Geriatric Oncology Innovation Track

The Center for Cancer & Aging, housed within PC3I, advances innovation, research, and care for older adults with cancer throughout the Penn system and beyond. The Accelerator Program’s Geriatric Oncology Innovation Track will catalyze projects that improve care for older adults with cancer or advance scientific understanding in cancer and aging. We encourage submissions from all areas of research, including clinical, implementation science, and basic lab research that focuses on cancer and aging.

This track is open to all faculty, staff, and trainees from Penn Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania. Budgets may be up to $100K for one year, and there is potential for a one-year extension and an additional $100K.

Target Projects

Applicants will select one of 4 focus areas:

  1. Basic Science: Exploring biological, molecular, or cellular mechanisms at the intersection of cancer and aging
  2. Therapeutic Approaches: Addressing clinical trial enrollment, evidence gaps in cancer treatments, and clinical outcomes for older adults
  3. Implementation Science: Testing strategies for implementing geriatric assessments (GAs), providing GA-guided care in real-world settings, and interventions to improve care delivery for older adults with cancer
  4. Supportive Care: Integrating supportive care models into comprehensive, personalized, goal-concordant cancer care for older adults

We will prioritize projects with the potential for meaningful, positive impact for patients, clinicians and staff, and the health care system. Strong submissions will:

  • Be well-defined and aligned: Explore a clear question or problem and align with the Center for Cancer & Aging’s vision along one of the four focus areas outlined above.
  • Be short-term: Achievable focus or deliverable within 1 year (may include pilot data, proof-of-concept, or feasibility demonstration), with potential for expansion. Pilot projects that could support future grant submissions are acceptable.
  • Think big: Have the potential for meaningful, sustainable, scalable impact, measured through scientific contributions, patient outcomes, key operational metrics, and/or financial impact.
  • Have champions: For clinical/implementation projects, include support from at least one senior leader (director level or above), along with relevant clinical or operational partners. For basic science projects, include a faculty sponsor, PI, or scientific leader with relevant expertise.

Application Details

Applications open August 3. Proposals are due September 30 at 11:59 Eastern Time. Applicants will be notified by October 30.

To apply, fill out this application and send the completed pdf to julianne.ani@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Eligibility: Any faculty, staff, or trainee from Penn Medicine or the University of Pennsylvania may propose a project.

Funding level: The selection committee will select up to two projects, which may be from any of the 4 focus areas. Each award will include up to $100,000 in funding (direct costs only) for a 1-year project, with the potential for a 1-year extension and additional $100,000 funding. Applicants can submit higher budgets with prior approval. Conference-related travel cannot be included. Other budgetary restrictions may be applied during the review stage.

FAQs

A review committee comprised of leaders of the Center for Cancer & Aging and the Abramson Cancer Center will be assembled. We encourage submissions across the full spectrum of research. Proposals will be evaluated according to criteria appropriate for their selected focus area, including:

  • Alignment with the Center’s vision
  • Clearly defined problem and novelty of idea
  • Potential for impact, which may include:
  • Advancing understanding of cancer and aging biology, identifying targets, and enabling future therapies
  • Patient-related, operational, or financial metrics, as appropriate
  • Feasibility within the project period
  • Potential for support of future larger funding opportunities

Yes! We encourage collaboration and cross-disciplinary partnerships across the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine. 

We are part of a broader innovation community within Penn, including the Center for Healthcare Information & Transformation, which runs the Innovation Accelerator Program. PC3I’s focus is on transforming care delivery within cancer care delivery research and clinical practice, which includes this track as well as the Research Innovation and Practice Innovation tracks.

Reach out to the Center’s senior manager, Julianne Ani at julianne.ani@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.