Actionable Biomarker and Genetic Testing in Cancer: Education for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)

This competitive grant program seeks to support independent medical education provider organizations interested in teaching Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and other allied healthcare professionals on the patient care team about advances in the use of biomarkers and genetics to inform treatment decision making in oncology. Individual projects requesting $100,000 - $250,000 will be considered. Maximum project length is 2 years.

Areas of Interest

Potential applicants are encouraged to identify and address the educational needs for APPs relating to biomarker and genetic testing in their clinical practice setting. This may include:

• Educational tools/resources to reduce information barriers and promote confidence with targeted therapies that rely on biomarker and genetic testing results for guideline concordant care.
• Educational programs to improve the ability of APPs to discuss biomarker and genetic testing rationale and results with patients.
• Optimal care pathways for ordering biomarker or genetic tests, especially in lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer, in accordance with evidence-based guidelines.

Eligibility

• The following may apply: medical, nursing, allied health, and/or pharmacy professional schools; healthcare institutions (both large and small); professional organizations/medical societies; medical education companies; and other entities with a mission related to healthcare professional education and/or healthcare improvement.
• Only organizations are eligible to receive grants, not individuals or medical practice groups (i.e., an independent group of physicians not affiliated with a hospital, academic institution, or professional society).
• If the project involves multiple departments within an institution and/or between different institutions / organizations / associations, all institutions must have a relevant role and the requesting organization must have a key role in the project.

Areas of Interest

• Projects that will be considered for Pfizer support will focus on strengthening the knowledge and skills of APPs and other healthcare providers in the following areas:
• Understanding guideline concordant biomarker and genetic testing practices, including the role of germline and somatic mutations or alterations in the context of cancer care
• Best practices for clinical care pathways for routine and rapid testing in tumor types with actionable biomarkers such as lung, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.
• Interpreting the results of comprehensive molecular profiling reports
• Discussing the clinical implications, implementation and applicability of biomarker and genetic testing results with patients and their caregivers.

How to Submit

• Please go to www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/knowledge and sign in.
  • Note: there are individual portals for each grant application type. Please be sure to use the URL above.
• It is strongly suggested to log in before the submission deadline to ensure organization information is up-to-date (e.g. prior reporting requirements completed, tax ID number updated, etc.)
• Click the “Start A New Independent Medical Education/Knowledge Gap Application” button.

Please note: Full RFP is attached in the "More Information" section of this page. Faculty and researchers interested in applying for these opportunities based on technologies developed or disclosed at Vanderbilt must submit their proposals through the CTTC.