This CoBRE Phase III application aims to continue support for the Center for Cancer Biology Research
(CCBR) which has established a strong research program within Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD. The
original mission of the CCBR was to establish and grow cancer research with a focus on basic and
translational activities. During Phase I CoBRE funding, the CCBR was established with five Project Leaders.
Importantly, critical infrastructure, in the form of Scientific Cores, was developed and a Pilot Grant Program
was initiated. The success of Phase I was marked by attainment of R01 level funding by Project Leaders who
graduated from CoBRE funding and remain successful to this day. In addition, Project Leaders published
important scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and the Scientific Core functions began expanding as did
their expertise. The power of the Pilot Grant program was demonstrated by scientific publications and obtaining
of funding by awardees. These milestones enabled the awarding of CoBRE Phase II funding for the CCBR.
While the missions of the CCBR remained unchanged, the influx of physician/scientists to the CCBR prompted
an extensive focus on translational cancer research; a theme that remains strongly in place. Phase II Project
Leaders were also successful in obtaining extramural funding and graduated from CoBRE support. Moreover,
the Scientific Cores further expanded their services and began a more systematic approach (SmartSheets) to
order, track and report back services to their users. In addition, fee-for-service schedules were developed for
the Scientific Cores as they prepared for attaining self-sufficiency. The Pilot Grant program continued to
provide funding to investigators who utilized these resources to successfully publish and obtain funding. Phase
III CoBRE funding will enable the CCBR's Scientific Cores to reach a state of self-sustainability while
continuing to offer critical services to CCBR members as well as non-CCBR members of Sanford Research
and investigators from regional and national institutions. A critical component of this Phase III application will
fund the CCBR's Pilot Grant Program. These Pilot Grants have proven to be essential sources of funding for
new investigators and more seasoned faculty that want to test innovative hypotheses or require resources to
generate data necessary to secure extramural funding. Historically, the CCBR's Pilot Grant Awardees have
demonstrated that this funding results in peer-reviewed scientific publications and enables them to obtain
funding from external sources. Moreover, a large percent of Pilot Grant projects utilizes the CCBR's Scientific
Cores thereby contributing to their self-sustainability. The CCBR's successes over the past decade of CoBRE
funding are a testament to the transformative power of this funding mechanism. Obtaining the final Phase of
CoBRE funding will further strengthen the Scientific Cores, translational research, scientific culture of
innovative science and the research infrastructure of the CCBR that began with Phase I CoBRE funding.