Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)                                             Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport (MOST)

 

June 2008

 

GERMAN-ISRAELI COOPERATION IN CANCER RESEARCH

Call for Project Pre-Proposals

 

In the framework of the German-Israeli Cooperation Program (BMBF-MOST) in Cancer Research, the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport (MOST), in coordination with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, hereby announces that scientists are invited to submit joint research project pre-proposals on all topics related to cancer research, however, clinical trials are not suitable for this program.

 

Eligibility

1. German Partner

I. Partner at the DKFZ: The proposed project must be carried out in close cooperation with a German partner at the DKFZ. Prospective applicants are therefore requested to communicate with researchers at the DKFZ and to find a potential partner prior to submission of the project proposal.

Updated information on the DKFZ, including details on the research directions and priority topics of its various programs, can be found at the website:

 www.dkfz-heidelberg.de

 

Researchers who are having difficulties in finding a partner at the DKFZ, may apply for assistance to either one of the Program Coordinators, namely, Dr. Shlomo Sarig at the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, or:

Prof.   Dr. Dr. Wolfhard Semmler

Head, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology

Heidelberg, Germany

Tel: +49-6221-422550

Fax: +49-6221-422613

E-mail: wolfhard.semmler@dkfz-heidelberg.de

Copy to:

Secretary of the Israel cooperation DKFZ: Mrs. Elfriede Mang

E-mail: e.mang@dkfz-heidelberg.de

Tel: +49-6221-424499

Fax: +49-6221-424498

 

Such applications for assistance should include the following:

1) Name and address (affiliation) of the Israeli principal investigator

(including e-mail, telephone and fax numbers)

2) Title of the subproject to be proposed

3) Short summary (1-2 pages) of the applicant’s subproject proposal

4) Description of specific aspects of the joint research project for which the

applicant is seeking a cooperating partner, including the expected contribution of the partner and the mode of cooperation envisaged.

 

II. Non-DKFZ Partner: In extraordinary cases, where a suitable partner from within the DKFZ is not available, the Israeli applicant may propose a competent partner from another institution in Germany (preferably the University of Heidelberg). The eligibility of any specific non-DKFZ German scientist as a potential partner in this Cooperation Program requires special approval of the DKFZ. To apply for it requires nomination of a “sponsor” from within the senior scientists of the DKFZ who, upon request by the Scientific Council and/or by the Management Board of the DKFZ, verbally presents the intended joint project to these scientific bodies of the DKFZ. Such sponsor should not participate actively in the joint project by means of a subproject.

Applications for the special approval by the DKFZ are to be submitted to its program coordinator, Prof. Semmler (see above), by either the Israeli or the putative German subproject partner(s). Such applications must cover the following preliminary items and shall be received no later than 60 days prior to the closing date for submission of fully written proposals:

1) Names and addresses (affiliations) of the Israeli and the German

applicants

2) Title of the joint project to be proposed, integrating the topics of the

cooperating subprojects

3) Titles of the Israeli and German subproject proposals

4) Short summaries of each of the subproject proposals, indicating their mutual synergism to make them a true cooperation of the partners involved.

5) Name of the DKFZ sponsor

Decisions of the DKFZ regarding such applications will be made no later than 30 days prior to the closing date for submission of fully written proposals. If permission is granted by the DKFZ, the principal investigators will submit fully written subproject proposals to the MOST and the DKFZ by the closing date for submission of project proposals. No project proposal will be accepted with a non-DKFZ German partner without a special approval by the DKFZ for the eligibility of the German partner.

 

2. Eligibility of Israeli Researchers

Pre-proposals/Proposals may be submitted by researchers working in academic institutions, as well as in governmental or public research institutes and hospitals.

 

Guidelines for Submission of Pre-proposals and Full Proposals:

 

The joint pre-proposals and full proposals should be submitted on the appropriate forms. They be submitted in English together with the CV of both applicants. Applications must include citations of the five most important publications of each applicant in the last five years. When sending the full proposals each applicant (the Israeli and the German) should suggest five external reviewers. Referees should not be partner in a joint publication or collaborative research project.

 

To the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport (MOST),

Joint pre-proposals and full proposals must be submitted in English in 5 copies in each side (paper form plus electronic form: pdf-file) on the relevant application form

 

To the DKFZ:

Pre-proposals: only the pdf file, no copies; For full proposals - three copies and pdf file.

 

Address for submission:

In Germany:

Secretary of the Israel cooperation DKFZ: Mrs. Elfriede Mang

E-mail: e.mang@dkfz-heidelberg.de

Tel: +49-6221-424499

Fax: +49-6221-424498

 

In Israel:

Mrs. Nurit Topaz

Director, Scientific Relations with Germany and Working programs

Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport

Building 3, Haqiria Hamizrahit

P.O.B 49100, Jerusalem 91490

 

Application forms are also obtainable at the Research Authorities of the universities;

at the Section for Scientific Relations with Germany, Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport and at the Ministry’s website www.most.gov.il

 

Final Date for Submission of Pre-proposals – August 18, 2008

Final Date for Submission of  invited Full Proposals – December 1, 2008

 

Pre-Proposals and invited Full Proposals may only be submitted via the Research Authorities of the universities or the managements of the institutions in which the projects are to be carried out.

In parallel, the German partners will submit their subproject pre-proposals as well as proposals on the appropriate DKFZ forms to Prof. Semmler via Secretary of the Israel cooperation DKFZ, Mrs. Elfriede Mang (see above).

 

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation of the project proposals will be based on the following main criteria:

1.         Originality and scientific quality

2.   Probability of fruitful interactions between the Israeli and German partners

 

The joint bi-national projects will undergo a two-step evaluation procedure. In a first step, joint German-Israeli pre-proposals are to be submitted by August 18, 2008 . Based on a positive vote by the Joint MOST-DKFZ Program Committee, successful pre-proposals will be selected and the respective applicants will be invited to submit full proposals in a second step, in which some of the proposals will be chosen and approved.

 

 

The full proposals will be evaluated and rated by the Joint German-Israeli Program Committee, based on professional external reviews (see above).

 

Contracts

Upon approval of the research grants by the official authorities in Germany and in Israel, a research contract will be signed between MOST and the institution of the Israeli principal partner-investigator.

 

 

 

Funding of approved projects is due to budget availability.

 

The planned starting date for the new projects – July 2009.

 

Information

Additional information can be obtained from the following:

On scientific and professional matters:

Dr. Shlomo Sarig

Director, Biomedical Research Programs

Tel: 02-5411128

Fax: 02-5322124

E-mail: shlomo@most.gov.il

 

On administrative and financial matters:

Mrs. Nurit Topaz

Director, Scientific Relations with Germany and Working programs

Tel: 02-5411157

Fax: 02-5825725

E-mail: nurit@most.gov.il