Researchers & Clinicians

The Hope Leaders program, run by the University of Illinois Cancer Center’s Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity, is seeking applications for its next round of two-year funding. Community partners and scientists in the Cancer Center's Cancer Biology and Translational Oncology Research Programs are encouraged to apply.

Helpful informational webinars about the program and the application process are available at the links below.

• Scientists: Click here 
• Community Organizations: Click here

The Hope Leaders program empowers community organizations to communicate the health needs of the communities they represent directly to Cancer Center scientists. Additionally, it allows scientists and their labs to engage community partners about projects that may ultimately benefit local populations, while giving community partners opportunities to provide input.

• Each community partner receives a $20,000 grant ($10,000 in the first year; $10,000 in the second year, contingent on study progress).
• Each scientist receives $30,000 ($20,000 in the first year; $10,000 in the second year, contingent on study progress).

Community Partners: Click here to download details and the application link.

Scientists: Click here to download details and the application link.

ASTRO-PCF Young Investigator Award

• Submission Deadline: 02/23/26
• Purpose: The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and ASTRO Young Investigator Award offers $225,000 over three years for young (generally 35 and younger) proven investigators in postdoctoral fellowships or who have recently achieved junior faculty positions and are committing their lives to the field of prostate cancer. The applicant must be a radiation oncologist, radiation or cancer biologist, or radiation physicist.

2026 PCF Challenge Award

• Submission Deadline: 03/16/26
• Purpose: The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications for PCF Challenge Awards for Team Science investigations of prostate cancer with lethal potential. Awards provide up to $1 million over two years for large-scale research projects involving teams of three or more investigators.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

Stephenson Global Scholars Grant

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 02/25/26 at 5 p.m.
• Full Application Deadline: 05/01/26 at 5 p.m.
• Purpose: Stephenson Global Scholar Grants are open to investigators worldwide whose research may help advance the field of pancreatic cancer through prevention, early detection, treatment, and/or other areas. There is no upper limit on the award amount; investigators are encouraged to consider the funding required for the success of their innovative project.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

Early Career Investigator Award

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 03/06/26
• Full Application Deadline: 07/06/26
• Purpose: To facilitate the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or related disorders, the MDS Research Fund provides $250,000 over two years for proposals from early career investigators.

Established Investigator Award

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 03/06/26
• Full Application Deadline: 07/06/26
• Purpose: To facilitate the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or related disorders, the MDS Research fund provides $500,000 over two years for proposals led by established investigators.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

RTFCCR/LUNGevity Award for Overcoming Treatment Resistance and Technology for Detection of Recurrence of Lung Cancer

• Application Deadline: 02/15/26
• Purpose: The Rising Tide Foundation and LUNGevity Foundation are offering awards totaling up to $1,000,000 (over 4 years) for early-phase interventional clinical trials focused on overcoming treatment resistance or detecting recurrence in lung cancer. Successful applications must address one of three areas: treatments for resistance, validation of lab-developed tests for monitoring resistance/treatment response, or validation of tests for minimal residual disease detection.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

New Investigator Research Grant Program

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 02/06/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 03/13/26
• Link: The New Investigator Research Grant Program provides $150,000 over two years to early-career investigators (within seven years of their first independent faculty-level position) who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to impact broad, essential areas of leukemia research.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

Research Grant on Prevention and Early Detection in Lung Cancer

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 03/10/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 06/02/26
• Purpose: The Research Grant on Prevention and Early Detection provides $150,000 over two years for research projects that facilitate prevention or approaches for early detection of lung cancer. General areas of interest include improvements in risk stratification of patients and uptake for screening; identification and characterization of new biomarkers for NSCLC and SCLC; development of predictive, diagnostic, or prognostic biomarkers; etc.

Research Grant on Overcoming Resistance in Lung Cancer

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 03/10/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 06/02/26
• Purpose: The Research Grant on Overcoming Resistance provides $150,000 over two years for projects that seek to identify, characterize, treat or prevent resistance to lung cancer therapies. Areas of interest include mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies for oncogene-driven lung cancers; biology and mechanisms of drug resistance to lung cancer therapies including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and antibody drug conjugates; novel treatment approaches and new therapies to overcome and/or prevent resistance to lung cancer therapies; etc.

