Funding Opportunities and Deadlines

Below are curated funding opportunities supporting cancer research:

Links are also available to search for funding opportunities on Pivot-RP and Grants.gov.

Cancer Center Open RFAs

Foundation Funding

Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium

Global Artificial Intelligence-driven Ovarian Cancer Research Grant (AI Accelerator Grant)

Informational Webinar: 5/19/26 at 3 pm CT
Letter of Intent Deadline: 06/23/26 at 4 pm ET
Purpose: The Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium invites Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the second year of the $1M (USD) Global Artificial Intelligence-driven Ovarian Cancer Research Grant (the AI Accelerator Grant). The program supports international, data-intensive research collaborations with a minimum of four senior lead investigators, with representation from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

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.

PhRMA Foundation

Faculty Starter Grant in Translational Medicine

Letter of Intent Deadline: 05/27/26
Full Application Deadline: 11/18/26
Purpose: The PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Translational Medicine offers $300,000 over three years ($100,000/year; direct costs only) for individuals beginning independent research careers at the faculty level at an accredited U.S. university. Eligible individuals must have started their faculty appointment on or after January 1, 2025, received their terminal degree no earlier than January 1, 2017, and have no substantial sources of funding. Eligible research proposals will focus on identifying unmet clinical needs and developing new diagnostic, therapeutic, and computational approaches and technologies to improve patient care.

American Skin Association

ASA CeraVe Research Grant in Melanoma and Skin Cancer

Deadline: 05/22/26
Purpose: American Skin Association (ASA) is accepting applications for support of research in melanoma and skin cancer.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy

2026 Investigator Award in Cell and Gene Therapy for Solid Tumor Cancers

Abstract Deadline: 05/15/26
Full Application Deadline: 09/01/26
Purpose: The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc. (ACGT) 2026 Investigator Award provides $500,000 over 2-3 years (10% max indirect costs) for projects in translational cell and gene therapy research in solid tumor cancers. Proposed approaches should demonstrate the capacity to:
1. Overcome antigen escape through multi-targeted designs that broaden patient populations and account for heterogeneity and resistance due to antigen loss
2. Enhance trafficking, infiltration, and persistence within solid tumor sites
3. Resist or reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment
4. Incorporate built-in safety and controllability mechanisms suitable for clinical translation.

Michelson Medical Research Foundation

Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants

Application Deadline: 06/22/26
Purpose: The Michelson Prizes provide one year $150,000 awards to early-career researchers ages 35 and younger (born on or after January 1, 1990) with innovative research proposals in human immunology and vaccine research. Research with potential applications across multiple disease areas and states is of particular interest.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society offers a variety of recurring grant types, which you can explore at this link. Among the recurring RFAs are those listed below, which may be of special interest to Cancer Center members.

Mission Boost Grant

Deadline: 06/01/26
Purpose: Mission Boost Grants (MBG) are designed to support research projects that specifically focus on translation to human testing. MBGs are opportunities for independent investigators at all levels to apply for additional, or "boost," resources for innovative, clinical-enabling projects. MBGs offer 2 stages of funding:

1. Stage I requires the investigator to develop outcome-specific, unequivocal milestones that reduce the risks of studying a new drug, device, or procedure in patients.
2. Stage II supports testing in cancer patients.

Leukemia Exploration and Prevention (LEAP) Research Scholar Grant

Full Application Deadline: 06/01/26
Purpose: The RUNX1 Research Program and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have partnered to launch the Leukemia Exploration and Prevention (or LEAP) grant program to support research focused on cancer interception and prevention treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies linked to RUNX1-familial platelet disorder (FPD). LEAP Research Scholar Grants provide $860,000 over four years ($215,000 per year) plus 10% indirect costs.

Leukemia Exploration and Prevention (LEAP) Team Award

Full Application Deadline: 06/01/26
Purpose: The RUNX1 Research Program and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have partnered to launch the Leukemia Exploration and Prevention (or LEAP) grant program to support research focused on cancer interception and prevention treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies linked to RUNX1-familial platelet disorder (FPD). LEAP Team Awards provide $1,720,000 over four years ($430,000 per year) plus 10% indirect costs.

Research Scholar Grants (RSG)

The RSG provides support for independent, self-directed researchers. Applicants' institutions provide space and other resources customary for independent investigators. Grant proposals are investigator-initiated and may pursue questions across the cancer research continuum, as long as they fit within an American Cancer Society (ACS) priority research area. These grants typically contribute to the cost of salaries, consumable supplies, and other miscellaneous items required in the research.

Application Deadlines: 06/01/26
Budget: Up to $215,000 per year (direct costs), plus 10% allowable indirect costs, with a project period up to four years.

Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG)

The CSDG supports full-time faculty members in becoming independent investigators as clinician scientists. This grant is designed for people trained primarily as clinicians who want to maintain clinical practice and conduct cancer research.

Application Deadlines: 06/01/26
Budget: May be for three to five years with $135,000 a year for direct costs, plus 8% allowable indirect costs.

Mark Foundation

Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer 2026 Request for Proposals

Letter of Interest Deadline: 06/15/26 at 4 pm CT
Full Application Deadline: 09/15/26
Purpose: The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer at the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is pleased to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to enable collaborations that bring together complementary expertise to address the fundamental role of aging in cancer. Collaboration teams consisting of one principal investigator (PI) at the host institution and one co-principal investigator (co-PI) at a different institution can apply for $500,000 over three years (10% indirect cost limit).

