Becoming a VCU Massey Research Member
Nearly 150 research members are conducting cutting-edge research across basic, clinical and population sciences at Massey, representing a wide range of scientific expertise. Research members work collaboratively with more than 50 VCU Massey clinicians to ensure the latest discoveries are translated into future cancer care approaches.
As a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, research membership must meet rigorous scholarship expectations and demonstrate scientific excellence. A candidate for research membership should be aligned with one of Massey’s three NCI-approved research programs – Cancer Biology, Developmental Therapeutics and Cancer Prevention and Control. There are two categories of membership at VCU Massey: research member and associate member.
Criteria for Research Membership
Research members are full-time faculty actively participating in basic, translational, clinical, or cancer prevention and control cancer research. Research members must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Principal investigators (PIs) whose cancer-focused/relevant research is funded from a peer-reviewing agency or if from a non-peer-reviewing agency, must be a minimum two-year award with at least $100K direct costs/year, and/or
- Investigators who play a significant role as a co-investigator with other Massey members as evidenced by co-investigator status on externally-funded, cancer-focused/relevant research grants (minimum average of 50% effort in the preceding three years), and/or
- PIs on a cancer-focused/relevant NIH K-award or other career-development award, and/or
- PIs on an Massey-sponsored, interventional, investigator-initiated clinical trial and/or
- Massey clinical investigators who significantly enroll patients per year to interventional trials, and/or
- Faculty who serve in a Massey leadership role or as key personnel in an Massey-supported shared resource
Based on research interests, research members and associate members are assigned to one of Massey’s three research programs. Both research and associate members are encouraged to participate in Center-sponsored research events, symposia and seminars, as well as other appropriate Center activities.
Responsibilities include:
- Work with other Massey members to develop programmatic and interdisciplinary research that further the scientific goals of the center and lead to collaborative publications and research grants
- Participate in Massey-led events including research program meetings, retreats, seminars, committees and disease working group meetings
- Review grant applications received under Massey’s intramural funding opportunities
- Acknowledge use of Massey space, Massey-supported shared resources and Massey pilot research funding in cancer-related publications and presentations
- Provide data required to maintain the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (e.g., personal demographic data, research information and progress, trainee/mentorship history, clinical trials information and accruals, other support, publications, CVs and biosketches)
- If appropriate, serve as a mentor in Massey’s Faculty Development Program
- Participate in Massey-led cancer research education efforts, including appropriate symposia, cancer center curricula for fellows, graduate students and postdoctoral students, as well as undergraduate programs and community education
- Participate in Massey-led community outreach and engagement opportunities
Benefits include:
- Eligible for allocation of cancer center space, for cancer-related activities
- Eligible to apply for pilot project funding and other intramural funding offered by Massey
- Eligible for Massey-supported bridge funding for research support
- Access to Massey-supported shared resources at subsidized member rates
- Access to administrative support, including scientific writing, for the development of grant proposals, scientific manuscripts and clinical trial protocols
Criteria for Associate Research Membership
Associate members are full-time VCU faculty who may contribute to the mission of the cancer center, but do not yet meet the criteria for research membership. Associate members are not included as part of Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) membership.
Based on research interests, research members and associate members are assigned to one of Massey’s three research programs. Both research and associate members are encouraged to participate in Center-sponsored research events, symposia and seminars, as well as other appropriate Center activities. Associate member benefits include:
- Eligible for Massey’s Faculty Development Program
- Inclusion in Massey distribution lists on funding opportunities, cancer news, symposia and seminar announcements
Membership Resources
Research Programs
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Become a Member
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