Leading Edge Research Grant

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 03/10/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 06/02/26
• Purpose: The Leading Edge Research Grant provides $150,000 over two years for innovative projects with novel methodologies across the full spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health services, disparities, and social determinants of health research. Areas of interest include: identification of new biomarkers; machine learning and digital pathology; development of more effective and less toxic therapies; interactions and contributions of multiple factors to disparities in lung cancer outcomes; supportive measures for people with lung cancer and their families; etc.

OUCH-Int’l and LCRF Research Grant Program on the Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Carcinogenesis and Lung Cancer Prevalence

• Full Proposal Deadline: 06/02/26
• Purpose: OUCH-Int’l and LCRF Research Grant Program on the Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Carcinogenesis and Lung Cancer Prevalence is a $200,000, two-year award supporting research that examines the impact of climate change and environmental pollution on lung cancer risk, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes and identifies strategies to mitigate these effects. Topics of interest include: impact of climate change on cancer incidence and prevalence; role of screening for lung cancer in a warming climate; investigations into the role of air pollution and lung cancer in never-smokers; etc.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from private funders through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

Young Investigator Accelerator Award

• Deadline: Rolling
• Purpose: As part of its Project Cure CRC initiative, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is accepting proposals from early career investigators (within first five years of first independent academic faculty appointment) with original preclinical, translational, or early clinical research project ideas. Special emphasis will be given to proposals that fast-track existing preclinical and clinical research in areas that increase therapeutic options, improve adjuvant therapies, deliver novel therapies focused on driver mutations (such as BRAF, TP53, KRAS, BRCA1), and investigate strategies to manipulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) to advance the use of immunotherapy. Grant funds up to $200,000 over two years, of which up to 5% can be allocated to indirect costs.

Senior Investigator Accelerator Award

• Deadline: Rolling
• Purpose: As part of its Project Cure CRC initiative, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is accepting proposals from senior investigators (past five initial years of their first faculty appointment) with potentially transformative ideas that will accelerate the translation of new therapies and technologies. Collaborations are highly encouraged. Special emphasis will be given to proposals that fast-track existing preclinical and clinical research in areas that increase therapeutic options, improve adjuvant therapies, deliver novel therapies focused on driver mutations (such as BRAF, TP53, KRAS, BRCA1), and investigate strategies to manipulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) to advance the use of immunotherapy. Grant funds up to $500,000 over two years, of which up to 5% can be allocated to indirect costs.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from private funders through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

XXcelerate: Turning Existing Research Into Impact for Women

• Letter of Intent Deadline: Rolling
• Purpose: XXcelerate provides flexible funding support to projects spanning 1-3 years with potential for accelerated clinical impact on women’s health, including cancer research. There is no budget cap; funding requests should be proportional to the scope of the proposed project. Other opportunities currently available from Nuttall Women’s Health range between $500,000 and $5,000,000. Responsive projects include secondary analyses of completed clinical studies or active clinical research studies applying sex-specific methods. Researchers at all levels and experience are encouraged to apply. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has approval to pursue the following grant opportunities from foundations through its Advancement team. As a Cancer Center member, please notify and work with Jane Erb (jerb2@uic.edu) and her Advancement team if you have an interest in any of the following current opportunities or would like further information. The Advancement team will provide grant development support and handle submissions as awards count toward the Cancer Center’s philanthropic goals.

Utilizing the PLCO Biospecimens Resource to Bridge Gaps in Cancer Etiology and Early Detection Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline: 02/10/26
• Purpose: Through this NOFO, the NCI encourages the submission of applications that propose to advance research in cancer etiology and early detection biomarkers, utilizing the advantages of the unique biorepository resources of the NCI-sponsored Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) Screening Trial. The PLCO Biorepository offers high-quality, prospectively collected, serial pre-diagnostic blood samples from the PLCO screened arm participants, and buccal cells from both the screened and the control arm participants. Available data associated with the biospecimens includes demographic, diet, lifestyle, smoking, screening results, and other clinical data. This NOFO supports a wide range of cancer research including, but not limited to, biochemical and genetic analyses of cancer risk, as well as discovery and validation of early detection biomarkers. The proposed research project must involve use of PLCO biospecimens and may include other resources; additionally, it should also take advantage of the unique characteristics of the PLCO biospecimens. Research on non-cancer outcomes, especially those related to aging (e.g., Alzheimer’s, depression, hip fracture, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis) may also be supported. Research projects that do not involve the use of PLCO biospecimens will not be supported under this NOFO.

Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed

• Deadline: 02/11/26
• Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to request applications for the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) (https://cisnet.cancer.gov). This NOFO invites multiple PD/PI applications for collaborative research projects using simulation and other modeling techniques for specific cancer types (see below). The proposed research is expected to generate sophisticated, evidence-based tools capable of informing decisions on the most efficient utilization of existing and emerging technologies and strategies for the control of cancer.

NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline: 02/12/26
• Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO), NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01), is intended to support individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who bring unique perspectives shaped by their life experiences, geographic location, socioeconomic status, academic training, professional experience, disability status, military service, career stage, institutional affiliation, cultural background, and other factors that contribute to a diverse and inclusive research workforce supports individuals from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences (NOT-OD-20-031), by providing salary and research support for a period of three to five years of "protected time," dedicated to intensive research career development under the guidance of an experienced advisor. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. Candidates seeking support through this NOFO are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion NOFO (PAR-24-315).

NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 02/12/26
• Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) represents the continuation of an NCI program to facilitate the transition of investigators in mentored, non-independent cancer research positions to independent faculty cancer research positions. This goal is achieved by providing protected time through salary and research support for the initial 3 years of the first independent tenure-track faculty position, or its equivalent, beginning at the time when the candidate starts a tenure-track faculty position. This NOFO is designed for applicants proposing research in which leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial is optional and replaces both PAR-21-128 and PAR-21-111.

Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 02/16/26
• Purpose: The purpose of this engineering-oriented notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) announcement is to encourage submissions of exploratory/developmental Bioengineering Research Grant (EBRG) applications to demonstrate feasibility and potential utility of new capabilities or improvements in quality, speed, efficacy, operability, costs, and/or accessibility of solutions to problems in basic biomedical, pre-clinical, or clinical research, clinical care delivery, or accessibility. This NOFO will support clinical trials that test functionality or validate performance in the chosen setting. Applications that propose phase III clinical trials are not sought by and will not be supported through this NOFO.

Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award Extension Request (Type 4 eSubmission Clinical Trial Optional)

• • • Deadline: 03/01/26
    • Purpose: The NCI Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) (R37) Award provides extended grant support to Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) who qualify for conversion based on receiving a percentile within the NCI payline for established investigators on their R01 applications. By providing longer term support to ESIs who qualify, the NCI intends to offer flexibility and opportunity for creativity and innovation and additional time to successfully launch their careers and to become more established before having to submit renewal applications (NOT-CA-18-037). The objective of the NCI's ESI MERIT Award is to allow eligible investigators the opportunity to obtain up to 7 years of support in two segments: The initial approved duration of the award; and a second phase, providing an additional two years of support his funding opportunity announcement is specifically for currently funded NCI ESI MERIT recipients to request the second phase of the initial award.

Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• • • Deadline: 05/04/26
    • Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) entitled "Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN)", the NCI encourages applications promoting transformative discoveries in cancer biology and/or oncology through the use of nanotechnology. Proposed projects should address overcoming major barriers in cancer biology and/or oncology using nanotechnology and should focus on mechanistic studies to expand the fundamental understanding of nanomaterial and/or nano-device interactions with biological systems. These studies are expected to be relevant to the delivery of nanoparticles and/or nano-devices to desired and intended cancer targets in vivo and/or characterization of detection and diagnostic devices and sensors in vitro. IRCN awards are expected to produce fundamental knowledge to aid future and more informed development of nanotechnology-based cancer interventions. The clinical translation of these interventions is outside of scope of this NOFO.

Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions (TTNCI; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• • • Deadline: 05/18/26
    • Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), entitled "Toward Translation of Cancer Nanotechnology Interventions (TTNCI)" is designed to enable the translation of nanotechnology-based cancer interventions relying on nanoparticle formulations and/or nano-devices. Through the TTNCI initiative, the NCI encourages applications for advanced pre-clinical research, supporting translation of nanotechnology-based cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. TTNCI awards are expected to mature experimental nanomedicines designed for highly relevant cancer clinical objectives with a strong potential to improve cancer treatment effectiveness. It is expected that improvement of treatment effectiveness will occur due to the combination of nanoparticle/nano-device structural design and/or therapeutic/diagnostic cargo which is delivered. TTNCI awards are expected to enable further development of proposed nanotechnology-based interventions to the stage in which they could continue on a developmental path towards the NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) and other NCI translational programs.

