The Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation

Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018

BACKGROUND

Australia’s only national foundation for all women’s gynaecological cancers, The Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (AGCF), in partnership with the Sullivan family, friends, and supporters, has createda new Fellowship Award to celebrate and pay tribute to the life of Cindy Sullivan.

Cindy Sullivan was a tireless supporter of the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation. A beautiful, vibrant and stylish woman, Cindy was born in New York and grew up in Queens. As a young woman Cindy met Michael Sullivan, an Australian in New York.

She married him and moved to Sydney where she fell in love with the Australian lifestyle. Together they had three beautiful children, Annabel, Sophie and Cormac. When she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, Cindy refused to let herself or her children wallow in self-pity.

She remained positive and cheerful to the end. A woman who always put others needs before her own, the Sullivan family want Cindy remembered as a warm, loving mother and friend.To find out more about Cindy’s story, watch this video on Vimeo at

AGCF’s mission is to raise awareness and fund research for the prevention, detection, and treatment of gynaecological cancers in Australia with the goal to reduce the mortality and impacts of these diseases on Australia’s women, their partners, families, and the wider community.

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD

In 2018, AGCF will provide a Fellowship Award [the award] to support a postdoctoral fellow undertaking a research project aligned to the AGCF priorities as outlined in Appendix 1.

The award is designed to support an outstanding science, nursing, allied health, or medical graduate who has graduated with a PhD within the last 5 years. The graduate’s research focus must be directed towards improvement of understanding and/or management of gynaecological cancers. The successful applicant will have access to a strong foundation of research support services, including opportunities for professional development and the mentoring and expertise of experienced gynaecological cancer researchers. The research must be strongly aligned to the mission of AGCF.

The recipient of the award is expected to participate in AGCF fundraising activities and events and to contribute to other AGCF activities, when opportunities arise.

AVAILABLE AWARD

A 2-year grant allowing payment of a stipend to the value of AU$100,000 per year plus an additional AU$10,000 per year for research support. Continuity of all payments will be conditional on receipt of a satisfactory progress report prepared by the recipient for AGCF every 6 months.

The award stipend will be paid to the awarded fellow by the host institution using money paid to it in quarterly increments by AGCF for the duration of the research program (max of 2 years). Receipt of a fellowship stipend does not constitute any form of employment by AGCF.
On 1 July of each year of the award, AU$10,000 will be paid for research support upon AGCF’s receipt of a budget.
The award is granted on a competitive, merit basis and the research project must be aligned to one of the AGCF priorities as outlined in Appendix 1.
The successful application will demonstrate the potential gynaecological application of the planned research and an awareness of the importance of communicating its value to the public.

FUNDING ROUND IN 2018

Applications open 5 March 2018 and close 20 April 2018.
Late applications will not be considered.
The successful applicant will be advised no later than 1 June 2018.
The first payment of stipend and research support will be transferred on 1 July 2018.

ELIGIBILITY

Researchers will be eligible for consideration for the AGCF Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018 if they:

Graduated with a PhD by research within the last 5 years in the fields of science, medical, health, nursing or allied health.
Can demonstrate they are currently an active -level researcher with work that aligns with AGCF research priorities as described in Appendix 1.
Have a confirmed full-time postdoctoral position with an Australian university or research institute, as defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council, one that allows the unimpeded continuation of research.
Have a principal (primary) or joint principal (joint primary) supervisor who can be recognised by AGCF as a respected researcher in the field of gynaecological cancer. The principal supervisor must hold an academic position of Senior Lecturer or above, or AGCF accepted equivalent: Level C or higher, as described byFair Work Commission, Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award 2010(
Have a research interest strongly aligned to the mission and priorities of the AGCF (Appendix 1).
Have a letter of support from a principal supervisor which outlines how the research project to be supported by the award will support the work of the principal supervisor and the priorities of the AGCF. The letter must also confirm that there are sufficient resources to support the project.
State that the proposed team is expected to establish, conduct, and manage the proposed research and publication of results successfully, basing this expectation on the team expertise and/or the preliminary data provided and/or the record of accomplishment of successfully completing and publishing research programs by the team members involved.
Expect that results of the research will be published or presented for peer assessment no later than 12 months after the end of the funding period and that AGCF will be informed of plans to do this.
Have completed and lodged the 2018 Award application form with appropriate supporting documents.

CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
The eligibility criteria must be met.
The researcher receiving the Award will be expected to participate in AGCF activities and other supervisor recommended programs throughout their Fellowship, including but not limited to:
Presenting at an approved Postgraduate Research Seminar at least once per year during the Fellowship and supporting fellow researchers by attending any regular seminar sessions throughout the year.
Contributing when requested to the AGCF newsletter or website with articles, and when possible participating in AGCF events.
Attending events hosted by the relevant Graduate Research School.
Submitting Progress Reports for each 6 months by 31 July and 31 January following the reporting period.
Maintaining full-time employment at the host research institute.
Acknowledging AGCF support in any documentation related to this fellowship in accordance with the AGCF Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines and AGCF Guidelines for Logo Use
Promoting the AGCF’s gynaecological cancer research interests amongst colleagues.

The successful applicant will be required to sign a Letter of Acceptance and agree to these conditions in writing.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Contact the AGCF to indicate intent to apply and give contact details, via email to AGCF Grants Manager Yvonne McKinlay at th subject line ‘AGCF Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018’.
Complete the Application Form (this document) in concurrence with these guidelines and other relevant guidelines.
Prepare additional supporting documents:
A letter from your employer (host institution) confirming your position
Curriculum vitae including details of key academic marks awarded from previous degrees
Certified copy of accepted doctoral treatise if not published online and referenced in application.
Letter of support from the primary supervisor which confirms that they are willing to supervise the candidate and project, the research topic area is within the primary supervisor’s expertise, there are sufficient resources to complete the research project in accordance with your organisation’s standards and confirms that the research project aligns with the priorities of the AGCF.
Submit the completed application form (as a WORD DOCUMENT) with all other supporting documents as a SINGLE PDF, via email to with subject line AGCF Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 20th April 2018.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information can be obtained by contacting the AGCF Grants Manager Yvonne . For further information about AGCF or visit the AGCF website at

The Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation

Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018

Application Form

Before submitting the Application Form,ensure you have read and understood the AGCF research priorities (see Appendix 1) and agreement (see Appendix 2). You must prepare and attach additional supporting documents:

a.A letter from your potential employer (host institution) confirming your conditional offer of employment

b.A curriculum vitae detailing academic history, research record of accomplishment (including publication and successful grant awards) and other relevant achievements.

c.Certified copy of accepted doctoral treatise if not published online and referenced in application.

d.Letter of support from the proposed primary supervisor which confirms

i.willingness to supervise you and the project,

ii.the research topic area is within the primary supervisor’s expertise,

iii.there are sufficient resources to complete the research project in accordance with the host institution’s standards, and

iv.the research project aligns with the priorities of AGCF.

Submit the completed application form (as a typed WORD DOCUMENT) with all other supporting documents as a SINGLE PDF, via email to AGCF Grants Manager Yvonne McKinlay at th the subject line AGCF Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018.

For further information about AGCF email or visit the website at

Please note that applications received after the closing date WILL NOT be considered eligible.

Please try to make your responses as concise as possible. Your ability to achieve brevity without omission of critical detail will be assessed on this application and that ability is relevant to selection criteria.

1.Date of Application

Click or tap to enter a date.

2.Applicant Information

Name
Surname in capital letters / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Email / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Postal Address / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Mobile / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Your PhD doctoral treatise location
If online give URL or note that a PDF copy is attached to this application / Click or tap here to enter text. /

3.Your Host Institution

Name
This should be where you plan to conduct research supported by this Award, if your application is successful. Name should be exactly as per the Australian Business Register / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Host Institution ABN / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Other Host Institution details
e.g. Faculty, Department or Research Centre / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Host Institution Common Acronym
Some organisations are known more commonly by acronym e.g. TCRN = Translational Cancer Research Network. If a common acronym applies to your organisation, please include it here / Click or tap here to enter text. /

4.Host Institution's Primary Contact

Primary Contact Name
This is the person who has signed a letter from your potential employer (host institution) confirming your conditional offer of employment. Please note that AGCF will work with a specific contact person in each Host Institution. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Primary Contact Position
e.g. Chief Executive Officer, Research Office, or Grants Office / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Primary Contact Email / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Primary Contact Postal Address / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Primary Contact Mobile / Click or tap here to enter text. /

5.Proposed Primary Supervisor

Supervisor Name
This is the person who has provided an attached letter of support / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Supervisor Position Description / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Supervisor Email / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Supervisor Postal Address / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Supervisor Mobile / Click or tap here to enter text. /

Proposed Agreement

Ensure you have read the AGCF research priorities (see Appendix 1) and grant agreement (see Appendix 2) and have discussed it with the above-named supervisor at your host institution before lodging this application. Do not sign the agreement, it is for information only.

