Build stronger grants. Advance your research.
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center offers the Preparing Researchers Seeking Peer Review Club (PRSPR), a structured grant‑writing program for assistant professors and instructors at any level of Holden membership. The program directly addresses a critical gap in early‑stage investigator support by providing systematic training in grant writing, mentorship, and ongoing peer feedback.
Junior faculty often enter academic roles with strong scientific training but limited experience in crafting competitive, fundable grant applications. This results in:
- Lower early‑career funding rates
- Delays in establishing independent research programs
- Increased variability in grant quality and readiness
- Lost opportunities for federal and foundation funding
A coordinated, high‑quality program offering mentorship, structured milestones, internal review, and community support will significantly improve grant competitiveness.
Program Features
- Mentored grant‑writing with senior Holden investigators
- Topic development and aims refinement
- Internal and external pre‑review
- Panels with recent awardees
- NIH review process updates
- Mock study section
- Editorial and communication support
This comprehensive structure mirrors best‑practice grant‑writing studios at top cancer centers.
Cancer Center Benefits
- Increased volume of high‑quality grant submissions
- Higher funding success rates
- Strengthened pool of cancer-focused investigators
- Standardized mentorship infrastructure
- Enhanced national competitiveness of Holden research
PRSPR Club fills a strategic gap in early‑career support and offers a replicable, high‑impact model for accelerating grant success among Holden's junior faculty.
Interested in participating?
The 2026 cohort is underway; watch for communication in Q1 2027 about a new cohort beginning in May 2027. Reach out for more information.