Newly Added

Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2024, 2025, and 2026 (P50 Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline: 05/25/26
• Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for P50 Research Center Grants for Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE). Based on the research proposed, applications may be jointly funded with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The program will fund P50 SPORE grants to support state-of-the-art investigator-initiated translational research that will contribute to improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of an organ-specific cancer or a highly related group of cancers. For the purpose of this NOFO, a group of highly related cancers are those that are derived from the same organ system, such as gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine, head and neck, and other cancers. Other programmatically appropriate groups of cancers may include those centered around a common biological mechanism critical for promoting tumorigenesis and/or cancer progression in organ sites that belong to different organ systems. For example, a SPORE may focus on cancers caused by the same infectious agent or cancers promoted and sustained by dysregulation of a common signaling pathway. In addition, a SPORE may focus on cross-cutting themes such as pediatric cancers or cancer health disparities. The research supported through this program must be translational and must stem from research on human biology using cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental approaches. SPORE projects must have the goal of reaching a translational human endpoint within the project period of the grant.

HEAL Initiative: Studies to Enable Analgesic Discovery (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline: 05/15/26
• Purpose: This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) aims to encourage research grant applications for initial translational efforts that will enable a drug discovery program for novel, non-opioid, and non-addictive treatments for pain. The program provides funding to develop and validate assays to support a distinct testing funnel and conduct screening efforts to identify and characterize potential therapeutic agents including small molecules, biologics, and natural products. Preliminary in vivo pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and efficacy studies may also be supported. The goal of this NOFO is to advance projects to the point where they meet the entry criteria for the Pain Therapeutics Development Program or other later-stage translational programs. This NOFO is part of the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) initiative to accelerate the discovery and preclinical development of safe and effective therapeutics to treat pain with little or no addiction liability.

Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-25-322

• Deadline (resubmission): 02/26/26
• Deadline (new): 05/27/26
• Purpose: The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications submitted to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Human Required) PAR-25-323

• Deadline (resubmission): 02/26/26
• Deadline (new): 05/27/26
• Purpose: The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications submitted to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction.The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions. This Parent Notice of Funding Opportunity is for basic science experimental studies involving humans, referred to in  NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4.1.3.1 as “prospective basic science studies involving human participants.” These studies fall within the NIH definition of a clinical trial and also meet the definition of basic research. Types of studies that should submit under this NOFO include studies that prospectively assign human participants to conditions (i.e., experimentally manipulate independent variables) and that assess biomedical or behavioral outcomes in humans for the purpose of understanding the fundamental aspects of phenomena without specific application towards processes or products in mind. Studies conducted with specific applications toward processes or products in mind should submit under the appropriate ‘Clinical Trials Required’ or ‘Clinical Trial Optional’ NOFO.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)

• Deadline: 05/25/26
• Purpose: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) to eligible, domestic institutions to develop and/or enhance predoctoral and postdoctoral research training, including short-term research training, to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to meet the needs of the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agenda. Research training programs are expected to incorporate engaging, didactic, research, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation. Programs proposing only short-term predoctoral research training should not apply to this announcement, but rather to the Kirschstein-NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant Program (T35) exclusively reserved for predoctoral, short-term research training.This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 05/25/26
• Purpose: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks to advance its mission by maintaining strong, productive, and secure international research collaborations in support of the NIH mission. The NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent Announcement) supports international research collaborations. This opportunity specifically implements an award structure of prime domestic awards with independent foreign awards that are linked to the prime. This structure provides NIH with oversight capacity for international collaborations, and allows NIH to track international funding, as identified in NOT-OD-25-104. This funding opportunity is specifically designed for NIH to support funded international collaborations between a domestic prime organization and foreign organizations. This NOFO should not be used for foreign consultants, purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, foreign collaborations that do not involve NIH funding, or any other foreign component that would not result in a foreign subaward. All collaborative international research project applications must include at least 1 international subproject. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) based on their scientific missions. The application will be evaluated as a whole, and the international subproject(s) will be evaluated on whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States or that augment existing United States resources, and whether the proposed project has specific relevance to the mission and objectives of the ICO and has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States.

