External Funding Opportunities
NIH Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01)
Through this NOFO, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research project grant applications describing projects that integrate imaging and fluid-based tumor monitoring (liquid biopsy) assays during cancer therapy in patients to determine the optimal use of those modalities in the characterization of therapy response and/or emergence of resistance.
Deadline: Februrary 5
NIH Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01)
Through this NOFO, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites research grant applications for the development and application of current and emerging molecular imaging methods to gain fundamental insights into cancer inflammation in vivo. This NOFO encourages applications focused on developing integrated imaging approaches to investigate the role of inflammation in cancer through strong cross-discipline collaboration between cancer basic science researchers and imaging scientists. These collaborations are expected to advance the science and understanding of cancer inflammation interactions.
Deadline: Februrary 5
NIH NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21)
Through this NOFO, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to support preclinical and early phase clinical research, as well as correlative studies, directly related to advancements in cancer treatment, diagnosis, prevention, comparative oncology, symptom management, or reduction of cancer disparities. This includes (but is not limited to) development and testing of the following: new molecular agents or biologics for cancer treatment; management strategies for cancer-related symptoms or treatment-related toxicity; cancer screening or diagnostic tools, such as imaging techniques; cancer preventive agents or approaches; predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patient selection or stratification; clinically relevant in vivo or in vitro tumor models (including genetically engineered mouse models, patient-derived xenograft models, organoids, and cell lines); and strategies to address therapeutic outcome disparities among underserved populations. In addition to novel agents, new treatment strategies may involve repurposed agents or novel combinations of interventions (including radiation), based on established mechanisms of action.
Deadline: Februrary 13
NIH Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Populations Across the Lifespan This NOSI encourages highly innovative translational research focused on the delivery of multilevel interventions to improve uptake of evidence-based screening services that promote health equity and that are recommended by expert committees (e.g., the USPSTF, CPSTF, AAP, ACOG). Multilevel interventions are one tool to reduce health disparities and promote health equity because they address the dynamic interplay of multiple levels of socioecological influence, including those at the individual, interpersonal, family, organizational, neighborhood, community, and societal levels.
Deadline: Varies by Institute
Foundation: Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research
Grant: Pilot Study Awards
Website: https://rivkin.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Rivkin-Pilot-Study-Award-RFA_2025.pdf
Deadline: December 2
Amount: $75,000
Overview: The center invites applications for its Pilot Study Awards program, which will award grants over two years in support of investigator-initiated projects in all areas of ovarian cancer research. Projects designed to analyze data from already funded clinical trials will also be considered. Funds are for direct costs only; institutional overhead and indirect costs will not be included in the award.
Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must be at the assistant, associate, or full professor level (or equivalent), subject to guidelines of the applicant’s home institution.
Pilot Study Awards
Foundation: Rivkin Center
Website: https://www.rivkin.org/research/grants/pilot-study-awards/
Deadline: Application due December 2
Amount: $75,000
Overview: The Rivkin Center is announcing funds for Pilot Study Awards to be allocated based on scientific merit. Pilot Study Awards support investigator-initiated projects in all areas of ovarian cancer research. In addition, projects designed to analyze data from already funded clinical trials will be considered. Funding priority will be given to proposals that are innovative, multidisciplinary, likely leading to submission of grant applications for independently funded investigations, and convey translational research potential.
Eligibility: Investigators at the assistant, associate, or full professor level (or equivalent) are eligible to apply, subject to guidelines of the applicant’s home institution.
RUNX1 Early Career Investigator Grant Program
Foundation: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Website: https://www.alexslemonade.org/grants/runx1
Deadline: Application due December 1
Amount: Up to $180,000
Overview: The purpose of the RUNX1 Early Career Investigator Grant is to promote the establishment of a new generation of basic and translational scientists interested in tackling inherited hematologic malignancy predisposition disorders with a focus on RUNX1-familial platelet disorder. We believe that providing capital to early career investigators not only injects funding to where it is needed most, but also cultivates a new cohort of investigators who will be invested in an area of research that historically has had limited attention.
