BIGCat: ADVANCING CANCER RESEARCH IN AFRICA THROUGH EARLY-CAREER AWARDS
Tracks
STREAM 1
| Tuesday, November 9, 2021 |
| 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
| STREAM 1 |
Details
ABSTRACT
The Beginning Investigator Grants for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat) is a premier initiative by the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) to build capacity for cancer research in Africa. BIG Cat supports early-career African investigators to conduct research in Africa to address the continent’s rising burden of cancer. BIG Cat was initiated in 2010 by the US National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health (NCI/CGH), and it is now a collaborative effort of AORTIC, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and NCI/CGH, with funding support raised through AACR and AORTIC from Partners including academic, industrial and scientific organizations. The program is jointly administered by AACR and AORTIC and issues awards of up to US$55,000 for two-year cancer research projects conducted in Africa by African investigators.
BIG Cat 2022 is made possible through the generous support of Takeda Oncology. With Takeda’s support, the bright, young investigators served by the AORTIC-AACR BIG CAT program will have access to the crucial resources they need to establish their independent research careers in their home countries.
The purpose of this session is to familiarize participants with the new BIG Cat program for 2022 and beyond, including its origins, aims, research proposal preparation and submission procedures, evaluation criteria, and previous awardee success stories. The session will also provide the opportunity for applicants to learn about grantsmanship and network with potential research mentors. Speakers will include representatives from AORTIC, AACR, NCI/CGH, and a previous BIG Cat recipient.
Speaker
Dr Satish Gopal
Director, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute
The New BIG Cat Initiative Launch – AORTIC Vision
Dr Margaret Foti
AACR
The New BIG Cat Initiative Launch – AORTIC Vision
Dr Abubakar Bello
President, AORTIC
The New BIG Cat Initiative Launch – AORTIC Vision
Dr James Alaro
National Cancer Institute
The New BIG Cat: Building on its Origins and Purposes
Dr Mazvita Muchengeti
National Cancer Registry, NHLS
BIGCat Lived experience: perspective from a previous awardee
Abstract
The CDRF Global BIG CAT III funded our study entitled “Burden of cancers attributable to HIV in South Africa 2004 - 2014”. This study explored the additional risk that HIV positive people face in comparison with the general population and the burden of cancers attributable to HIV at national level. In this presentation, I share my lived experience as a BIG CAT III awardee and a first-time principal investigator and the journey from grant writing, conducting the research, report writing, publication and the impact of the work. This includes the challenges and opportunities experienced with grant management, support from programme officers, recruitment, strengthening of existing and new academic networks and future grants. The grant also funded a Masters student thus building capacity and allowing me to become a first-time last author in the publications resulting from the work. I also share details on the publications, conference presentations, citations, and the HIV-associated cancers awareness campaign resulting from the work.
Dr Reeti Behera
American Association For Cancer Research
BIGCat application timelines, guidelines, and submission and review processes
Dr Folakemi Odedina
Mayo Clinic
Closing remarks
Facilitators
Frederic Biemar
AACR
Solomon Rotimi
Covenant University
