Wake Forest NCORP Research Base
Clinical Trials Boot Camp – Call for Applications

Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026, by 11:59pm EST

 

Overview: This 3 day, in-person, Wake Forest NCI Community Oncology Research Program Research Base (WF NCORP RB) clinical trials boot camp will be held Monday, February 22, 2027, through Wednesday, February 24, 2027, at Graylyn Conference Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Each applicant will submit a basic proposal (2-page max) for a Cancer Control or Cancer Care Delivery Research (CCDR) study suitable for community oncology sites to be fully developed during the workshop. Protocols that are largely written before the new investigator workshop are likely not appropriate. Modeled after the AACR/ASCO Methods in Cancer Clinical Research workshop and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (AHWFBCCC) boot camp for therapeutic oncology trials, the program will offer didactics related to clinical trial design, NCORP operations, feasibility and approval processes, recruitment of diverse populations, and statistical considerations. Lectures and discussions on how to develop protocols for inclusive and broad patient representation and participation will be led by WF NCORP RB Health Equity Core leadership. Workshop lectures are mixed with intensive mentoring and feedback sessions from experienced NCORP investigators; active group participation through questions and feedback to others is expected of all participants. Additional information about the WF NCORP RB is available at https://wakencorp.phs.wakehealth.edu.

Accepted participants will work with a mentoring team comprised of boot camp faculty with expertise in clinical care, cancer care delivery and implementation science, biostatistics and study design, and research and patient advocate perspectives. Additional mentors will be incorporated as needed to meet trainee needs, i.e., radiation or surgical oncology, hematology, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) research, etc. WF NCORP RB research staff will provide additional perspectives on feasibility and multi-site implementation.

The desired outcome of the 3-day in-person boot camp is a final study concept ready for development into a grant or full NCORP concept proposal to submit to the NCI Symptom Management/Quality of Life (SxQoL)  or Cancer Care Delivery Research Steering Committee. Participating mentors have extensive experience developing NCI concepts and NIH (National Institutes of Health) grants for NCORP studies and will work with each participant to decide if additional pilot data may be needed to support the concept. If so, mentors will assist in developing a plan and budget for pilot activities.  

Following the workshop, participants will meet monthly with mentors and peers to develop the desired final product. Participants will attend and present their concepts at the WF NCORP RB Annual Meeting in October 2027 in Charlotte, NC as the culminating experience. At the annual meeting, workshop participants will network with national NCORP leaders, receive feedback on their study concept from NCORP investigators, clinical research staff, and clinicians, and learn more about additional career development opportunities through this national research network.

Eligibility:

  1. Doctorally trained in any oncology specialty, including medical, surgical, radiation, gynecologic, and pediatric oncology, or faculty from other departments conducting cancer clinical research. Senior fellows may also apply (letter of support from current faculty mentor for fellow applicants strongly encouraged).*Prioritization will be given to those new investigators (i.e., have not previously been a PI (Principal Investigator) or study chair for a WF NCORP RB study) from academic institutions and/or NCORP Community and M/U Community sites. 
  2. The concept must focus on Cancer Control or Cancer Care Delivery Research; oncology treatment trials will not be responsive. Concepts proposing an interventional trial well-aligned with WF NCORP priorities that are feasible to open within the NCORP community oncology network (https://ncorp.cancer.gov/about/) are strongly encouraged. When appropriate, concepts are encouraged to include biological mechanisms or correlative science where appropriate. Priorities include:

Cancer Control

    • Cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy
    • Neurocognitive complications of cancer therapy
    • Additional cancer and treatment-related symptoms (e.g., fatigue, pain) and related outcomes and supportive care interventions

Cancer Care Delivery Research

    • Delivery of comprehensive survivorship care
    • Integrating informal or familial caregivers into cancer care
    • Integration of evidence-based care in cancer care settings

Funding: WF NCORP RB will pay for participant expenses and travel to the workshop in Winston-Salem, provide pilot funds to collect needed pilot feasibility data (where applicable), and to attend and present their concepts at the WF NCORP RB Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC.

Additional Information: Please contact WF NCORP RB at NCORP@wfusm.edu for more information.
 
Deadline: Please complete application and upload CV using the link below by 11:59pm EST on Friday, October 30, 2026.

Link to Clinical Trial Bootcamp Application