Clinical Scholar Eligibility & Expectations

Clinical Scholar Application

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria

To be eligible, the applicant must be an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. and an assistant or recently appointed (less than two years) associate professor who treats cancer patients and wishes to focus on clinical cancer research. Previous funding from external sources such as fellowships and NIH K- or R-level awards is expected, but not required.

In addition to the strength of the research and career development plan, Clinical Scholar applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Strong participation in clinical trial accruals.
  • Participation in clinical trials as institutional principal investigator (PI) for a cooperative group trial or multisite clinical trial.
  • External research funding record, including fellowships, research grant awards from the NIH, other national agencies, and pharma.
  • Publication record.
  • Strength of clinical practice as determined by wRVU metrics.
  • All PIs are strongly encouraged to participate in fundraising efforts for the annual LOWVELO bike ride event during each year of the award.

Program Expectations

Clinical Scholars will be expected to meet the following goals for continued support beyond year one:

  • Develop a career mentoring plan in collaboration with Hollings leadership within the first month of award.
  • Enhance academic oncology at MUSC.
  • Develop and implement at least one investigator-initiated clinical trial as PI.
  • Serve as national or institutional PI on cooperative clinical trials.
  • Lead and/or co-lead a multidisciplinary cancer-focused team.
  • Lead in accruals to clinical trials within an oncology specialty.
  • Submit for research funding and salary support from external agencies.
  • Maintain strong clinical productivity (wRVUs).
  • Attend a biannual scientific meeting for Hollings Clinical Scholar awardees hosted by Hollings Cancer Center.
  • Provide a research status report during the 11th month of each year of funding.