Eligibility: Applicant institutions may be based in the U.S. or outside of the U.S. Applicants need not be United States citizens. Funds must be granted to non-profit institutions or organizations.
- Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD (DO, MBBS, or equivalent) and be within five years of their first faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor or equivalent tenure-track position. Associate and Full Professors are ineligible. If at the Instructor level, the applicant must submit a letter of support from their mentor at the sponsoring institution.
- A minimum of 75% of the applicant’s time during the award period must be allocated as protected time for all research activities. This percentage of time includes both activities on this grant and the applicant’s other research responsibilities.
- Applicants may have research grants from other funding sources during the award period, but there must be clear documentation of mechanisms to avoid scientific and budgetary overlap.
- Applicants must have research experience working in, and a deep understanding of, normal or malignant hematopoiesis and/or immunology.
- One resubmission of a previously unfunded application is allowed. Use the Resubmission section of the application to respond to the prior RRP/ALSF critique of the proposal. The response will be scored in the review process in addition to the criteria used for new applications. Resubmissions compete with new applicants for funding.
Young Investigator Grants
Foundation: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Website: http://www.alexslemonade.org/grants/guidelines
Amount: Up to $180,000
Overview: The Young Investigator grant is a three-year award designed to support early career researchers, such as postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, or instructors, pursuing promising childhood cancer research ideas. These grants aim to cultivate the best and brightest researchers of the future who demonstrate a commitment to a research career in pediatric cancer. A mentor is required, and a career development plan must be included.
Eligibility:
- Applicant institutions must be based in the United States or Canada. Applicants need not be United States citizens. Funds must be granted to nonprofit institutions or organizations.
- Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD or equivalent and must not have achieved an appointment higher than Instructor. Assistant Professors, including adjuncts at this level, will not be considered. In addition:
- Applicants from accredited clinical fellowship programs are automatically eligible for the duration of their training and during their first three years at the Instructor level.
- Applicants not from accredited clinical fellowship programs must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants holding an MD or MD/PhD must be within seven years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application.
- Applicants holding a PhD must be within four years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application.
- A minimum of 75% of the applicant’s time during the Young Investigator period must be allocated as non-clinical protected time for all research activities. This percentage of time includes both Young Investigator activities and the applicant’s other research responsibilities.
- Research mentor(s) must be identified and have a track record in pediatric cancer research. If no such record exists, a co-mentor with such a record must be identified. The application must document the mentor(s) involvement in experimental design and execution. A detailed plan for training activities is required.
Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship Award
Foundation: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Website: https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/quantitative
Deadline: Application due December 2
Amount: Up to $234,000
Overview: This award program is designed to encourage quantitative scientists (trained in fields such as mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, or related) to pursue research careers in computational biology under the joint mentorship of leaders in both computational science (“dry lab”) and cancer biology (“wet lab”). By investing in this area, Damon Runyon will bring additional attention to the importance of these specially trained scientists for making meaningful progress in cancer biology.
Eligibility: Open to quantitative scientists with an interest in the intersection between computational biology, data science and cancer research. Applicants must have completed one or more of the following degrees or its equivalent: MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO. The applicant must include a copy of their diploma to confirm date of conferral. (If an applicant has not yet received their PhD diploma but has successfully completed all PhD requirements, including PhD defense, they may submit a letter from the graduate school explicitly stating such, with the date of the successful PhD defense and date of degree conferral.) Applicants require two committed Mentors, one from the field of computational science (“dry lab”) and one from the area of cancer biology (“wet lab”).
DIPG Research Game Changer Grant
Foundation: ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation
Website: https://www.chadtough.org/research/grant-application/
Deadline: Application due February 6, 2025
Amount: Up to $600,000
Overview: The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Game Changer Grant provides three years of funding for hypothesisdriven research projects. The proposed research must represent an innovative approach to a major challenge in DIPG/DMG research. The funded projects must have the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the field and transform our understanding of the tumorigenesis process or our ability to treat or detect DIPG.