 More Funding

Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 02/16/26
• Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages the submission of exploratory/developmental research grant (R21) applications that focus on different aspects of cancer control by modifying behavior, screening, and understanding etiologic factors contributing to the development of cancer, and developing ways to control cancer. The overarching goal is to provide support to promote the early and conceptual stages of research efforts on novel scientific ideas that have the potential to substantially advance population-based cancer research, such as the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of cancer research (e.g. epidemiologic, biomedical, behavioral, health care delivery or clinical).

Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 03/05/26
• Purpose: The goal of this program is to support collaborative translational research projects aligned with NIH efforts to enhance the translation of basic biological discoveries into clinical applications that improve health. It encourages high quality science demonstrating the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or lead to new therapeutic interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies within the research interests and priorities of the participating NIH Institutes/Centers (ICs). Specifically, the program seeks to broaden and strengthen patient-centric translational research collaborations between basic and clinical researchers both within and outside NIH to accelerate and enhance translational science by promoting partnerships between NIH intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of the NIH) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs outside the NIH), and by providing support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NIH Clinical Center by conducting clinical research projects in collaboration with NIH intramural investigators. In order to be eligible for this program, the application must include at least one intramural scientist as a co-Program Director/Principal Investigator (co-PD/PI), and at least some of the clinical research must be conducted at the NIH Clinical Center. Through this collaboration, external researchers may gain access to the NIH Clinical Center and leverage the wide variety of Clinical Center resources, expertise, and infrastructure available to test promising laboratory-and animal-based discoveries with potential for advancing disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The special environment of the Clinical Center can support studies that may not be readily supported elsewhere. This may include collaborations that propose targeted increases in new patients enrolled in protocols at the Clinical Center. For this initiative, patients must be seen at the NIH Clinical Center. Projects that take only minimal advantage of Clinical Center resources, such as projects only utilizing banked samples or data, will not be considered for funding.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)

• Deadline: 04/08/26
• Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will support students at institutions without NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA, dual-doctoral degree, predoctoral fellowship (F30) is to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising predoctoral students, who are matriculated in a combined MD/PhD or other dual-doctoral degree training program (e.g. DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD, PharmD/PhD), and who intend careers as physician/clinician-scientists. Candidates must propose an integrated research and clinical training plan and a research training project in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The fellowship experience is expected to clearly enhance the individual's potential to develop into a productive, independent physician/clinician-scientist. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow fellowship candidates to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.

CSL Behring

Research Acceleration Initiative

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 02/26/26
• Purpose: The CSL Research Acceleration Initiative provides $400,000 over two years to early-stage biotechs and research organizations to fast-track the discovery of groundbreaking biotherapies in one of CSL’s focus areas: Transplant and Immunology; Cardiovascular and Renal; Hematology; Immunoglobulins; Oral delivery.

American Association for Cancer Research

AACR Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship

• Application Deadline: 03/12/26
• Purpose: The AACR Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship provides $130,000 over two years to encourage and support postdoctoral or clinical research fellows to conduct cancer disparities research and to establish a successful career path in this field. The proposed research may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences research and must have direct applicability and relevance to cancer disparities.

AACR-KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Innovation and Discovery Grants

• • Application Deadline: 03/12/26
  • Purpose: The 2026 AACR-KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Innovation and Discovery Grants provide $50,000 over one year to stimulate creative approaches to translate basic research into new treatment options for kidney cancer.

World Health Organization 

Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination through Secondary Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• • Deadline: 04/09/26
  • Purpose: This Call for Proposals seeks to accelerate access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment services, with a particular focus on secondary prevention. The scope of the call addresses barriers across demand and adoption, supply and delivery, innovation, and cross-cutting enablers, all of which are essential to achieving the WHO elimination targets and ensuring equitable access to care.

Budget: Up to $150,000; 12 months 

Next Application Deadline: TBD

The goal of the University of Illinois Cancer Center Team Science Award is to catalyze the submission of cancer-focused multi-project applications (Program Project (P-) or Cooperative Agreement (U-) type grant mechanisms) to the National Cancer Institute. 

