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Application Deadline

September 15, 2025

2025 Research Proposal Elements / Application Template

Submit via email to info@nnecos.org. 

The Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society (NNECOS) is seeking proposals for investigative projects of value to the Northern New England community of cancer care providers. Our goal is to fund one or more proposals, up to a total of $20,000 per application cycle. Eligible candidates will be a current NNECOS active or fellow/trainee member in good standing. Fellows and members of the interdisciplinary-care team are strongly encouraged to apply. Projects should align with our mission to promote the highest quality care for patients with cancer and blood disorders in our region. Preference will be given to projects promoting collaboration among NNECOS institutions (academic and community).

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Proposals should be prepared in 11-point font, Arial, or Times New Roman, utilizing one-inch margins.

PROPOSAL ELEMENTS

  1. Page 1 – Abstract: 250 words or less stating the Background, Hypothesis, Proposed Methods, and Interpretation of Results. 

  2. Pages 2-3 - Body (Submissions exceeding two pages will be returned to the PI): 

    • Section 1 - Introduction with Hypothesis and Objective(s) – 2 SHORT paragraphs. (NOTE: The Review committee is MORE interested in Methods, Statistics and Analysis of Results) 

    • Section 2 - Methods with Statistics (Except for small pilot/feasibility studies, statistics should be provided to support sample sizes.) 

    • Section 3 - Analysis of Results – What do you expect the results to show and how will you interpret the results? 

  3. Page 4 - Budget, References 

    • Budget: Must be clearly outlined. Materials and funds for services of collaborating facility employees required in the operations of a project (i.e., research coordinator, statistician, etc., in alignment with national averages for their role) are examples of items to include in the budget. If the proposal is part of a larger project, the total amount of funding and its sources should be disclosed. Indirect costs and salary support for academic attending physicians and private practice providers should not be included. 

    • References: Pertinent journal and abstract references to support proposal

    NOTIFICATION

    Awardees will be notified in approximately six to eight weeks, be required to submit progress reports to NNECOS, submit the results of the research for poster presentation and if invited, present a final report of the research to the NNECOS annual meeting.


    APPLICATION DEADLINE    !
    Completed applications must be received via email no later than 11:59pm on the stated deadline.

    Please note NNECOS is unable to fund indirect costs or investigator salaries as part of the grant budget.


    Published Research from Funded Studies

    Congratulations to NNECOS Collaborative Research Grant recipients, VTE-PACC UVM Group, on publication of their study results in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas.
    https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2667193X24001935


    Congratulations to 2011 NNECOS Research Grant recipient, Ivette Emery, PhD on publication of your study results in the Journal of Neuro-oncology!  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11060-017-2422-z


    Past Awards

    2022 Research Grants Awarded


    Congratulations to principal investigators, Dr. Caroline Hesko and Dr. Sakshi Jasra on the receipt of a NNECOS Research Grant for their study, Improving Adolescent and young adult cancer clinical trial enrollment through improvement science: a pediatric and medical oncology partnership! 



    Congratulations to principal investigator, Dr. Nirav Kapadia, and his team of collaborators at Norris Cotton Cancer Center and the Dartmouth Institute for Clinical Practice and Health Policy on the receipt of a NNECOS Research Grant for your study, "Defining Financial Toxicity Among Rural Radiation Oncology Patients". We are pleased to support this important work!

    Results of Dr. Kapadia's study were reported at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference poster session.




    Congratulations, Dr. Muhaad Zubair Afzal, Hematology-Oncology Fellow at Norris Cotton Cancer Center, on the awarding of a NNECOS research grant for your pilot study, "The Impact of Lymphodepletion on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Other Immune Modulators in Patients Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy: A Clinical Pilot Study."


    Congratulations to Dr. Alissa Thomas, Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences at the University of Vermont on being awarded a NNECOS Research Grant for her project, "Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in Outpatients with Glioma (VTE-POG)". This two-year project will build on data from a previous 10 patient pilot study, with the goal of demonstrating safety of apixaban for VTE prevention. 


    ​The study aims to define the influence of clinical factors and treatment strategies on the risk of cardiovascular disease in myelodysplastic syndromes using epidemiologic database analysis. NNECOS funding was instrumental to launch the project and conduct preliminary analysis. These results contributed to secure funding for the project in the next 2 years from the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society, as well as the investigator’s enrollment in the Clinical Research Training Institute Program from the American Society of Hematology, guaranteeing strong support for subsequent analysis methodology. Congratulations, Dr. Adrianzen Herrera!



