The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA) is part of a broader initiative, the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards), which seeks to improve participation in clinical trials to drive better health outcomes in all communities and save lives.
Winn CDA is a 2-yr program designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to transforming and expanding access to the clinical research landscape. They will become community-oriented clinical trialists who will drive improved health outcomes through their research and mentoring.
Please visit our website for more: https://winnawards.org
Commitment
To train and develop 316 new clinical investigators in clinical trials (~63/year). Provide opportunities to support ongoing career and leadership development in clinical research
Award
$240k over 2 years ($120K/year for 2 years); requires at least 40% of the scholar’s time (Note: Awards will be given to organizations, not to individuals.)
It is expected that the award will cover a percentage of the scholar’s salary to help cover 40% of their time. Additionally, funds can be used toward a portion of a research assistant/coordinator/patient navigator salary; activities such travel and registration for presentations, publications, and other trainings for career development; and a limited amount for biostatistical support, and patient recruitment/retention activities. Funds should not otherwise be used for any study activities. If funds are used for indirect costs, the amount cannot exceed $10,000 per year.
Mentoring
Each scholar must be mentored by an experienced clinical investigator at an established clinical trial site and participate substantively in the mentor's active clinical trial (it is not expected that scholars will have their own clinical trials).
*Click here for additional Mentor requirements.
Training
The goal of the Winn CDA is to develop a new generation of clinical trialists. The Community-Oriented Clinical Trialist (COCT) curriculum is designed to develop and train a new generation of first-rate clinical trialists with the additional knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively engage with communities to foster active community participation in clinical research.
The COCT training will launch with a 4 ½-day intensive educational workshop on clinical trial research methods. Winn CDA has partnered with the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) to develop and deliver the Winn-AACR Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials (DICT) Workshop. This is a 4 ½-day training, which will introduce Scholars to foundational knowledge in state-of-the-art clinical trial design, development, implementation, and community engagement. Over the course of the 2-yr program, Scholars will participate in a fully elaborated COCT curriculum, featuring weekly or biweekly lectures by distinguished faculty, which will build and expand upon concepts presented during the Winn-AACR DICT Workshop, providing a comprehensive approach to presenting community outreach and engagement methods, skills, and strategies.
Please note:
This Workshop is a required element of the Winn CDA Program. 2025 Winn-AACR DICT Workshop (November 17-21, 2025)
Please click here for more information about the 2024 Winn-AACR Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials Workshop, an essential program element to the Winn CDA.
Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) Mentoring
Each scholar will serve as a mentor to a medical student during the first summer of their program. 316 medical students (63/year) will participate in a 6- to 8-week summer immersion program working in community-based clinical research organizations to learn the basics of clinical trials and community outreach, education, and engagement efforts.
Clinical Research Focus Areas
Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Immunologic Disorders
Capstone Project
Over the two year program, scholars will develop a new, independent capstone project that is separate from their application project.
Annual Convening
An annual in-person event in the Fall 2026 and 2027 will bring key stakeholder groups together to inspire, educate, amplify and celebrate. Scholars will present their investigator-initiated clinical trial protocols (capstone project) at the annual convening in their second program year.
Helpful Documents
Mentor Handbook*use as a reference from 2024. A formal handbook for 2025 will come out later this year.
Other Information to Note
Applicants are encouraged to start the application process as early as possible, and are expected to notify their grants team or office of sponsored research of their application to Winn CDA within an appropriate time frame (often grants teams/offices of sponsored research need to be notified at least 6 weeks before the application deadline of your intention to apply. Please refer to your institution's requirements and SOPs for submitting funding opportunity applications.
Information to Share with the Applicant's Grants Team or Office of Sponsored Research
Winn CDA is funded by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF), Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech. VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is the lead implementation partner - via the Medical College of Virginia Foundation (MCVF).
The Winn CDA funds for scholars are disbursed by MCVF to the scholar’s institution. The scholar’s award will be sponsored by one of the funding partners - sponsor designation will be assigned at the time of awarding.
Below is MCVF's information if needed by your grants team/office of sponsored research:
- Medical College of Virginia Foundation
- 1228 E. Broad St. Box 980234
- Richmond , VA 23298
- EIN: 54-6053660
Click here for more information from MCVF to share with the applicant's grants team/office of sponsored research if needed.
Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA)
The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA) is part of a broader initiative, the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards), which seeks to improve participation in clinical trials to drive better health outcomes in all communities and save lives.
Winn CDA is a 2-yr program designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to transforming and expanding access to the clinical research landscape. They will become community-oriented clinical trialists who will drive improved health outcomes through their research and mentoring.
Please visit our website for more: https://winnawards.org
Commitment
To train and develop 316 new clinical investigators in clinical trials (~63/year). Provide opportunities to support ongoing career and leadership development in clinical research
Award
$240k over 2 years ($120K/year for 2 years); requires at least 40% of the scholar’s time (Note: Awards will be given to organizations, not to individuals.)
It is expected that the award will cover a percentage of the scholar’s salary to help cover 40% of their time. Additionally, funds can be used toward a portion of a research assistant/coordinator/patient navigator salary; activities such travel and registration for presentations, publications, and other trainings for career development; and a limited amount for biostatistical support, and patient recruitment/retention activities. Funds should not otherwise be used for any study activities. If funds are used for indirect costs, the amount cannot exceed $10,000 per year.
Mentoring
Each scholar must be mentored by an experienced clinical investigator at an established clinical trial site and participate substantively in the mentor's active clinical trial (it is not expected that scholars will have their own clinical trials).
*Click here for additional Mentor requirements.
Training
The goal of the Winn CDA is to develop a new generation of clinical trialists. The Community-Oriented Clinical Trialist (COCT) curriculum is designed to develop and train a new generation of first-rate clinical trialists with the additional knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively engage with communities to foster active community participation in clinical research.
The COCT training will launch with a 4 ½-day intensive educational workshop on clinical trial research methods. Winn CDA has partnered with the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) to develop and deliver the Winn-AACR Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials (DICT) Workshop. This is a 4 ½-day training, which will introduce Scholars to foundational knowledge in state-of-the-art clinical trial design, development, implementation, and community engagement. Over the course of the 2-yr program, Scholars will participate in a fully elaborated COCT curriculum, featuring weekly or biweekly lectures by distinguished faculty, which will build and expand upon concepts presented during the Winn-AACR DICT Workshop, providing a comprehensive approach to presenting community outreach and engagement methods, skills, and strategies.
Please note:
This Workshop is a required element of the Winn CDA Program. 2025 Winn-AACR DICT Workshop (November 17-21, 2025)
Please click here for more information about the 2024 Winn-AACR Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials Workshop, an essential program element to the Winn CDA.
Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) Mentoring
Each scholar will serve as a mentor to a medical student during the first summer of their program. 316 medical students (63/year) will participate in a 6- to 8-week summer immersion program working in community-based clinical research organizations to learn the basics of clinical trials and community outreach, education, and engagement efforts.
Clinical Research Focus Areas
Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Immunologic Disorders
Capstone Project
Over the two year program, scholars will develop a new, independent capstone project that is separate from their application project.
Annual Convening
An annual in-person event in the Fall 2026 and 2027 will bring key stakeholder groups together to inspire, educate, amplify and celebrate. Scholars will present their investigator-initiated clinical trial protocols (capstone project) at the annual convening in their second program year.
Helpful Documents
Mentor Handbook*use as a reference from 2024. A formal handbook for 2025 will come out later this year.
Other Information to Note
Applicants are encouraged to start the application process as early as possible, and are expected to notify their grants team or office of sponsored research of their application to Winn CDA within an appropriate time frame (often grants teams/offices of sponsored research need to be notified at least 6 weeks before the application deadline of your intention to apply. Please refer to your institution's requirements and SOPs for submitting funding opportunity applications.
Information to Share with the Applicant's Grants Team or Office of Sponsored Research
Winn CDA is funded by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF), Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech. VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is the lead implementation partner - via the Medical College of Virginia Foundation (MCVF).
The Winn CDA funds for scholars are disbursed by MCVF to the scholar’s institution. The scholar’s award will be sponsored by one of the funding partners - sponsor designation will be assigned at the time of awarding.
Below is MCVF's information if needed by your grants team/office of sponsored research:
- Medical College of Virginia Foundation
- 1228 E. Broad St. Box 980234
- Richmond , VA 23298
- EIN: 54-6053660
Click here for more information from MCVF to share with the applicant's grants team/office of sponsored research if needed.