Do you have any concerns about making an agreement with AGCF and your proposed host institution after any offer of an Award? If so, describe each concern and how it could be addressed by AGCF.
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7.Conflict of Interest

Either write “None known” or report here details of any perceived conflict of interest that could affect your application if not disclosed and addressed. You should have read Grant Agreement (Appendix 2). You should be aware of the names of all who will assess your application, the AGCF Scientific Advisory Committee available at

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8.Research Project Details

Project title
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Project Overview
Describe your proposed project, clearly stating the research question and what you want to achieve in the 2 years of the award to address this question. Describe key methods. Try to limit this to 500 words. You will have opportunities to expand further in the application.
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Research Team details
Apart from your above-named supervisor, who else will be involved in the project? If you intend working with or involving external partners, outline how they will be involved.
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Research Location
Name the relevant State(s) and/or Territories, or National if the initiative is Australia-wide. If any part of the research will be conducted by you outside Australia, give details
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Research involving animals.
If relevant, give details
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Research involving people
If relevant, give details.Indicate which population group(s) will be studied and which population(s) wills most likely benefit from this research in the longer term, e.g. Australian indigenous women at risk of endometrial cancer.
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Do you expect your proposed award assisted research to break new ground in gynaecological cancer research? Give reasons for your answer.
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Do you expect your proposed award assisted research to be of significance for patients with gynaecological cancer but to fall outside the funding parameters of the NHMRC and the MRFF? If so, give reasons for your answer.
Include comment on how your research could achieve such significance in 2 years. For example, you may expect your research to enable a successful application for future NHMRC or MRFF support.
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Do you expect your proposed award assisted research to be addressing inequalities of outcome related to gynaecological cancer? If so, give reasons for your answer.
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If you answered NO to ALL of the above 3 questions, 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9, how will your proposed award assisted research address one of the national cancer research priorities with important applications in gynaecological oncology? How will the research enhance the depth of knowledge in gynaecological oncology?
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Do you expect that results of your proposed research, whether interim or final results, will be published or presented no later than 12 months after the end of the funding period, i.e. before 1 July 2020? Give reasons for your answer.
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What risks do you foresee any that might affect the successful completion of your project? How might these risks be mitigated?
AGCF expects applicants to consider what might go wrong and address these risks. For example, your proposed research will be assisted by an expected but unconfirmed equipment purchase, but you have a contingency or fall-back plan if the purchase does not proceed.
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9.Summary of your project.

If your application is successful, a description of your project will be included in AGCF publications. Do you agree to use of the Overview you have provided? If not, for publication, please summarise your project, giving your reason for undertaking the project and how you propose completing it. Describe the research question, key methods, how your project relates to the priorities of AGCF and the advertised selection criteria, how and when the results will be published.
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10.Declaration.

Place X in all boxes below. I agree that in submitting this application:

I have met all the eligibility criteria,
I accept all the conditions of the award.
I have described any potential conflict of interest known to me.
I have attached all required additional supporting documents
If successful in this application I expect to be able to sign a Grant Agreement based on the AGCF Grant Agreement 2018.

Submit the completed application form (as a WORD DOCUMENT) with all other supporting documents as a SINGLE PDF, via email to with subject line AGCF Cindy Sullivan Memorial Fellowship 2018.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 20th April 2018

Note: If further information is needed in the review of your application you may be contacted prior to the closing date of applicationsFriday 20th April 2018. Before this date you may also submit a revised application, to make critical amendments or additions.

Appendix 1 Priorities of the AGCF Grant Plan

Introduction: the key research priorities of AGCF

The AGCF grant plan is innovative, in that it will work with successful applicants to break new ground in gynaecological cancer research. AGCF will not prioritise funding of researchers predominantly based on perceived past performance and security of establishment. Rather, it will try to assist those who have promising research ideas and the enthusiasm and expertise to translate them into advances in knowledge and application, whatever the framework in which they will be developed.

AGCF expects the initial 2018 grant to support research continuing over the next 3 years. Research at all stages and of all types will be considered.