Eligibility:
- Applicant must hold an M.D. and/or Ph.D. by the application deadline.
- Applicant must be employed by an academic institution, nonprofit research institution, or laboratory.
- Applicant does not need to be a U.S. citizen.
Scholars (Career Development) Awards [Limited Submission]
Website: http://www.stbaldricks.org/for-researchers
Deadline: LOI due December 9
Amount: Up to $330,000
Overview: The three (3) year Scholar (Career Development) Award, with an option for two (2) additional years based on progress, is meant to help develop the independent research of highly qualified individuals still early in their careers.
Eligibility:
- Applicants need not be American citizens; however, they must work at an academic, medical, or research institution within the United States.
- Applicants from the NCI/NIH are not eligible to apply for St. Baldrick’s Scholar Awards.
- Baldrick’s funds may not be used for human embryonic stem cell research.
- Applicants should hold a Ph.D., M.D., or D.O. degree in a field of research specialty by the date the award becomes effective.
- Applicants must currently hold (for no longer than 7 years at the time the award begins), or will hold by start of the award, a title that is considered by the institution to be a full-time, faculty position.
- This is an early-career award. The Scholar award is intended to develop the independent pediatric cancer research careers of highly qualified investigators, not to support well established or senior investigators.
- Applicants holding or awarded R01s at the time of the LOI are not eligible to apply. Applicants cannot hold a NIH K-award at the time that they apply (institutional K12 funding is allowable). See “Conditions of Award” below regarding other awards received after the LOI is approved.
Research Grants [Limited Submission]
Foundation: St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Website: https://www.stbaldricks.org/for-researchers
Deadline: LOI due December 9
Amount: Up to $200,000
Overview: These grants are for specific research projects which are hypothesis driven and may be either laboratory, clinical, or epidemiological in nature.
Eligibility:
- Applicants need not be American citizens; however, they must work at an academic, medical, or research institution within the United States.
- Baldrick’s funds may not be used for human embryonic stem cell research.
- Applicants should hold a Ph.D., M.D., or D.O. degree in a field of research specialty by the date the award becomes effective.
- Applicants must currently hold (for no longer than 7 years at the time the award begins), or will hold by start of the award, a title that is considered by the institution to be a full-time, faculty position.
- This is an early-career award. The Scholar award is intended to develop the independent pediatric cancer research careers of highly qualified investigators, not to support well established or senior investigators.
- Applicants holding or awarded R01s at the time of the LOI are not eligible to apply. Applicants cannot hold a NIH K-award at the time that they apply (institutional K12 funding is allowable). See “Conditions of Award” below regarding other awards received after the LOI is approved.
DIPG Research New Investigator Grant
Foundation: ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation
Website: https://www.chadtough.org/research/grant-application/
Deadline: Application due February 6, 2025
Amount: Up to $400,000
Overview: The ChadTough Defeat DIPG New Investigator Grant provides three years of funding to a new DIPG/DMG investigator for hypothesis-driven research projects. The investigator may be either a newly independent researcher establishing a new DIPG/DMG research lab, or an established researcher who has not previously conducted brain tumor research.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must have an academic appointment and be in their first independent faculty position or equivalent at an accredited college, university, medical school, or other research facility.
- Applicants should be in their faculty role for not more than 6 years at the time of application.
- Independence is typically demonstrated by a full-time faculty appointment, a tenure-track position, allocated space, a start-up package, and institutional commitment. We understand that this definition may not align to the practices of all institutions.
- Applicants who are beyond their first independent faculty position for more than 6 years are eligible if they have no previous research on brain tumors.
- Applicants must be employed by an academic institution, nonprofit research institution, or laboratory.
- Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens.
- Research Funding
- Acknowledgement
- External Funding
- Publication Support
- Pilot Grants Program Calendar