The Last Mile Research Grant FAQ

The Last Mile Sarcoma Research Award FAQ

Q: When are grant applications due and when can I submit?
A: Grant proposals are due by October 3, 2022, at 5:00 pm (EST). Applications must be submitted electronically at proposalCENTRAL. You can apply beginning August 8, 2022. It is suggested that you start the application early to ensure you have ample time to handle issues that may arise during the submission process.

Q: When can I expect to be notified of an award and what is the start date?
A: The anticipated 2022 grant cycle is listed below:

Q: Are researchers located outside of the United States eligible for SFA research grants?
A: Yes. The SFA does accept applications from researchers outside of the U.S. However, grant awardees must be able to accept funds in US dollars.

Q: Are there any duration restrictions for projects applied for under this grant?
A: SFA grants are for a one-year period.

Q: What kind of research will the SFA fund?
A:  The SFA encourages applications in all  areas of sarcoma research; however, the following areas of research are of particular interest:

  • Immunotherapy
  • Omic characterization of sarcomas and definition of novel targets
  • Omic patterns of sensitivity and resistance to existing agents
  • Systemic therapy combinations
  • Gene Therapy

Q: Are there any restrictions on the length/format of attachments?
A: Applicants must the following with the limitations indicated:

  1. the original R01 proposal;
  2. the review committee summary statement including all reviewer critiques;
  3. a 1-2-page initial response to the critiques along with 1/2 page high level summary of the specificstudies that will be pursued to improve the application’s likelihood of success upon resubmission;
  4. NIH Biosketch(es) and up-to-date other support documents for the complete research team;

Q: By “references,” do you mean literature references relating to the research proposal, or personal references/letters of recommendation written in support of the applicant?
A: By “references” , we are referring to literature/bibliography references relating to the research proposal.

Q: Do you require the biosketches of collaborators or the PI’s mentor, or just the PI?
A: We only require a biosketch for the person listed as the PI in the application. However, you can provide additional limited biosketches that only include information relevant to the proposal.

Q: Can awarded grant money be used to fund PI salaries?
A: The SFA does not permit funds to be used for PI salaries. However, applicants are permitted to
request money for the payment of salaries for non-faculty post-docs, fellows, and technicians. No more than 50 percent of SFA grant money can be used for salaries. Applications requesting more than this amount will not be accepted.

Q: Can any of the funds be used for indirect costs?
A: We do allow for up to 10 percent of the total grant cost in indirect funds (e.g., up to $15,000 of the $150,000 total cost can be allotted for indirect costs). Indirect costs over this amount will not be accepted.

Q: What if our cost is under $150,000?
A: In most cases, applicants generally ask for the full amount of $150,000. You are encouraged to do so if you believe that the full amount of money could be used towards the project, within the period of performance.

Q: Is there a requirement to submit a final report to the SFA at the end of the one-year grant period?
A: Yes, the SFA does require that all grant awardees submit a Final Report (outcomes) as well as a final Financial Report (list of cumulative expenditures).

The final report summarizes the progress and achievements toward the originally stated aims and describes the impact and/or medical implications of the results during the period of performance. In addition, a list of manuscripts for publication, invited articles, abstracts and presentations is requested.

Please note that failure to provide these deliverables may adversely affect future funding to the organization and/or awards to the same PI. Instructions for the Final Report and Financial Report will be made available to awardees through our grant website: proposalCENTRAL.

Q: When and where are grantees expected to acknowledge SFA funding in support of their research?
A: Proper acknowledgment is critical for our ability to continue supporting sarcoma advocacy, awareness and research. Regardless of publish date or other sources of support, research supported by SFA is expected to be properly acknowledged (see SFA acknowledgement below). In addition to scientific journal submissions, we recommend more timely reporting of SFA supported research activities to encourage/inform patients, advocates and volunteers. Some examples of such reporting include press releases, interviews, articles, presentations, etc. This information will also be requested on the Final Report.

SFA acknowledgement: “The research described was supported by grant # [sample format] 2023 SFA Last Mile Research Award XX-23 from the Sarcoma Foundation of America.”

Q: If I don’t have final IRB or IACUC approval by the submission deadline, what should I do?
A: You should submit your application by the due date and indicate on the application that approval is pending. Once you receive notification by your institution, you should submit the date from the institution’s IRB or IACUC of final approval to SFA by email.

Q: Where can I find out more about applying using proposalCENTRAL
A: First-time users will be required to register and complete a professional profile in order to apply for an SFA research grant. If you have any questions about registration, how to apply, or other logistical application questions, please contact the proposalCENTRAL customer support hotline at 800 875 2562 (Toll-free U.S. and Canada), or +1 703 964 5840 (Direct Dial International) or by email at [email protected].

Complete online instructions can also be found at the following links: