Case CCC Joint Investigator-Initiated Trials

About this program

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) is offering pilot awards of $50,000–$100,000 (up to $100K) to support collaborative investigator‑initiated clinical trials jointly developed to accrue patients at both consortium hospitals (University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic), with start‑up costs capped at $10,000 and per‑patient accrual funds available; PI salary, major equipment, travel, and protocol writer/project manager costs are unallowable. Preference is given to peer‑reviewed trials that are unfunded or underfunded, and funds may support underfunded correlative studies (e.g., biopsies, circulating tumor DNA/CTCs, PBMCs, imaging) and, when necessary, drug acquisition as a barrier to initiation. Applicants must be Case CCC members and submit proposals with Co‑Principal Investigators from both consortium hospitals (trainee Co‑Investigators allowed under mentorship), may submit only one application, and projects should be planned for 1–2 years (up to 5 years possible based on progress and accrual). Required materials include a project narrative (≤5 pages), combined NIH biosketches, institutional letters of support, and a Joint IIT Budget Template showing pre‑enrollment and per‑patient costs; internal submission deadline is 31 December 2026 (rolling cycle).