Lustgarten Foundation

Dr. Robert F. Vizza Lustgarten Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI)

Letter of Intent Deadline: 05/31/26
Full Proposal Deadline: Fall 2026
Purpose: The Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI) advances the mission of the Lustgarten Foundation by accelerating the translation of pancreatic cancer research discoveries into the clinic. CAI studies are highly collaborative, science-driven and typically small in order to support deep translational analyses and as many learnings as possible. Typical grants fall between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000.

Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research

Clinical Cancer Research

Letter of Intent Deadline: 06/22/26
Purpose: Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) supports innovative and unique patient-centered phase I to phase III clinical trials focused on therapy optimization, disease and treatment burden, and early detection and intervention. Awards typically fund up to $100,000 per year over the course of the trial’s duration (up to five years). Applications must demonstrate patient partner involvement. There are no geographic or cancer type restrictions.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

MMRF Scholars Program

Application Deadline: 06/30/26
Purpose: The MMRF Scholars Program provides $400,000 over four years ($100,000/year) to support the career development of promising clinical and laboratory researchers who have meaningful connections to the communities most impacted by multiple myeloma. Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree — or are planning to defend their PhD within 12 months of the application date — and may not hold a title higher than assistant professor or equivalent at a U.S. institution at the time of the award. Applicants must propose a clinical, translational, or basic science project relevant to multiple myeloma. Black/African American applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Cures Within Reach

Clinical Trials to Validate AI-Driven Drug Repurposing

Letter of Intent Deadline: 06/26/26
Purpose: Cures Within Reach invites submissions of investigator-initiated, proof of concept, Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials to validate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven repurposing opportunities in any unsolved disease, where the therapies supported by AI models are already approved. Eligible clinical repurposing trials must include AI-generated data as part of the preclinical support for the trial. The award budget for this opportunity is up to $100,000, including a 10% institutional match, with additional funds ($5,000 - $10,000) available for community engagement.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation

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.

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award

Application Deadline: 07/01/26 at 3 pm CT
Purpose: The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award provides $400,000 over two years for the next generation of exceptionally creative thinkers with “high-risk/high-reward” ideas that have the potential to significantly impact our understanding of and/or approaches to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of cancer. The Innovation Award is specifically designed to provide funding to extraordinary early career researchers who have an innovative new idea but lack sufficient preliminary data to obtain traditional funding. It is not designed to fund incremental advances. The research supported by the award must be novel, exceptionally creative and, if successful, have the strong potential for high impact in the cancer field.

American Gastroenterological Association

AGA-Caroline Craig Augustyn and Damian Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer

Deadline: 09/15/26
Purpose: The objective of this AGA Research Foundation award is to provide supplemental funding to early career investigators who have existing career development awards and are conducting research relevant to the pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of digestive cancer.

Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer

Deadline: 09/15/26
Purpose: The objective of this AGA Research Foundation award is to support an established investigator in the field of gastric cancer research working to enhance our fundamental understanding of gastric cancer pathobiology or approaches to prevent, treat or cure gastric cancer.

Prevent Cancer Foundation

COMING SOON – Limited Submission Opportunity

The Office of Research Development is planning to announce a limited submission opportunity offered by the Prevent Cancer Foundation on or before Tuesday, May 5. Interested applicants must first complete an internal application through ORD to be considered for this opportunity. The link for submitting internal applications will appear in the next ORD newsletter.

Research Grants and Fellowships

Application Deadline: 05/20/26
Purpose: Track 1: Prevent Cancer Foundation provides $100,000 over two years ($50,000/year) to projects focused on cancer prevention, early detection, risk stratification and novel screening approaches cancers without U.S. guideline-recommended screening methods (for people at average risk). Applications that focus on blood (leukemia/lymphoma), bone, brain (central nervous system), esophageal, head-and-neck, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, sarcomas (connective-tissue), stomach (gastric), and uterine cancers are within the scope of this RFP.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Bio-Therapeutics Impact Grants

Application Deadline: 06/09/26
Purpose: The ALSF Bio-Therapeutics Impact Award provides up to $1.8 million over three years ($600,000/year; direct costs only) for investigator-initiated clinical trials using biologic therapies, including but not limited to immunotherapy (including cell therapies), gene therapy, and small molecules to treat childhood cancers.

R Accelerated Award

Full Application Deadline: 06/11/26
Purpose: The R Accelerated Award provides support to scientists focused on pediatric oncology research. Applicants must have an original project that is not currently being funded and that has a clear focus on accelerating the discovery of more effective, less toxic therapies for childhood cancers. Applicants must be a first-time PI or co-PI (MPI) of a pediatric cancer research-focused NIH R01 award or equivalent independent award. The R Accelerated Award is a four-year grant providing up to $800,000 ($200,000 per year; direct costs only).

‘A’ Award

Full Application Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: The ‘A’ Award provides mentored grants to early career scientists who want to establish a career in pediatric oncology research and do not yet hold NIH funding. Demonstration of a future commitment to pediatric cancer investigation as well as institutional support for the career development of the investigator are critical components of a successful application. The ‘A’ Award provides up to $800,000 over four years ($200,000 per year; direct costs only).

External Funding

National Cancer Institute

Newly Added

Research Opportunities in Cancer Epidemiology Cohort Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 07/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages grant applications to support research in cancer epidemiology cohort studies that address specific knowledge gaps in cancer etiology and survivorship. Applications should include hypothesis-based research, support for cohort infrastructure and/or maintenance, continued follow-up, and sharing of data and biospecimen resources as appropriate.

