ASTRO-ACS Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG)

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Description

The ASTRO-ACS Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG) is a partnership between the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to co-fund a mentored career development award for a clinician scientist in radiation oncology. The grant is designed to help full-time faculty who are primarily trained as clinicians to become independent investigators, enabling them to maintain clinical practice while developing a robust research program in cancer.

The award provides protected time, research support, and structured mentoring to facilitate the transition to research independence. The selected investigator must become an ASTRO member prior to grant activation.

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Due Dates

• June 1, 2025 (Summer cycle)
• December 1, 2025 (Winter cycle; RFA will be available again for this cycle)

All applications must be submitted via ProposalCentral. See the program page for current RFA status.

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Funding Amount

• Direct costs: $135,000 per year
• Indirect costs: Up to 8% of direct costs (max $10,800/year)
• Duration: 3 to 5 years (justification required for requested term)
• Total possible funding: Up to $729,000 direct costs (for 5 years) plus indirects

Budget may include:

• PI salary (prorated to effort, up to NIH cap)
• Research and training costs
• Mentor(s) salary/benefits (up to $10,000/year total)
• Travel (including $1,500/year for ACS/ASTRO meetings)
• Other justified research expenses

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Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a full-time faculty member at a US academic institution or eligible non-profit
• Hold a doctoral or terminal degree (MD, DO, PhD, DNP, PharmD, etc.) and an active clinical license (or board certification for medical physicists)
• Be actively involved in clinical care (including board-certified clinical medical physicists)
• Not be a current or former PI of an individual mentored training grant (e.g., NIH K08, K23, K22, or equivalent)
• Not have held an R-level or equivalent independent research grant as PI
• Have institutional commitment for at least 50% effort to research and training
• For this RFA, applicants must be in the field of radiation oncology

Encouraged: Individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups and those with disabilities.

ASTRO membership is required before grant activation.

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Application Process

1. Prepare application materials following ACS CSDG instructions (see Grant Instructions PDF).
2. Submit via ProposalCentral: Select the Clinician Scientist Development Grant mechanism and choose the ASTRO-CSDG RFA on the cover page.
3. Required components:
   • Research plan (up to 13 pages)
   • Statement of experience and career goals
   • Training and mentoring plan (by mentor)
   • Letters of recommendation (3, not from mentor)
   • Mentor(s) commitment letter and biosketch
   • Institutional support letter (from department chair)
   • Budget and justification
   • Compliance statements (IRB/IACUC, as applicable)
4. Review process: Peer review by ACS, including scientific and community reviewers.
5. Notification: Typically 10–12 weeks after peer review.

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Additional Information

• ASTRO-ACS CSDG is a special RFA within the standard ACS CSDG mechanism. If the RFA is not open, applicants may apply to the standard CSDG.
• Mentoring: A primary mentor with a strong research and mentoring track record is required; co-mentors or a mentoring team are allowed.
• Protected time: At least 50% of the applicant’s time must be dedicated to research and training.
• Resubmissions: Up to two resubmissions allowed.
• No-cost extensions: May be requested for up to one year, with justification.

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External Links

• ASTRO-ACS CSDG Program Page
• ACS Grant Application Instructions (PDF)
• ACS General Grant Policies (PDF)
• ProposalCentral (Application Portal)

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Contact Information

For program-specific questions, see the ASTRO-ACS CSDG program page.