Innovation Grant
Funded by the GI Cancer Institute
The Innovation Grant is a unique opportunity for AGITG members to receive funding for original scientific ideas with the potential to change clinical practice.
This year, there will be two Innovation Grants, focussed in area of:
- Clinical Trials – up to $200,000
- Translational Research – up to $200,000
Awarded annually, the Innovation Grant aims to enhance the AGITG research program through investment in projects based on scientific merit, feasibility and alignment with AGITG research priorities, to improve outcomes for people with gastro-intestinal cancer.
Professor Lorraine Chantrill, Chair of AGITG, says “Raised by our members and community, the Innovation Grant provides AGITG members an opportunity to conduct small scale or pilot studies, which are critical to generate data to attract government grants to fund large scale trials. Without these initial feasibility studies, we can’t advance our knowledge about the best way to treat patients with GI cancer.”
Innovation Grants are made possible through generous contributions from Community Fundraising and the GI Cancer Institute’s Gutsy Challenge program.
Since 2015, our community fundraisers and members have raised more than $1.7 million to fund eight trials and three substudies.
“Supporting novel approaches in their initial stages is so important in this financially constrained time. By having this initial funding we can develop our concept with sufficient data to become competitive for external definitive funding.” – Professor David Goldstein, 2020 Innovation Grant recipient
Guiding Principles
Innovation grants will be awarded to AGITG members to further AGITG led research projects. Expenditure decisions will be based on scientific merit and with the intention that they lead to enhancement of the AGITG research program.
Expenditure of these funds requires an overall framework that respects their philanthropic origin, and must align with the strategic direction of the AGITG.