Previously Added

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.

Integrating Biospecimen Science Approaches into Clinical Assay Development (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/04/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to support extramural research to investigate and mitigate challenges in clinical assay development and subsequent analytical validation due to preanalytical variability in tumor tissue biopsies, blood biospecimens utilized as “liquid biopsies", or other biospecimens as described in this NOFO. Extramural research funded under this NOFO may include investigations of preanalytical variability associated with the procurement and study of small biopsies (core biopsies, small excision samples), blood utilized for "liquid biopsies", tissue swabs, tissue secretions, pleural and esophageal aspirates, feces, or bodily fluids like sweat, urine, CSF, breast milk and saliva. Investigator-designed experiments will explore how different biospecimen preanalytical conditions affect emerging and clinically relevant biomarkers quantified by a variety of testing platforms. The results from this research program will improve the understanding of how analytical quantification of clinically relevant biomarkers is affected by variation in biospecimen collection, processing, and storage procedures. The overall goal is to expedite biomarker clinical assay development through evidence-based standardization of biopsy handling practices.

Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites R01 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 these modalities in the characterization of therapy response and/or emergence of treatment resistance.

Molecular Imaging of Inflammation and Cancer

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites research grant applications (R01) for the development and application of current and emerging molecular imaging methods to gain fundamental insights into cancer inflammation in vivo. The motivation for this initiative is the recognition that much of the current imaging research on inflammation in cancer relies heavily on in vitro and ex vivo methods. These approaches have limited potential to provide significant insights into the dynamic interactions between cancer and inflammation. Utilizing molecular imaging probes in pre-clinical and clinical investigations allows for precise temporal resolution at molecular and cellular levels. This information is valuable for identifying and characterizing in vivo inflammatory cellular physiology in cancer and for detecting molecular changes in response to treatment. 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.

Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for projects to expand, improve, or transform the utility of mammalian cancer and tumor models for translational research. The NCI, through this NOFO, encourages submission of projects devoted to demonstrating that mammalian models, including organoids, tumoroids and cell models, used for translational research are robust representations of human biology, are appropriate to test questions of clinical importance, and provide reliable information for patient benefit. These practical goals contrast with the goals of many mechanistic, NCI-supported R01 projects that use mammals, or develop and use mammalian cancer models, transplantation tumor models, or models derived from mammalian or human tissues or cells for hypothesis-testing, non-clinical research. Among many other possible endeavors, applicants in response to this NOFO could propose demonstrations of how to overcome translational deficiencies of mammalian oncology models, define new uses of mammalian models or their genetics for unexplored translational challenges, advance standard practices for use of translational models, test approaches to validate and credential models, or challenge current practices for how models are used translationally.

Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk after Bariatric Surgery (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for support of investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which bariatric surgery impacts cancer risk and seeks to draw in talented scientists who study bariatric surgery to investigate its effects on cancer, rather than shorter term outcomes such as weight loss and diabetes.

Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to stimulate research in discovery and development of novel, small molecules for cancer. Molecules discovered through this NOFO may be used to probe cancer biology, to validate cancer targets, or as the basis for optimized drugs. Stages of discovery research covered by this NOFO include: 1) development of the primary screen assay(s) and testing in an initial pilot screen; 2) primary screen implementation to identify initial screening hits (high throughput target-focused screens, or moderate throughput screens); 3) hit validation using a series of assays and initial medicinal chemistry inspection to prioritize the hit set.

Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk with Use of Incretin Mimetics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which incretin mimetics, specifically glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 or dual GLP-1/ glucose?dependent insulinotropic polypepide (GIP)-1 receptor agonists (RAs), impact cancer risk. The focus on these agents is due to their reported effects on thyroid, prostate and other cancer risks, and the generally more favorable efficacy and side effect profile compared to other classes of incretin mimetics. In addition, this NOFO seeks to draw in talented scientists to the cancer biology field who may study incretin mimetic effects on diseases other than cancer. Investigators wishing to study incretin mimetics other than GLP-1 RAs or GLP-1/GIP-1 RAs, such as dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, must justify why the agent(s) they propose to study are more effective and/or have a more favorable side effect profile than GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP-1 RAs. Route of agent administration (oral vs. other) is, by itself, not an adequate justification.

National Cancer Institute’s Investigator-Initiated Early Phase Clinical Trials for Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (R01 Clinical Trials Required)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting research projects that implement early phase (Phase 0, I, and II) investigator-initiated clinical trials focused on cancer-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic interventions of direct relevance to the research mission of DCTD and OHAM. The proposed project must involve at least 1 clinical trial related to the scientific interests of one or more of the following research programs: Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Cancer Imaging Program, Cancer Diagnosis Program, Radiation Research Program, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program and/or the HIV and AIDS Malignancies Research Programs. Applicants may propose to conduct an early phase trial by itself, or in combination with another research aim(s) as appropriate. This NOFO does not accept Phase III clinical trials.

Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages grant applications from investigators interested in conducting basic, mechanistic research into the biological/genetic causes of cancer health disparities. These research project grants (R01) will support innovative studies designed to investigate biological/genetic contributors of cancer health disparities, such as (1) mechanistic studies of biological factors associated with cancer health disparities, including those related to basic research in cancer biology or cancer prevention strategies, (2) the development and testing of new methodologies and models, and (3) secondary data analyses. This NOFO is also designed to aid and facilitate the growth of a nationwide cohort of scientists with a high level of basic research expertise in cancer health disparities research who can expand available resources and tools, such as biospecimens, patient derived models, and methods that are necessary to conduct basic research in cancer health disparities.

