To identify areas where investment could have the greatest
impact, the Susan G. Komen-IBCRF IBC Collaborative, in partnership with the
Milburn Foundation, convened the Biology of IBC Task Force, a group of IBC
researchers and patient advocates. The Task Force identified three broad areas
of scientific opportunity that require significant investigation to advance the
field:

• IBC onset and development, including studies focused on the
  tumor and host microenvironment, epigenetic and proteomic drivers of disease,
  host genetic factors and biological contributors to health disparities.
• 
  
  IBC metastatic dissemination, including mechanisms of cell
  migration and mobility, biological characteristics associated with therapeutic
  response and the role of tumor and host, epigenetic and proteomic factors in
  IBC disease progression.
• 
  
  IBC monitoring and detection, including approaches to detect
  minimal residual disease (MRD), improve prognostication, assess therapeutic
  response and advance theragnostic strategies.

Applicant/PIs are strongly encouraged to align their
proposed studies with one or more of these priority areas. In addition,
applications proposing the development of shared biological research tools,
models, datasets, or other resources that enable and accelerate IBC research
are encouraged.

Awards: up to $125,000 (combined direct and indirect costs)
for one year. 

In lieu of the standard limited submission packet, please
submit

• Limited submission cover sheet
• 
  
  CV/Biosketch for Key Personnel (2- page max each)
• 
  
  In lieu of the narrative, submit Sections A-D of the Susan
  G. Komen Letter of Intent (See below)

The Susan G. Komen LOI Form requirements:

A. General Information

Enter general information regarding the Applicant/PI,
including name, contact details, and institution name and address.

B. Title

The title is limited to no more than 81 characters in length
(including spaces). Do not use abbreviations or all capital letters. The title
should be lay-friendly and accurately describe the focus of the proposal.

C. Research Plan

Proposed Research Projects must be hypothesis-driven studies
focused on inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Projects should aim to investigate
the biological underpinnings of IBC as it relates to IBC onset and development,
metastatic dissemination or monitoring and detection. The Research Plan must
provide a concise description of this proposed Research Project using no more
than 3,000 characters (with spaces) and should include the scientific rationale
for the proposed research, hypothesis(es) to be tested, research specific aims
and design and potential impact of the study to the IBC patient and survivor
community.

D. Key Personnel

Key personnel include Major Collaborators and Patient
Advocate(s) who are integral to the execution of the research plan. Komen
defines Key Personnel as an individual who contributes to the scientific
development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether
or not they receive salaries or compensation under the Grant. Typically, these
individuals devote a defined percentage of effort to the project and have
doctoral or other professional degrees. Collaborators/Consultants at the
postdoctoral or graduate student level may be considered Key Personnel if their
involvement meets this definition. Patient advocates who are integral to the
execution of the Research Plan need not have doctoral or other professional
degrees.