    Since the program’s inception in 2008, the NNECOS Research Funding Program has awarded more than $200,000 to worthy projects of value to the Northern New England region.

    CONGRATULATIONS, DR. GILLETT!


    Sarah Gillett, Md, PhD
    University of Vermont College of Medicine

    Co-Principal Investigator

    Alissa A. Thomas, MD
    University of Vermont College of Medicine

    Co-Investigator

    Hibba Rehman, MD
    University of Vermont College of Medicine

    Dr. Gillett's study aims to define the incidence of cognitive impairment on ICI and to examine trajectories of cognitive scores for patients on ICI. 

    		  


    Three University of Vermont Faculty Projects

    Awarded NNECOS Research Grants in 2021

     Research Grant Awarded to Dr. Ahmed

    Shahid S. Ahmed, MD, Larner College of Medicine, UVM Cancer Center


    Dr. Ahmed's study hypothesizes that the urinary microbiome directly modulates resident bladder T-cells. Differences in the microbial taxonomy and its diversity will affect the TCR repertoire leading to the development of immune-escaped bladder cancers.

    We look forward to the outcomes of this pilot study and the potential to inform future strategies in the prevention and treatment of bladder cancer. 


    Diego Andrianzen, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Neil Zakai, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor of Medicine

    Hematology/Oncology Division, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

    The primary objective of this study is to determine the sociodemographic and patient-specific clinical risk factors associated with increased risk of CVD and cardiovascular mortality in patients with MDS. The secondary objective is to determine the impact of MDS-specific therapeutic interventions (hypomethylating agents, iron chelation and growth factors) on hazard for new CVD or cardiovascular mortality in MDS patients.

    Results published in Blood (2021) 138 (Supplement 1): 3060.

    https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2021-146683

    		  Diego Andrianzen, M.D. and Neil Zakai, M.D., M.Sc.,

     NNECOS Research Grant Awarded to Hibba tul Rehman MD

    Principal Investigator: Hibba tul Rehman MD

    Mentors: Kim Dittus MD, Steven Ades MD, Michael Toth, PhD.

    Co investigators: Saranya Kodali MD, Eswar Tipirneni MD, Farrah Khan MD

    The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess whether a structured exercise program offered via a virtual platform will be feasible in NSCLC patients undergoing active treatment for advanced stage (III and VI) disease.


    Previous NNECOS Research Grant Recipients


    VTE Risk Assessment and Prevention in Cancer Patients in the Community Oncology Setting 

    Learn more about the work of this group Successful Model for Guideline Implementation to Prevent Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in the Ambulatory Cancer Clinic


    New! Research Published

    The Lancet - Regional Health Americas

    https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2667193X24001935


    • Examination of Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices Regarding Point of Care Genetic Testing Among Northern New England Medical Oncologists - Marie E. Wood, MD, Bernard Cole, PhD, YongLi Ji, MD, PhD, Jens Reuter, MD, Susan Miesfeldt, MD - $9,000
    • Stage at Presentation and Travel Time for Patients with Cervical Cancer Treated at a Tertiary Care Hospital with Rural Catchment Areas in Northern New England – Johanna Kelley, MD, Evelyn Cantillo, MD, MPH, Carole McBride, PhD - $8,000

    Congratulations to the 2017 NNECOS Research Grant Recipients

    NNECOS awarded a total of $45,694 in research grants to 2017 applicants


      

    • DNA repair landscape of discordant sibling pairs from hereditary breast cancer families, Kara Landry, MD, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont
    • Assessing the Utility of Predictive Early Chimerism Analysis Following Haploidentical Stem Cell
      Transplant      , Raphael Lizcano, MD, John Hill, Jr, MD - Dartmouth-Hitchcock/White River Junction, VA

    2017 Recipients


    • Pilot Study involving Active Surveillance with CT Imaging and Liquid Biopsies for Inoperable Stage IA Lung Cancer in the Elderly, Christopher Anker, MD, University of Vermont Medical Center
    • Use of a toxicity assessment questionnaire to evaluate clinical significance of the statin paclitaxel drug interaction, Michael Pelchat, RPh, NH Oncology-Hematology


    Past Projects Funded Include:

    • Clinical Trial Barrier Study
    • Exercise for Individuals with Stage IV Cancer

      • Litterini A, Cavanaugh J, Fieler V, Lee JQ.  Differential Effects of Cardiovascular and Resistance Exercise on Functional Mobility in Individuals with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94:2329-35.

      • Litterini, A and Lee, J. “Exercise for Individuals with Metastatic Cancer.” APTA 2013 Combined Sections Meeting, Oncology Section Platform Presentation, San Diego, CA, 2013.

      • Litterini, A., and Fieler, V. “Differential Effects of Cardiovascular and Resistance Exercise on Functional Mobility in Individuals with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Trial.” Poster Presentation, 2015 New England Cancer Survivorship Research Symposium, Harvard Medical School/ Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, on April 2, 2015. Available [on-line]: http://dune.une.edu/pt_facpost/4

    • Head and neck cancer trial involving response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy
    Role of prostaglandin pathways in radiotherapy-induced mucositis.
    Steven M. Grunberg, Madhuri V. Vithala, Margaret Vizzard, Nathan Bradley Adams, Havaleh Marie Gagne, William Brundage, and Takamaru Ashikaga; Journal of Clinical Oncology 2013 31:15_suppl, e20509-e20509
    • Inhibition of stem cell pathways in a patient-derived GBM tumor model system.
    • Coagulation activation in brain neoplasms
      • Coagulation Activation in Brain Neoplasms, Swaroopa Yerrabothala, Brett L. Gourley, James C Ford, Syed Rakin Ahmed, Stephen J Guerin, Heather A Wishart, Camilo E Fadul and Deborah L. Ornstein; Blood 2017 130:3704; http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/130/Suppl_1/3704
    • DNA repair landscape in individuals with increased risk of breast cancer
      • Curtis, Adam & Rueter, Jens & Rajan, Shelia & Zhang, Rong & Shopland, Lindsay. (2018). Additive and synergistic inhibition of mantle cell lymphoma cell growth by combining olaparib with ibrutinib. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 119. 10.1002/jcb.26773. Download this paper. 
      • Poster at 2017 NNECOS Annual Meeting.
    • Social Media Usage within the Cancer Community of Northern New England
    • Thrombin Generation as a Predictive Biomarker for Venous thromboembolism in Patients with Pancreatic and Lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
    • Synergistic targeting of CLL cells with DNA repair and B cell receptor inhibitors - view the poster
    • Pilot study of the role of MDSCs and VISTA in immunology of chronic graft-versus-host disease following reduced intensity allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
    • Pilot Study involving Active Surveillance with CT Imaging and Liquid Biopsies for Inoperable Stage IA Lung Cancer in the Elderly
    • Use of a toxicity assessment questionnaire to evaluate clinical significance of the statin paclitaxel drug interaction
    • DNA repair landscape of discordant sibling pairs from hereditary breast cancer families
    • Assessing the Utility of Predictive Early Chimerism Analysis Following Haploidentical Stem Cell
      Transplant
    • Stage at Presentation and Travel Time for Patients with Cervical Cancer Treated at a Tertiary Care Hospital with Rural Catchment Areas in Northern New England
    • Examination of Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices Regarding Point of Care Genetic Testing Among Northern New England Medical Oncologists
    • VTE Risk Assessment and Prevention in Cancer Patients in the Community Oncology Setting - New! Read published paper! 
    • Identifying factors associated with CV disease in MDS. An analysis of the SEER-Medicare database
    • Prevention of sarcopenia in advanced stage NSCLC patients, undergoing first line treatment with chemotherapy/chemoimmunotherapy, through combination of a structured exercise program and dietary optimization. A pilot study
    • How bacteria influence the formation of an immune-escaped bladder cancer; a pilot correlative study
    • Immunobrain: Evaluating neurocognitive effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients
    • Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in Outpatients with Glioma (VTE-POG)
    • The Impact of Lymphodepletion on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Other Immune Modulators in Patients Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy: A Clinical Pilot Study
    • Defining Financial Toxicity Among Rural Radiation Oncology Patients
    • Improving Adolescent and young adult cancer clinical trial enrollment through improvement science: a pediatric and medical oncology partnership
    • The Impact of Lymphodepletion on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Other Immune Modulators in Patients Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy: A Clinical Pilot Study
    • Identify Hereditary Genomic Links in Familial Multiple Myeloma in Northern New England Population

    Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society
    P.O. Box 643
    Sandown, NH 03873-0643
    Telephone (603) 887-1948
    info@nnecos.org

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