The RTOG Translational Research Program (TRP) Committee was created to combine and strengthen coordination among the basic sciences committees, including tumor biology, chemical and biological modifiers, and pathology. Its major goal is to promote communication of scientific ideas for the research laboratory into protocol design of the group. Specific aims of the TRP are to (1) act as a resource for new ideas; (2) educate members about emerging information on tumor behavior, molecular mechanisms and recent links between therapy treated with chemoradiation; (3) integrate new information into protocol design; and (4) conduct correlative studies and evaluate protocols results to enhance and expand hypotheses being tested.

The TRP Committee organizes symposia to educate RTOG members about basic science principles used in current protocols under investigation and about new techniques that may be incorporated into protocols in the future. At each semi-annual RTOG meeting, a keynote scientific address is given on a topic of interest to the group. In the summer, this topic is chosen to coincide with the subject being discussed by the translational research program at that meeting.

Translational Research Program (TRP): Request for Applications (RFA)

This RFA invites applications to conduct translational research using material obtained from prospective clinical trials conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded cooperative group (www.rtog.org). This RFA is offered by the RTOG Translational Research Program (TRP). We encourage investigators not previously collaborating with the RTOG to undertake cooperative investigations with the RTOG. In addition, we are especially interested in developing technologies that may be tested in a prospective multi-institutional cooperative group setting.

Eligible organizations include domestic for-profit or non-profit organizations, public or private institutions (e.g., universities, colleges, hospitals), units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. Foreign institutions are also eligible to apply. Eligible principal investigators include any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.