Past Awardees

2025

• Tissue Microenvironmental Regulation of Pre-Cancer Progression to Invasive Lung Cancer: Jalees Rehman, MD; Andrei Karginov, PhD; Ekrem Emrah Er, PhD; Ameen Salahudeen, MD, PhD; and Alexander Adibekian, PhD.

2024

• Collaborative research project to gather pilot data to develop a next-generation cancer cohort to understand the causes and racial and ethnic disparities in early-onset cancers: Kristen Malecki, PhD, MPH; Yamilé Molina, PhD; and Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, PhD, MS, RD

Budget: Up to $25,000; 12 months

The University of Illinois Cancer Center has partnered with UICentre, the campus-wide drug discovery initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), for a collaborative grant program — called U2D2 — directed at the development of new anti-cancer therapeutics. UICentre, in partnership with the High-Throughput Screening and Biophysics Cores of the UIC Research Resources Core, exists to create and support drug discovery collaborations by providing bioassay development, chemical library screening, hit counter-screening and biophysical confirmation of compound binding and activity, hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry optimization, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK), and lead compound selection.

Past Awardees

2024 (3rd Round)

• Discovery of ISGylation inhibitors for Breast Cancer Metastasis and Immune Modulation: Ekrem Emrah Er, PhD, (PI) and Terry Moore, PhD (Co-PI)

2023 (2nd Round)

• Development of IGF1R inhibitors with reduced INSR-cross reactivity to target SOX2-positive prostate cancer: Donald Vander Griend, PhD, (PI), Malaika Argade, PhD, (Co-I)
• Allosteric binders of BiP for Prostate Cancer: Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD, (PI)

2022 (Inaugural Round)

• Identification of GBM Subtype Specific small molecule inhibitors for therapeutics development:Zilai Wang, PhD (PI); Lijun Rong, PhD (Co-I); Yuwei Jiang, PhD (Co-I); 
• Bioassay development to discover lipid-Src interaction inhibitors, as potential therapeutics for triple-negative breast cancer: Wonhwa Cho, PhD (PI)

Funding will be made available to support high-accruing treatment clinical trials. Trials may include any treatment area of cancer, including, but not limited to, advanced or early-stage disease, or in supportive care. Trials must be considered therapeutic, and full accrual should be feasible within 12-24 months. Funds will generally be used to cover start-up and study personnel time, but may also be used for specimen collection (including research biopsy) and processing.

Budget: Up to $50,000; 12 months 

Next Application Deadline: TBD

The University of Illinois Cancer Center Pilot Project Program offers funding for projects proposed by its members to encourage new collaborative cancer research projects. The purpose of these pilot project grants is to stimulate new inter-programmatic research initiatives that lead to competitive grant applications to external peer-reviewed funding organizations, specifically organizations on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) peer review list.

The Hope Leaders program, run by the Cancer Center's Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity, empowers community organizations to communicate the health needs of the communities they represent directly to Cancer Center scientists. Additionally, it allows scientists and their labs to engage community partners about projects that may ultimately benefit local populations, while giving community partners opportunities to provide input. Scientists in the Cancer Center Translational Oncology and Cancer Biology Research Programs are eligible.

Each community partner receives a $20,000 grant ($10,000 in the first year; $10,000 in the second year, contingent on study progress).

Each scientist receives $30,000 ($20,000 in the first year; $10,000 in the second year, contingent on study progress).

• Application Deadline: TBD
• Amount: $15,000

The Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellowship program strives to meet an imperative need to train exceptionally talented and diverse scientists engaged in cancer health disparities research addressing issues across the cancer continuum from etiology and primary prevention to treatment and survivorship.

The award is named after the late Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Professor Emeritus, and a longtime Cancer Center member and a national leader in cancer control research. For more than 40 years, he conducted research and community outreach that provided immeasurable service to women with cancer. His effort was in addressing inequities in health outcomes, going well beyond simply identifying risk factors. He worked to develop and implement interventions that made a difference in so many women’s lives.

To learn more or if you have questions, contact the Cancer Center office of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at crtec@uic.edu.

Past Awardees

2024 Graham Read, PhD, for research into health disparities associated with microRNA biology.

2025 William Chadwick, DO, for a research project with a goal of developing a more accurate and equitable method to predict outcomes in uveal melanoma, a rare but often fatal eye cancer in adults.