Sec. 10.14.05.15. Grant Application Review and Approval and Grant Extensions

A. Each fiscal year the CCPC shall determine:

(1) The amount of money available for grants under the Maryland Cancer Fund;

(2) The allocation of funding for cancer:

(i) Research;

(ii) Primary prevention;

(iii) Secondary prevention; and

(iv) Treatment; and

(3) The maximum grant award amount for each type of grant.

B. Each year the Department shall consider for award, funding for one or more of the following types of grant applications for cancer:

(1) Research;

(2) Primary prevention;

(3) Secondary prevention; and

(4) Treatment.

C. The CCPC shall develop one or more evaluation committees or shall contract with one or more external consultants with expertise in cancer research and prevention to review the cancer research and primary prevention and secondary prevention grant applications that are submitted for funding under the Maryland Cancer Fund.

D. Due to the need for timeliness in the cancer treatment grants, the CCPC shall review each application for cancer treatment.

E. The evaluation committee or external consultants shall review:

(1) Cancer research grant applications based on:

(a) Scientific need;

(b) The degree to which the cancer research plan will achieve the goals and objectives set forth in the plan;

(c) The inclusion of a plan for Institutional Review Board approval;

(d) The feasibility of the timeline in delivering goals and objectives of the plan;

(e) The experience and expertise of the principal investigator;

(f) The degree to which a grant application addresses eliminating disparities between racial and ethnic minorities and the white population;

(g) Whether the research is recommended in the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Plan;

(h) The lack of other resources or funding for the proposed research; and

(i) The amount of the funding requested;

(2) Cancer primary prevention grant applications based on:

(a) The need for the cancer primary prevention activity;

(b) The previously documented effectiveness of the primary prevention intervention;

(c) The degree to which the cancer primary prevention plan will achieve the goals and objectives set forth in the plan;

(d) The degree to which a grant application addresses eliminating disparities between racial and ethnic minorities and the white population;

(e) The experience of the applicant in cancer primary prevention;

(f) Whether the primary prevention intervention is recommended in the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan;

(g) The lack of other resources or funding for the proposal; and

(h) The amount of funding requested; and

(3) Cancer secondary prevention grant applications based on:

(a) The previously documented effectiveness of the secondary prevention intervention;

(b) The need for the cancer secondary prevention intervention in the population group to be served;

(c) The degree to which the cancer secondary prevention plan will achieve the goals and objectives of the plan;

(d) The feasibility of the timeline in delivering the goals and objectives of the plan;

(e) The extent to which medical guidelines for screening and diagnosis are being followed;

(f) The percent of the budget allocated to clinical services;

(g) The degree to which the grant application addresses eliminating disparities between racial and ethnic minorities and the white population;

(h) The experience of the applicant in cancer secondary prevention;

(i) Whether the secondary prevention intervention is recommended in the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan;

(j) The lack of other resources or funding for the proposal; and

(k) The amount requested.

F. After reviewing each cancer research, primary prevention, and secondary prevention grant application, the evaluation committee or external consultant shall make a recommendation to the CCPC about whether to award grant funds to each applicant.

G. The CCPC shall review each cancer treatment application based on:

(1) Completeness;

(2) Availability of funds; and

(3) Whether the application meets the relevant application process requirements set forth in this chapter.

H. The Director of the CCPC shall recommend an application to the Secretary for approval based upon:

(1) The evaluation committee's or external consultant's recommendations for awarding the cancer research, primary prevention, secondary prevention, and treatment grants for each application; and

(2) The availability of funds.

I. The Secretary shall:

(1) Consider the grant recommendations of the CCPC for the cancer:

(a) Research;

(b) Primary prevention;

(c) Secondary prevention; and

(d) Treatment; and

(2) Make the final determination on which grant applications to approve.

J. A grant period expires 1 year from the date of award of the grant, unless extended as set forth in Regulation .16 of this chapter.

K. A person awarded a grant under this chapter may apply for a no-cost extension of the grant period for the award before the expiration of the grant period, as set forth in §J of this regulation, by submitting a written request for an extension to the CCPC.

L. In evaluating whether to grant an extension of the grant period, the CCPC:

(1) Shall assess whether progress has been made on the grant; and

(2) If progress has been made based on the reports submitted pursuant to Regulation .16C of this chapter, may recommend to the Secretary that an extension be granted.

M. The Secretary may approve an extension for up to 1 year based on:

(1) The recommendation of the CCPC; and

(2) Whether progress has been shown on the grant pursuant to Regulation .16C of this chapter.