FAQs
What research is Varian interested in supporting?
Varian has an interest in advancing the understanding and technology of radiation oncology. Specific topics of interest change over time. A sample list of current topics of interest includes:
- Image-guided and adaptive radiation therapy
- Super conformal radiation therapy
- Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy
- Next generation motion management
- Enhanced diagnostic imaging
- Automated image segmentation
- System automation, including automated quality assurance and improved efficiency
- Next generation information systems and graphical user interface technologies
- Evidence-based medicine that relates treatment techniques to outcomes
- Disruptive technologies
- Radiobiology, including radioprotectors and radiosensitizers
What type of support does Varian provide?
Support for a research project can take the form of a cash award and/or the in-kind loan of equipment, e.g., a grant may include the loan of an Eclipse workstation.
To receive a cash award, a detailed budget showing how the funds would be spent must be included with your grant application. Be sure to include indirect costs, i.e., overhead, if applicable.
It is worth noting that Varian does not provide grant funding to cover the cost of physician salaries and other business expenses associated with routine patient care.
Varian grants can be used to support the salaries or partial salaries of non-physician, technical personnel assigned to participate in the research project.
How do I apply for a grant?
To apply for a grant, download and complete an application form. Completed applications may be sent to either anthony.lujan@varian.com or scott.johnson@varian.com.
Who should I contact if I need information regarding the Research Collaborations Program?
Customers in the Northeast and Southeast Regions of North
America should contact Anthony Lujan at anthony.lujan@varian.com. All other customers should contact Scott Johnson at scott.johnson@varian.com.
When is my application due?
Completed applications are accepted throughout the year. The Grant Review Committee meets once per quarter to discuss the applications and decide on funding.
Who reviews the applications?
A nine-member Grant Review Committee reviews each application and decides on funding. The committee is made up of Varian technical experts in the fields of radiobiology, medical physics, and hardware and software engineering.
When and how will I be informed of the Grant Review Committee’s decision regarding my application?
Your Research Collaborations Manager will contact you via email to inform you of the committee’s decision, usually within 1-2 days of the committee meeting.
Will the ideas in my application be treated with confidentiality?
Yes, all research proposals are treated with confidentiality.
What advice do you have for new applicants?
Varian support of investigator-initiated research is limited strictly to projects having specific goals, objectives, milestones and deliverables. Please define these items as clearly as possible in your application. Completed applications should have the same level of quality and clarity as a manuscript submitted for publication. If your written English is not strong, you may want to consider having a colleague proof-read your application before it is submitted.
We suggest that new applicants keep their initial proposal tightly focused and include a reasonable budget. Typically, the initial grant request should be limited to 1 year of work. After the first year’s work is completed and if it has gone well, we will encourage you to submit a follow-up application to ask for an extension with additional support.
A realistic and reasonable budget is essential. We suggest that your grant request include only what is needed to complete the work.
Will Varian accept an overhead rate above 25%?
No, Varian does not pay overhead rates above 25%.
The funds which Varian allocates to research grants are small compared to the research budgets of governmental agencies such as the US NSF, NIH, and DOE, which have as part of their charter the development and support of research infrastructure. Varian is not bound by the overhead rates that institutions negotiate with those federal agencies.
We have found that we are in good company with other organizations, each with a much larger budget than ours, such as the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society and Whitaker Foundation. These organizations all have similar limitations for overhead costs, in the 20 to 25% range.
There are other organizations, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, that pay no overhead costs.
Contact Varian Corporate
Varian Corporate Headquarters
Telephone: 1.650.493.4000
Toll Free: 800.544.4636
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