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

Deadline: 06/10/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (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.

Assay Validation of High Quality Markers for Clinical Studies in Cancer (UH2/UH3 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/10/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications to support the validation of molecular/cellular/imaging markers (referred to as "markers" or "biomarkers") and assays for cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, and prediction of response or resistance to treatment, as well as markers for cancer prevention and control. This NOFO will support investigator-initiated research for both analytical, and clinical validation of assays to be used in cancer treatment, control, or prevention trials supported by the NCI. This NOFO will also support the validation of pharmacodynamic markers and markers of toxicity. Applicants should have assays that work on human samples and whose importance is well justified for development into clinical assays. As chemotherapies and/or radiation therapies are increasingly combined with immunotherapies to enhance durability of anti-cancer responses, assays for measuring multiple markers, including immune markers, can be developed and validated simultaneously. The UH2 phase of this NOFO supports analytical validation of assays for these molecular/cellular/imaging markers, which must be achieved within 2 years before assays may undergo clinical validation. The UH3 phase of this NOFO supports clinical validation of analytically validated assays for up to 3 years using well-annotated biospecimens from retrospective or prospective clinical trials or studies. This NOFO may be used to validate existing assays for use in other cancer clinical trials, observational studies, or population studies. Efforts to harmonize clinical laboratory tests, including investigation into the performance and reproducibility of assays across multiple clinical laboratories, are also appropriate for this funding opportunity. Projects proposed for this NOFO will require multi-disciplinary interaction and collaboration among scientific investigators, oncologists, statisticians, and clinical laboratory scientists. This NOFO is not intended to support early-stage development of technology or the conduct of clinical trials but is intended for validation of assays to the point where they could be integrated into clinical trials/studies as investigational assays. Investigators responding to this NOFO must address both UH2 and UH3 phases. Milestones to be accomplished in the UH2 phase for transition to the UH3 phase must be proposed by the investigators.

Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk with Use of Incretin Mimetics (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: Through this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which incretin mimetics, specifically glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 or dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)-1 receptor agonists (RAs), impact cancer risk. The focus on these agents is due to their reported effects on thyroid, prostate and other cancer risks, and the generally more favorable efficacy and side effect profile compared to other classes of incretin mimetics. In addition, this NOFO seeks to draw in talented scientists to the cancer biology field who may study incretin mimetic effects on diseases other than cancer.

Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages grant applications from investigators interested in conducting basic research studies into the biological/genetic causes and mechanisms of cancer health disparities. These awards will support pilot and feasibility studies designed to investigate biological/genetic contributors of cancer health disparities, such as (1) mechanistic studies of biological factors associated with cancer health disparities, (2) the development and testing of new methodologies and models, and (3) secondary data analyses. This NOFO is also designed to aid and facilitate the growth of a nationwide cohort of scientists with a high level of basic research expertise in cancer health disparities research who can expand available resources and tools, such as biospecimens, patient derived models and methods that are necessary to conduct basic research in cancer health disparities. In addition, the NOFO will further the development of scientific areas, providing support for early-stage exploratory projects that lead to future in-depth mechanistic studies (such as R01 projects) of the biology of cancer health disparities.

Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk after Bariatric Surgery (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for support of investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which bariatric surgery impacts cancer risk, and seeks to draw in talented scientists who study bariatric surgery to investigate its effects on cancer, rather than shorter-term outcomes such as weight loss and diabetes. The goal of this NOFO is to support proof of concept studies for feasibility and exploratory development. Feasibility must not have already been developed in the literature or with preliminary data. While unpublished data are not permitted, references and data from widely available preprints that have a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) are acceptable. Investigators who have generated unpublished preliminary data should submit an application to the companion NOFO (PAR-24-043).

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

Deadline: 06/16/26
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.

Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/16/26
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).

The NCI Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/18/26
Purpose: The purpose of the NCI Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12) is to support the training of clinical scientists in community cancer prevention, screening, intervention, control, and treatment research. Special emphasis is placed on training clinical scientists whose career goal is to improve the care and outcomes of minority health populations and populations with health disparities that are underrepresented in clinical research by increasing their access to and representation as human subjects in cancer clinical trials using an equity lens. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) allows the appointment of Scholars proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent community-based clinical trial; proposing to increase the integration of cancer health disparities research questions into clinical trials; or proposing a separate ancillary study to an existing prevention, screening, intervention, control or treatment trial; or proposing to gain research experience in a community-based clinical trial led by another investigator; or proposing to serve as leader of innovative clinical trial approaches that expand engagement of minority health populations and populations with health disparities that are underrepresented as human subjects in cancer clinical trials, as part of their research and career development.

The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/20/26
Purpose: The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Metastasis Research Network (MetNet) is a collection of U54 Research Centers that support using systems-level approaches to understand pressing questions in metastasis. The overall goal of the MetNet is to advance our understanding of metastasis as a whole body, systems-level problem to develop a comprehensive and cohesive picture of the processes involved. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the NCI invites applications for MetNet Research Projects. These Research Projects should be defined as discrete entities that use systems-level approaches to address gaps and opportunities in metastasis research to integrate into the MetNet and complement ongoing research across the Network.

