of 3-5 scientific Projects, 2-5 supportive Cores, including an administrative Core. There must be objective evidence of interdisciplinary research and the potential for synergism by linking the various Projects and Cores into a SCOR team. The quality and significance of the Projects and Cores and the enhanced productivity that is likely to be achieved by linking investigators are primary determinants of funding decisions.

A SCOR team will be judged as a unit and funding will not be available for otherwise meritorious but non-synergistic parts of an application.

 

Award

  • The maximum total award is $5,000,000.
  • The maximal total annual award is $1,000,000.00 for each year of the five-year grant.
  • The maximum annual indirect cost is $150,000 (15% of total annual costs). You may claim less than 15% of the indirect costs and apply those costs to the direct costs.

 

How to Apply

  • Please refer to the Guidelines & Instructions document above
  • Is this your first time applying for an LLS Research grant? You can get started by requesting a new account in the LLS Research Portal by clicking here.
  • Applicants must carefully read the program guidelines before beginning their applications.
  • See the table below for all the key dates and deadlines:

2022-2023 Application Key Dates

Phase Date
Call for Proposals October 3, 2022
Letter of Intent Due December 2, 2022, 3:00 PM (ET)
Notification of Full Application Invite January 13, 2023
Full Application Deadline March 27, 2023, 3:00 PM (ET)
Notification of Awards* August 2023
LLS’s receipt of signed Funding Agreement and Milestones and Deliverables September 1, 2023
Award Start Date October 1, 2023

*LLS' non-negotiable funding agreement terms & conditions are available for download above

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I complete the budget section on the application?

On the downloaded application template, complete the CENTER GLOBAL BUDGET for each year and then for years 1 through 5 combined, using the tables provided. These budgets should include all Projects and Cores. Complete the PROJECT SUMMARY BUDGET FOR ENTIRE FIVE-YEAR PROJECT with the table for personnel and other costs as well as a budget justification for each Project. The budget justification should be a detailed itemization of each category of direct costs for each year of the program. Repeat this process using CORE-DETAILED BUDGET FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD for the Cores included in your application. You must also copy the information from the GLOBAL CENTER BUDGET TOTAL FOR YEARS 1 THROUGH 5 and paste into the Fluxx webform.

How will awarded funding be dispersed, and what costs are permitted?

Awarded funds must be used for research-related costs while overhead/indirect costs strictly should be kept at a minimum. The maximum annual total cost is $1,000,000 for each year of the five-year grant. The maximum annual direct cost is $850,000.00 while the maximum annual indirect cost is $150,000.00. Funding will be paid to the Institution of the SCOR Director, and the SCOR Director has the authority to budget these funds among the various Projects and Cores. This includes the authority to divide indirect costs as needed among participating institutions, as long as the total annual indirect costs remain no more than 15% of total annual direct costs.

How can I verify that a submission was successful?

In the LLS Research Portal, select “Submitted” under Requests. If the application is listed here, your submission was successful. If your application is not listed here, check “New or Pending” under Requests. An application in “New or Pending” has not been submitted.

How do I add the names of the administrators at my institution to my application?

In order to be listed on an application, an individual will need an account in the LLS Research Portal (Fluxx). Everyone who has an account associated with your institution will appear in the dropdown menus for each role, as long as you have first selected your institution from the dropdown menu at the top of the page. If an administrator does not appear, they probably do not have an account, and you can contact researchprograms@lls.org with their name, email address, and office phone number in order to have an account created for them. An LLS administrator will reach out to them directly with their account information.

Is there a particular naming convention that applicants should use for the Full Application Document?

There is no specific format needed for this document name, but please be sure to include the applicant’s (SCOR Director’s) full name.

Which institutions are eligible for the SCOR program?

LLS welcomes applications worldwide from appropriate not-for-profit academic institutions and investigators of any nationality.

When are organizational assurances required, and what is required for these?

The Institution is responsible for determining which assurances are needed for each project. LLS requires proof of approval by the start date of the grant of whatever assurances are deemed necessary by the institution’s policies..

Can applicants delete instructions from the template to make more space?

No, template alterations could cause for administrative triage of your application.

Is there a salary cap?

No.

How often should Project and Core Leaders meet/communicate with each other?

Project and Core Leaders should meet via teleconference or in person at least quarterly to discuss results of their research and integration.

Is the Letter of Intent phase competitive?

Yes, the LOI phase is competitive. A scientific review panel will evaluate all letters of intent submitted and select those invited to submit a full application.

More Questions?

Please refer to the downloadable Guidelines and Instructions document above for answers and for contact information.