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Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative

Lustgarten Foundation

Program Description

The purpose of the Dr. Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI) is to advance the mission of the Lustgarten Foundation by accelerating the translation of research discoveries into clinical trials. Through the CAI, the Lustgarten Foundation will provide academic, clinical researchers the opportunity to propose science-driven concepts seeking to advance the development of new therapies for pancreatic cancer patients while furthering our understanding of disease biology.

The CAI is meant to support trials concepts that are:

Innovative and highly collaborative
Based on strong pre-clinical and/or clinical scientific rationale
Utilizing deep, translational analyses to demonstrate on-target drug mechanism(s) of action and hypotheses around disease biology
Advancing the development of novel therapies for pancreatic cancer patients with plans for continuation, if successful

The CAI is not meant to support trials concepts that are:

Incremental, first-in-human safety or dose-finding studies
Irrelevant to the mission of the Lustgarten Foundation and without the goal of advancing the development of novel therapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer patients

Funding and Governance

While the budget and duration of funding will be dependent on the needs of each trial, CAI trials are typically funded up to a total budget of $1.5M – $2M over a period of up to 3 years, inclusive of deep translational analyses and indirect costs.

Additional expectations:

Indirect costs may not exceed a maximum of 10% of direct costs
Funded investigators will be expected to interact routinely with the Lustgarten Foundation and associated Translational Advisory Group.
Continued funding throughout the project will be dependent on timely receipt of bi-annual progress reports and annual financial reports.
Clinical and translational data generated from CAI trials will be ingested into the Lustgarten Foundation Clinical Information Database (LUCID)

Review Process

The CAI uses a multi-step application process beginning with submission of an LOI through ProposalCentral. Successful LOI submissions will be invited to present their trial concept, rationale, and design to the Lustgarten Foundation Translational Advisory Group (TAG). Successful presenters will then be invited to submit a full CAI grant application which will be reviewed competitively by a panel of expert peer reviewers.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Absolute Focus on Pancreatic Cancer

The strongest predictor of funding success is a proposal that is laser-focused on pancreatic cancer:

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Early detection & screening biomarkers

Tumor microenvironment & stroma dynamics

Immunotherapy mechanisms & overcoming resistance

Metabolic reprogramming

KRAS signaling & downstream vulnerabilities

Single-cell / spatial / multi-omics of PDAC

Therapeutic resistance & metastasis biology

DNA damage response & synthetic lethality in PDAC

❗ Generic oncology proposals almost never get funded unless the link to pancreatic cancer is extremely strong.

2. Fit to the Specific Lustgarten Mechanism

The foundation has several targeted programs:

🔹 Research Grants

Hypothesis-driven, mechanistic or translational PDAC biology

Typically requires strong preliminary data

🔹 New Investigator Awards

For early-career independent PIs

Must demonstrate independence + trajectory

Mentorship letters and environment matter greatly

🔹 Innovation & Technology Grants

High-risk, high-reward ideas

Cutting-edge technologies (single-cell, spatial, machine learning, model systems)

🔹 Clinical Accelerator Initiative

Highly translational

Clinical trials, therapeutic development

Requires access to patients and infrastructure

🔹 Collaborative Team Science Grants

Multi-PI, multidisciplinary

Strong justification for collaboration required

Predictor: A perfect match between your project scope + career stage + platform and the targeted mechanism.

3. Strong Preliminary Data

Lustgarten-funded studies almost always include:

Proof-of-concept experiments

Feasibility demonstrated in PDAC cell lines, organoids, or PDX models

Early mechanistic insights

Pilot biomarker results

Evidence the approach will work in PDAC, not just in other tumor types

Predictor: The presence of substantial preliminary data is a major competitive advantage.

4. Use of Highly Relevant PDAC Models

Lustgarten reviewers favor realistic, high-quality models:

Patient-derived organoids (PDO)

Patient-derived xenografts (PDX)

Genetically engineered mouse models (KPC/KRAS-driven models)

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics

High-quality PDAC patient cohorts

Predictor: Using state-of-the-art human PDAC models drastically improves competitiveness.

5. High Innovation + Potential for High Impact

Lustgarten values bold ideas that can change the field:

New therapeutic strategies for KRAS-mutant tumors

First-in-field biomarker platforms

Approaches to overcome dense stroma and immunosuppression

Highly novel drug discovery targets

Disruptive technologies for early detection

Predictor: Proposals must be innovative and transformative, not incremental.

6. Translational Relevance & Path to Clinical Impact

Lustgarten strongly emphasizes clinical relevance, such as:

Clear path to clinical trial

Biomarker ready for translation

Therapeutic candidates with near-term potential

Studies addressing treatment-resistant PDAC

Predictor: Translational potential is a dominant scoring category.

7. Strong Investigator Track Record

Reviewers expect:

Publications in pancreatic cancer or closely relevant topics

Demonstrated expertise in PDAC biology or tumor immunology

Evidence of independence (distinct niche from mentor)

Successful delivery of past research projects

Predictor: Strong track record is essential, especially for mid-career grants.

8. Collaborations That Truly Add Value

Team science is often favored, especially when:

Pairing computational + experimental expertise

Integrating clinicians for translational pipelines

Using shared resources (biobanks, imaging, sequencing)

Crossing multiple institutions to access unique samples or platforms

Predictor: Collaboration strengthens feasibility and impact — but only if it’s mission-critical.

9. Clear, Feasible Aims and Milestones

Well-designed proposals include:

2–3 tightly structured aims

Realistic 1–2 year milestones

Go/no-go decision points

Backup approaches

Quantifiable outcomes

Predictor: A tightly scoped, feasible plan is crucial.

10. High-Quality Writing

Winning proposals are:

Clear, compelling, and logically structured

Heavy on significance and rationale

Strong in methodological rigor

Easy for both biologists and translational reviewers to understand

Predictor: Strong writing often distinguishes funded from unfunded applications of similar scientific quality.

🏆 Summary Table

Predictor	Why It Matters
PDAC-specific focus	Core eligibility; biggest scoring factor
Mechanism alignment	Ensures fit with reviewer expectations
Strong preliminary data	Demonstrates feasibility
Relevant PDAC models	Increases translational relevance
Innovation + high impact	Central Lustgarten priority
Clinical/Translational relevance	Key mission driver
Investigator track record	Reviewer confidence driver
Strategic collaboration	Amplifies feasibility & scope
Focused aims	Fits 1–2 year grant framework
Clear, polished writing	Increases reviewer enthusiasm

Specialties

Cancer

Pancreatology

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must hold an M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical institution, or other research facility. Proposals may be submitted by domestic and foreign non-profit or public organizations, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship requirements for this program.

Research Investigator(s) funded through the CAI typically:

Are leading significant pancreatic cancer and/or relevant focus area research
Have a demonstrated track record of significant contributions to the field as evidenced by publications, peer-reviewed funding and an ability to advance projects to clinical impact
Are willing to interact and/or collaborate with researchers at outside institutions including the Lustgarten Translational Advisory Group and other Lustgarten Foundation-Funded Investigators

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Lustgarten Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 504 RXR Plaza Uniondale, NY 11556 Toll Free: 866-789-1000 Phone: 516-737-1550

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