Revision Application for Validation of Biomarker Assays Developed Through NIH-Supported Research Grants (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 07/10/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages revision applications (formerly called "competing revisions") from currently funded NCI R01 research projects. The applicants should propose projects that are expected to accelerate the pace of translation of NCI-supported methods/assays/technologies (referred to as "assays") to the clinic. Specifically, the focus of applications submitted in response to this NOFO should be on the adaption and clinical validation of molecular/cellular/imaging markers (referred to as "markers" or "biomarkers") for cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, and prediction of response in treatment, as well as markers for cancer prevention and control. Applications may support the acquisition of well-annotated specimens from NCI-supported or other clinical trials or observational cohorts/consortia for the purpose of clinical validation of the assay. Research projects proposed in response to this NOFO encourage multidisciplinary interaction among scientific investigators, assay developers, clinicians, statisticians, and clinical laboratory staff. Clinical laboratory scientist(s) and statistical experts are highly encouraged to comprise integral parts of the application. This NOFO is not intended to support early-stage development of technology or the conduct of clinical trials, but rather the adaption and validation of assays to the point where they could be integrated into clinical trials as investigational assays/tools/devices.

Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 10/05/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to stimulate translation of scientific discoveries and engineering developments in imaging, data science and/or spectroscopic technologies into methods or tools that address contemporary problems in understanding the fundamental biology, potential risk of development, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer. A distinguishing feature of each application to this NOFO will be formation of an academic-industrial partnership: a strategic alliance of academic and industrial investigators who work together as partners to identify and translate a technological solution for mitigation of a cancer (or other disease-related) problem. In this sense, the NOFO acts more as a funding mechanism for driving translational research in imaging than for a specific scientific or clinical research area. These partnerships are expected to solidify pre-existing collaborations or establish new ones that would drive the field of imaging, as a whole, further than if they had not been formed. This NOFO defines innovation as the likelihood to deliver a new capability to end users. This funding announcement will support clinical trials that test functionality or validate performance in the chosen setting. However, this NOFO is not intended to support commercial production, basic research projects, or clinical trials that lack translation as the primary motivation.

National Institues of Health (NIH)

Newly Added

Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 10/05/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages collaborations between the life and physical sciences that: 1) apply a multidisciplinary bioengineering approach to the solution of a biomedical problem; and 2) integrate, optimize, validate, translate or otherwise accelerate the adoption of promising tools, methods, and techniques for a specific research or clinical problem in basic, translational, or clinical science and practice. An application may propose design-directed, developmental, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven research and is appropriate for small teams applying an integrative approach to increase our understanding of and solve problems in biological, clinical, or translational science. This NOFO will support clinical trials that test functionality or validate performance in the chosen setting. This NOFO is not intended to support conventional clinical trials that lack translation as the primary motivation. Applications that propose phase III clinical trials in any area of research are not sought by and will not be supported through this NOFO. This NOFO does not support commercial production. Primary emphasis is on the inclusion of cancer prevention and control intervention(s) in any proposed study. Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control research studies are classified into one of five phases: (1) Hypothesis development; (2) methods development and testing; (3) controlled intervention trials to establish cause-and-effect relationships; (4) research in defined populations; and (5) demonstration and implementation studies. Primary interests are in research on cancer control interventions in Phases 2 through 5, and on cancer prevention research in all phases.

Previously Added

Forecasted STTR/SBIR Opportunities

SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 09/05/26
Purpose: Supports the transition of SBIR/STTR Phase II and IIB projects to commercialization by funding late-stage R&D activities not typically covered in earlier phases, including IND-enabling studies, clinical research, manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory assistance.

SBIR Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 09/05/26
Purpose: Provides additional funding to help small businesses overcome the “Valley of Death” between Phase II completion and commercialization, particularly for technologies requiring extensive development, regulatory approval, or complex instrumentation.

SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer-Relevant Technologies Toward Commercialization (R44 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 10/30/25
Purpose: Supports cancer-focused SBIR/STTR Phase II projects with additional funding to advance commercialization, emphasizing partnerships with third-party investors and requiring a detailed commercialization plan and matching external funds.

STTR Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 09/05/26
Purpose: Supports collaborative research and development between small businesses and research institutions to advance innovative biomedical technologies through STTR Phase I, Phase II, and related mechanisms.

NIEHS Worker Training Program’s SBIR E-Learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 11/20/25
Purpose: Funds development of technology-enhanced training tools (e.g., online platforms, VR/AR, mobile applications) to improve health and safety training for hazardous materials workers and emergency responders.

NIH, CDC and FDA SBIR Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 09/05/26
Purpose: Supports small business-led R&D across a broad range of biomedical and public health areas to develop innovative technologies aligned with NIH, CDC, and FDA priorities.

Small Business Transition Grant for Early Career Scientists (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 10/30/25
Purpose: Supports early-career scientists transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship by providing funding and mentorship to advance academic discoveries into small business-led product development.

Growing Great Ideas: Research Education Course in Product Development and Entrepreneurship for Life Science Researchers

Deadline: 10/01/26
Purpose: Establishes an entrepreneurship training program for life science researchers focused on product development, commercialization strategy, intellectual property, regulatory pathways, and funding opportunities.

Additional NIH Funding

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Deadline: 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 notice of funding opportunity does not accept applications proposing clinical trials.

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

Deadline: 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.

