Objective:

The MPCCC’s $5000 award for outstanding cancer research aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Victoria’s best and brightest mid-career cancer researcher, in order to reinforce cancer research as a career choice and provide encouragement for the next generation of Victoria’s leading cancer researchers.

Award Timelines:

Program promotion and call for nominations 30 April 2020 – 31 July 2020
Nomination closing date Friday 31 July 2020
Review Panel nomination ranking and award recommendation August 2020
Communication with applicants September 2020
Announcement of Award MPCCC e-news September edition;

MPCCC Annual Report 2019-2020;

MPCCC event (to be determined)

 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this award applicants must be:

  • Mid-career cancer researcher – defined as someone who has more than 5 years postdoctoral experience and up to 15 years of cancer research experience at the time of submission (with allowance for career breaks).

AND

  • The applicant must be an active cancer researcher employed by a Victorian University, Research Institute or Health Service

AND

  • Have submitted a full paper for publication
  • Be responsible for the major components of the research

Nomination Process

Nominations must include the following documentation and be emailed in a single PDF file to anna.kilgour@monash.edu by no later than 5pm EST Friday 31 July 2020:

  • A completed nomination form

PLUS

  • A copy of the nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae
  • A copy of the relevant publication
  • A supporting statement from the nominator outlining why the nominee is deserving of the award (refer to selection criteria 2). This must be on company letterhead and signed by nominator.
  • A supporting statement from an independent senior research leader in the field outlining why the nominee is deserving of the award (refer to selection criteria 2). This must be on company letterhead and signed.

Self-nominations will not be accepted.

 

Review Process

This $5000 award will go to the mid-career cancer researcher who has made the most significant advance in cancer research over the preceding 18-24 months.

Applicants will be competitively ranked by a panel of multidisciplinary Victorian cancer research leaders, according to the following criteria:

 

Selection Criteria:

CRITERIA 1. Scientific quality of research (50%) – demonstrated by a significant peer-reviewed cancer research publication/s that advances our understanding of cancer biology, aetiology, policy, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, management or treatment, health services, improvement of quality of life for cancer patients or palliative care.

 

CRITERIA 2. Research impact and innovation (25%) – demonstrated by supporting letters from 2 professional nominators. For example, this may highlight the nominee’s:

  • Contribution to cancer research in Victoria and internationally
  • Potential of published research to innovate patient care and/or health service improvement
  • Evidence of collaboration
  • Community outreach/advocacy

 

CRITERIA 3. Research Career Progression (25%) – relative to experience. Candidates with career interruptions are encouraged to apply.

Award Announcement

The award winner will be advised of the prize in mid-September 2020, and is expected to contribute to associated MPCCC communications materials and to attend an MPCCC event (to be determined), at which the prize will be announced.