Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative Research Grants Program

by Bruce D. Shriver, PhD

Co-Founder, Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative

The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative funds "basic research seed grants" in sarcoma research. We anticipate that results from these “demonstration” or “starter” grants will provide results that will allow the researcher to apply for funding for a larger study. We are interested in a wide range of research. Some examples are: understanding the molecular biology of sarcomas; exploring “molecular targets” for new sarcoma therapies; studying chromosomal translocations, the oncogenes they generate and their role in sarcoma development; translational studies; studying vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and mTOR inhibitors; studying the use of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of sarcomas; understanding the basis of radiation-induced sarcoma; modeling of the process of metastases; exploring the differences in the development of sarcomas in children, adolescents, young adults and adults; and research directed at the early detection and diagnosis of sarcoma. Other areas of research will be considered.

One year grants are typically awarded in the amount of $25,000, but smaller grants ($10,000) and larger grants ($50,000) have also been awarded. Grants can be used for the development of models, conducting experiments, development of sarcoma tissue registries, and similar activities involved in support of research into the causes, origins, development, molecular biology, diagnosis, and treatment of sarcoma. We do not fund clinical trials, but fund basic research that might lead to other research studies or to clinical trials. While not funding clinical trials, proposals that undertake studies with patients undergoing treatment on an investigational study are acceptable.

As our grants are small, they are not intended to support the salary of the investigator nor do they support the indirect costs of the investigator's institution. Investigators selected to receive a grant will need to provide a letter from their institution indicating agreement with these requirements before the award is actually formally made. The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative awards research grants to both U.S. and international applicants. The applicant's primary affiliation must be with a nonprofit institution. Grant applications can be submitted at any time and applications will be peer-reviewed in a timely manner. We require a 2-3 page summary of the results of the work at the end of the year and request that the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative’s grant be acknowledged in any article submitted for publication in which results obtained from the research study are presented.

A Note about Funding

The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative raises money to fund sarcoma research through programs such as our annual Team Sarcoma Initiative and the sale of our Sarcoma Knows No Borders bracelets. We accept donations targeted toward specific sarcomas as well as general funds targeted toward broadly based sarcoma research. We also accept donations that are contributed in memory of an individual or to honor someone involved in the fight against sarcoma.

We support research at universities and cancer centers and have contributed to other sarcoma advocacy organizations, such as the Sarcoma Foundation of America that support sarcoma research. We have also partnered with other sarcoma advocacy organizations in jointly funding sarcoma research. If you are interested in helping sponsor much needed sarcoma research please contact us. As a totally volunteer organization, the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative operates with as small an overhead as possible. Sometimes is it as low as 2%, other times as high as 5%, it all depends on the infrastructure and support costs associated with a specific initiative. We can say, however, that typically 95% to 98% of all the funds that the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative receives go directly to sarcoma research or families.

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