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The CRIS Foundation Against Cancer annually offers two grants from the CRIS Excellence Program with the goal of enabling scientists and physicians with translational training to lead the creation of research groups of international significance; at least one of the recipients must be a physician-researcher.
The application must be submitted by the candidate, who will bear scientific responsibility, with the support of the host institution.
Applicants must submit a synopsis of the line of research associated with the call for proposals and which will be the subject of the funding provided under the program. The project must demonstrate high scientific and technical quality.
The grant will cover the researcher’s salary (up to a maximum of €70,000 per year) and costs associated with the research project. Optionally, part of the grant may be allocated toward a mobility or family allowance.
Requirements:
Requirements for applicants:
- Scientists and physicians of any nationality who wish to pursue their scientific and/or medical work in Spain. The research team must be composed of Spanish nationals.
- NEW: As a new requirement this year, instead of specifying a number of years since the thesis defense, candidates must be able to demonstrate up to 15 years of independent research (18 years for female researchers and female physicians) prior to the publication of the call for applications. This period for achieving research independence may be extended if it includes periods of research inactivity due to justified causes such as maternity, paternity, long-term illness, care of dependents, etc. In the case of paternity or maternity leave, the period required to obtain the doctorate is increased by 1 year for men for each child and by 3 years for women for each child.
- You must meet one of the following requirements regarding publications:
- Have at least 10 publications in scientific journals, and be the first or last author of at least three of these publications in Q1 journals.
- Be the first or last author of at least two publications in D1 journals (with an impact factor greater than 20).
- Be the first or last author of at least 5 publications in Q1 journals.
- The candidate must propose a mentor and include the mentor’s background information with the application. Given the candidates’ independence in their research, this mentor does not necessarily need to be a project supervisor, but rather a point of reference to guide the candidate in achieving their scientific and professional goals.
- Applicants must have a host institution located in Spain. Only Spanish hospitals, universities, and research centers are eligible to receive funding under the CRIS Program of Excellence. A single institution may submit multiple applications, but only one institution may be selected as a recipient per call for proposals.
- The candidate does not need to be employed by the host institution at the time of application. However, the institution must provide a letter confirming its acceptance of the candidate to carry out his or her activities there.
- With the support of the host institution, candidates must devote at least 60% of their research time to this project.
- In the case of medical researchers who have clinical duties, those duties may not exceed 50% of their workday; however, they may increase their work hours to up to 100%.
How to apply
Required documentation:
All applications must include two sets of documents and must be completed entirely in English:
Part A: Administrative Form
This questionnaire will be accessible through the application on the campaign website and will consist of the following items:
- General information about the candidate: First and last name, identification number, year of birth, academic degree, and contact information
- Current institutional information: Name and address.
- Recipient Institution Information: Name and address.
- Mentor Information: First and last name, institution, and contact information.
- Research Project Details: Title, code, research area, type of cancer, project topic, duration.
Part B: Documentation Based on Application Templates
- Standardized and summarized candidate resume (CVA) following the abbreviated template for standardized national public recruitment announcements from the FECYT. This document must be submitted in English.
- Proof of research independence. The date on which the candidate can be considered an independent researcher may be substantiated with official documents, such as an employment contract as a principal investigator, a project awarded to the candidate as an individual researcher, an employment contract for staff hired under the candidate’s supervision, or a certified letter from the institution.
- Certification of the Doctorate Degree.
- Justification for the reason for the extension, if applicable (maternity, paternity, long-term illness, etc.).
- Research Project. Follow the template; maximum 10 pages.
- Project Budget. The budget may include a financial audit to be conducted at the end of the project. You must use the provided Excel template.
- The candidate’s track record, which should outline the key milestones in the researcher’s career and the candidate’s experience in the field of study. You must use the provided template. (Maximum 3 pages).
- Letter of acceptance from the mentor (optional) committing to support the candidate’s future research activities in the project’s field and at the proposed institution. You must use the provided template.
- The mentor’s resume (optional), standardized and summarized according to the abbreviated template for standardized national public calls for applications (CVA), in the same 4-page format as the candidate’s. This document must be submitted in English.
- A letter of acceptance from the host institution, signed by the managing director or scientific director of the center, guaranteeing institutional support for the researcher and the specific research area of the project. This document is essential for the application to be valid. You must use the provided template.
- Statement on Ethical Issues. You must use the provided template.
- A one-page summary, in Spanish, to explain the project in a way that is easy for the