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RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING

Breast Cancer Trials supports researchers in developing collaborative, high quality research projects and clinical trials that aim to find new and better treatments and prevention strategies for breast cancer.

Research Types

Discretionary Funding:

A one-off grant of up to $50,000 per year, over 1-2 years. Discretionary Funding grants are primarily to support small scale research studies such as Pilot studies that have the potential to lead to BCT-coordinated trials. Funding may be also be considered for sub-studies of protocols BCT is currently involved in, small-scale translational research studies, or projects related to research methodology.

Clinical Trial Development Funding:

Supports longer-term research projects (minimum three years) of high strategic value that are unfunded. Projects must be coordinated by the BCT Trials Department.

Concept Proposal

An investigator-initiated Discretionary Funding project or Clinical Trial proposal must be submitted using the Concept Proposal Form to the BCT Operational Executive. The BCT Operational Executive initially reviews the Concept Proposal to ensure that it meets the aims of the BCT research program and does not compete with a project that may be in the trials pipeline.

Applications are encouraged from non-BCT members. However, for all projects that are approved for ongoing development, investigators must become BCT members. Click here for further information about BCT membership.

Additional information about the BCT trial development process is available to members via the Research section of the website. Refer Clinical Trials/ Investigator Resources tab or via link: Research Development and Funding.

Concept Development Working Group

An approved Concept Proposal will be developed with a Concept Development Working Group (CDWG), assisted by the relevant SAC Subgroup. Researchers may already have specialist researchers to form a CDWG, however the Operational Executive will provide guidance if required. The CDWG must consist of at least two specialist area experts, a statistician and a Consumer Advisory Panel representative. The CDWG develops the Concept Proposal into a Project Synopsis for a Discretionary Funding Application or potential Clinical Trial.

Peer Review and SAC Review

The Operational Executive will make the final decision regarding Discretionary Funding Applications. The Researcher will enter into a formal agreement with BCT, including the requirement to provide regular reports to BCT during the project.

Peer Review of the Project Synopsis (proposed clinical trial) is coordinated by the Operational Executive. At least two independent experts, a statistician and the CAP will review synopses. The peer reviews and the Project Synopsis of a proposed Clinical Trial will be presented for discussion and assessment by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC evaluates the scientific merit and feasibility of project proposals and determines the next steps required to develop the proposal into a Clinical Trial Protocol*.

* Funding options are also considered during this process. If BCT support for a grant application is needed, then BCT support must be confirmed (usually after peer- and SAC-review of the Project Synopsis) and sufficient protocol logistics developed to allow budget formulation. Supply of study treatment or other in-kind support must be confirmed.

BCT Investigator-Initiated Trials

The following clinical trials have been developed via the BCT Clinical Trials Development process:

TUGETHER, Breast MRI Evaluation, CAPTURENeo-NEXPERT, DIAmOND, CHARIOT, ELIMINATE, PROSPECT, SOLACE, DOMINO, SORBET, LATER,  NeoGem.

Discretionary Funding Projects

The following projects have been funded by BCT Discretionary Funding:

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If you would like more information about Research Development and Funding, please email the Breast Cancer Trials Operational Executive.

BCT TRIALS & PROJECTS SUMMARY

A reference table summarising BCT’s current open trials and funded Discretionary Funding projects.

The trial categories, populations, and phases can be filtered to allow researchers to refine areas of interest, identifying potential ideas for future BCT trials.

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