Clinical Characterization of Cancer Therapy-Induced Adverse Sequelae and Mechanism-based Interventional Strategies (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to promote research studies designed to address adverse sequelae of cancer therapies that persist and become chronic co-morbidities or develop as delayed posttreatment effects. This NOFO supports basic, translational, and clinical research projects that seek to identify the mechanisms of therapy-induced adverse sequelae, clinically characterize the adverse sequelae, and translate the mechanistic understanding into therapeutic approaches to prevent or minimize the development of long-term sequelae. The scope of research projects includes mechanistic studies with translational endpoints and longitudinal clinical phenotyping to identify and validate clinical endpoints (biomarkers, imaging, patient-reported outcomes or combined elements) for future use in clinical trials that will evaluate the efficacy of interventions designed to prevent or reduce specific adverse sequelae. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP).

Interventions to expand cancer screening and preventive services to ADVANCE health in populations that experience health disparities (R01, Clinical Trial Required)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) and participating National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICs) are issuing this R01 to solicit applications to address barriers and facilitators that impede use or uptake of cancer screening and preventive services in populations that experience health disparities. Interventions should include screening, preventive services, or other healthcare processes, including timely follow-up of abnormal findings, and referral to accessible care. Projects are encouraged to leverage collaborations with community partners and service providers. Interventions should address barriers and facilitators at two or more of the following levels: patient, clinician, healthcare setting, and neighborhood/community. Specific research interests of participating NIH ICs are detailed within. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). NCI is a participating organization.

Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support studies that will identify, develop, and/or test strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, sustainability, scale-up, and spread of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, tools, treatments, guidelines, and policies (hereafter referred to as evidence-based interventions). Studies that promote equitable dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions among underrepresented communities are encouraged. Conversely, there is a benefit in understanding circumstances that create a need to stop or reduce (de-implement) the use of practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful. In addition, studies to advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures are encouraged. Applications that focus on re-implementation of evidence-based health services that may be disrupted amidst disasters (e.g., pandemics, climate change) remain relevant. NCI is a participating organization.

Interventions to Address Disparities in Liver Diseases and Liver Cancer (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: This initiative will support multi-level and/or multi-domain intervention research to reduce disparities in liver diseases and liver cancer among populations who experience health disparities in the United States

Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01- Clinical Trials Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Announcement is to stimulate efforts to translate scientific discoveries and engineering developments into methods or tools that address problems in basic research to understand disease, or in applied research to assess risk, detect, prevent, diagnose, treat, and/or manage disease. The rationale is to deliver new capabilities to meet evolving requirements for technologies and methods relevant to the advance of research and delivery of care in pre-clinical, clinical and non-clinical settings, domestic or foreign, for conditions and diseases within the missions of participating institutes. This NOFO specifies a partnership structure that is expected to help bridge gaps in knowledge and experience by engaging the strengths of academic, industrial, and other investigators. The partners on each application should establish an inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional research team to work in strategic alliance to implement a coherent strategy to develop and translate a solution to their chosen problem. They are expected to plan, design, and validate that the solution will be suitable for end users. Each partnership should include at least one academic and one industrial organization. Each partnership should plan to transition a technology, method, assay, device, and/or system from a demonstration of possibility to a status useful in the chosen setting. Funding may be requested to enhance, adapt, optimize, validate, and otherwise translate technologies that address problems in biology, pathology, risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or monitoring of disease status

Unveiling Health and Healthcare Disparities in Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Latin America: Setting the Stage for Better Health Outcomes Across the Hemisphere (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will support innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research focused on clinical epidemiology, evaluation of public and/or health care policies, and validation of measurements that address health and healthcare disparities related to non-communicable and chronic diseases (NCDs) with the highest disease burden and mortality in Latin America and among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos.

Advancing Healthcare for Older Adults from Populations that Experience Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (renewal): 06/05/26
Purpose: The purpose of this initiative is to advance the science and implementation of innovative multi-level health care research for older adults from populations that experience health disparities. The initiative will support research designed to (1) gain a better understanding of appropriate screening, diagnostic, and clinical care guidelines in a primary care setting, (2) explore shared decision-making that is needed to enhance care planning and patient agency between clinicians and care teams with the older adult and their caregiver(s), and (3) identify effective strategies for care coordination.

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment or Prevention (SBIRT/P) for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use and misuse in adult populations that experience health disparities (R01, Clinical Trial Required)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) and participating National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) are issuing this NOFO seeking applications to test innovative approaches to implementing SBIRT/P for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use and misuse in adult populations that experience health disparities. SBIRT/P, (a term used for purposes of this funding announcement), involves screening individuals for risk of ATOD use and misuse, briefly intervening with a conversation about harmful substance use, and referring individuals for treatment or preventive services, as needed. Proposed research should include prospective tests of SBIRT/P and should leverage collaborations with healthcare and community partners Specific research interests of participating NIH ICOs are detailed within. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). NCI is a participating organization.

Modular R01s in Cancer Control and Population Sciences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline (new): 06/05/26
Purpose: This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for research in cancer control and population sciences. The overarching goal is to provide support for research on novel scientific ideas that have the potential to substantially advance cancer research in statistical and analytic methods, epidemiology, cancer survivorship, cancer-related behaviors and behavioral interventions, health care delivery, digital health and data science, and implementation science.

Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support studies that will identify, develop, and/or test strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, sustainability, scale-up, and spread of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, tools, treatments, guidelines, and policies (herein referred to collectively as evidence-based interventions). Studies that promote equitable dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions among underrepresented communities are encouraged. Conversely, there is a benefit in understanding circumstances that create a need to stop or reduce (de-implement) the use of practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful. In addition, studies to advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures are encouraged. Applications that focus on re-implementation of evidence-based health services that may be disrupted amidst disasters (e.g., pandemics, climate change) remain relevant.

Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support studies that will identify, develop, and/or test strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, sustainability, scale-up, and spread of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, tools, treatments, guidelines, and policies (herein referred to collectively as evidence-based interventions). Studies that promote equitable dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions among underrepresented communities are encouraged. Conversely, there is a benefit in understanding circumstances that create a need to stop or reduce (de-implement) the use of practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful. In addition, studies to advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures are encouraged. Applications that focus on re-implementation of evidence-based health services that may be disrupted amidst disasters (e.g., pandemics, climate change) remain relevant.

Developing novel theory and methods for understanding the genetic architecture of complex human traits (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: The goal of this NOFO is to support applications for novel theory and methods development that enable better understanding of how genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to complex trait variation across individuals, families, and populations. Approaches should account for interdependencies across scales of biological, social, and ecological organization, make extensive use of theory, modeling, and validation with available large-scale datasets, and may be interdisciplinary drawing from the natural and social sciences.

New Approaches for Measuring Brain Changes Across Longer Timespans (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/16/26
Purpose: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage multidisciplinary investigators to develop exploratory, highly novel new approaches, or innovative applications of existing approaches, to measure brain activity, connectivity, genomics, or other aspects across the age spectrum of neurodevelopment. The overarching goal is to extend our understanding of brain development and aging, including studies of the neurodevelopmental origins of later health and disease, by improving repeated measures across longer epochs of the lifespan to better predict outcomes at later ages. Research can include healthy human participants of any age; specific clinical groups such those with cognitive, motor, or affective regulation challenges; and/or animal research on these domains of function. The studies can focus on longitudinal neuroanatomical or functional changes at any level, including genetics/genomics, single cells, connectomics, neural population activity patterns, and others. This funding opportunity is intended to encourage technological and conceptual innovation through this high risk, high reward funding mechanism to develop highly innovative ideas that either lack preliminary data or need additional preliminary data.

Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Deadline (New): 06/16/26
Purpose: Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) along with other participating Institutes encourages submission of applications proposing to conduct secondary data analysis and integration of existing datasets and database resources, with the ultimate aim to elucidate cancer risk and related outcomes (e.g., risk prediction or reduction, survival, or response to treatment, etc.). The goal of this initiative is to address key scientific questions relevant to cancer by supporting the analysis of existing clinical, environmental, surveillance, health services, vital statistics, behavioral, lifestyle, genomic, and molecular profiles data. Applicants are encouraged to leverage and perform innovative analyses of the existing data. Applications may include new research aims that are being addressed with existing data, new or advanced methods of analyses, or novel combinations and integration of datasets that allow the exploration of important scientific questions in cancer research.

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/18/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) applications that propose to study the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of human genetic or genomic research. Applications may propose studies using either single or mixed methods, that break new ground, extend previous discoveries in new directions, or develop preliminary data in preparation for larger studies. Approaches may include but are not limited to empirical qualitative and quantitative methods, and conceptual, legal, and normative analyses. Applied research designed to address ELSI issues in genetics and genomics will also be considered responsive. Direct engagement with communities and other stakeholders is encouraged, but not required.

Digital Health Technology Derived Biomarkers and Outcome Assessments for Remote Monitoring and Endpoint Development (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional)

Deadline: 06/22/26
Purpose: The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support rigorous development and validation of Digital Health Technology (DHT) derived biomarkers or clinical outcome assessments (COAs) for remote monitoring to fill a defined unmet clinical endpoint for interventional clinical trials. To increase standardization and improve clinical adoption, applicants must propose to develop and evaluate the DHT enabled biomarkers or COAs in three or more diseases or conditions. Applicants must also propose to conduct development studies that are informed by people with lived experience (PWLE) and patient advocacy organizations. The first phase of this funding mechanism is to evaluate the technical performance of the proposed DHTs with PWLE input; the second phase is to support a prospective longitudinal clinical study in representative populations to validate the DHT. Research outcomes should include demonstrating how a meaningful change in the biomarkers or COAs derived from the DHT(s) can be statistically measured and quantified at the individual participant level.

NCCIH Natural Product Mid Phase Clinical Trial (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

Deadline: 10/20/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated mid-phase clinical trials of natural products (i.e., botanicals, dietary supplements, and probiotics), which have a strong scientific premise to justify further clinical testing. For this NOFO, natural products include promising nutritional regimens that standardize the amount of a specific naturally occurring nutritional compound (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, anthocyanidins, or polyphenols) and have compelling preliminary evidence. All applications submitted under this NOFO must be supported by sufficient preliminary data demonstrating bioavailability (if applicable) and documentation that the natural product produces a reproducible and measurable impact on target engagement (i.e., measure of the mechanism of action). Only in cases when it is not possible/practical to measure target engagement in the patient population of interest or when there is a fundamental understanding of the product’s mechanism of action will this preliminary data requirement be waived. Applications submitted to this NOFO should propose a mid-phase clinical trial to do the following: determine the optimal dose or formulation of a given natural product for use in a future multi-site efficacy trial; or determine which patient phenotypes will be responders versus non-responders to the natural product to inform inclusion/exclusion criteria of a future efficacy trial. Clinical trials submitted under this NOFO are expected to be hypothesis based, milestone-driven, and directly related to the research priorities and mission of NCCIH. This NOFO will not support single-site or multi-site efficacy or effectiveness trials, nor will it support trials to test natural products for the treatment or prevention of cancer. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NCCIH Scientific/Research contact for the area of science for which they are planning to develop an application prior to submitting to this NOFO. This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP).

NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Phased Innovation Award (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)

Deadline: 10/20/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated, early phase, clinical trials of natural products (i.e., botanicals, probiotics, and products marketed as dietary supplements), which have a strong scientific premise to justify further clinical testing. For this NOFO, natural products include promising nutritional regimens that standardize the amount of a specific naturally occurring nutritional compound (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, anthocyanidins, or polyphenols) and have compelling preliminary evidence. Under this NOFO, trials must be designed so that results, whether positive or negative, will provide information of high scientific utility and will support decisions about further development or testing of the natural product. This NOFO will provide up to three years (R61 phase) of support for milestone-driven testing of pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and assessment of the natural product’s effect (i.e., measure of mechanism of action) when used by humans on a specified target measure. If milestones in the R61 phase are achieved, up to 3 years of additional support (R33 phase) may be awarded to replicate the impact of the natural product on target engagement(s) when used by humans and assess whether there is an association between the degree of the impact on the target engagement and clinical outcomes in a participant population. Applications are encouraged to design R33 studies to determine how to optimize the impact of the natural product on the target engagement by optimizing the delivery of the natural product through examination of different doses or formulations. In addition, applications can be designed to combine the natural product with another treatment approach that is known to impact the same target engagement measure; or study the impact of the natural product in a population that is more responsive. Clinical trials submitted under this NOFO are expected to be hypothesis based, milestone-driven, and directly related to the research priorities and mission of NCCIH. This R61/R33 funding mechanism is intended to accelerate the translation of emerging basic science findings about natural products into early-stage clinical testing to determine whether continued clinical research is warranted. This NOFO will not support efficacy or effectiveness trials, nor will it support trials to test natural products for the treatment or prevention of cancer. A maximum of 5 years will be supported by the two phases of the R61/R33 award.

NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Award (R33 Clinical Trial Required)

Deadline: 10/20/26
Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated, early phase, clinical trials of natural products (i.e., botanicals, dietary supplements, and probiotics), which have a strong scientific premise to justify further clinical testing. For this NOFO, natural products include promising nutritional regimens that standardize the amount of a specific naturally occurring nutritional compound (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, anthocyanidins, or polyphenols) and have compelling preliminary evidence. Under this NOFO, trials must be designed so that results, whether positive or negative, will provide information of high scientific utility and will support decisions about further development or testing of the natural product. This NOFO will provide up to 3 years support for studies to replicate the impact of the natural product on target engagement when used by humans, and assess whether there is an association between the degree of the impact on target engagement and functional or clinical outcomes in a patient population. Applications are encouraged to design studies to determine how to optimize the impact of the natural product on target engagement by optimizing the delivery of the natural product through examination of different doses or formulations. In addition, applications can be designed to combine the natural product with another treatment approach that is known to engage the same target; or study the impact of the natural product in a target population that is more responsive. Clinical trials submitted under this NOFO are expected to be hypothesis based, milestone-driven, and directly related to the research priorities and mission of NCCIH. This R33 funding mechanism is intended to accelerate the translation of emerging basic science findings about natural products into early-stage clinical testing to determine whether continued clinical research is warranted. This NOFO will not support efficacy or effectiveness trials, nor will it support trials to test natural products for the treatment or prevention of cancer.

More Federal and Other Funding

More Federal Funding

Department of Defense

Breast Cancer Research Program Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Development Award

Deadline (Letter of Intent): 06/24/26
Deadline (Application): 07/08/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Development Award provides successful applicants the time and resources needed to bring investigators and breast cancer consumer advocates together to establish a consortium framework and conduct preliminary research in support of an application to a future, full BCRP Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award (pending availability of funds).

Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program Idea Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/24/26
Deadline (Application): 10/05/26
Purpose: The Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Idea Award (IA) supports innovative, untested, high-risk/potentially high-reward concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or basic cancer research. The advancement of knowledge in cancer research, patient care, and/or treatment options in the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries and the American public.

Breast Cancer Research Program Clinical Research Extension Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/24/26
Deadline (Application): 07/08/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Clinical Research Extension Award supports research that extends the data collection, follow-up, and analysis of breast cancer clinical studies. The intent of this award mechanism is to increase the clinically relevant impact of breast cancer patient participation in clinical studies by addressing the knowledge lost due to early trial termination, limited patient follow-up, or suboptimal sample and/or data collection and analysis.

Ovarian Cancer Research Program Pilot Award

Deadline (LOI): 07/13/26
Deadline (Application): 10/01/26
Purpose: The Ovarian Cancer Pilot Award supports research that expands or modifies current thinking about and/or approaches in ovarian cancer, exploring innovative concepts or theories in ovarian cancer that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will drive the field forward. Innovation is key. Research projects that demonstrate exceptional scientific merit but lack innovation do not meet the intent of the mechanism. Preliminary data are not required but are allowed for this mechanism.

Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2

Deadline (LOI): 06/24/26
Deadline (Application): 07/08/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award mechanism supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception:
- Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
- Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
- Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
- Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
- Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
- Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
- Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
- Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that do all of the following: improve survival, are more effective, and are less toxic
- Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

The FY26 Breakthrough Award mechanism contains four different funding levels designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level specifies a distinct research scope. This funding mechanism allows for applications submitted under Funding Level 1 or Funding Level 2. Funding Level 2 also includes a Population Science Studies option. With compelling justification, population science studies may request higher levels of funding and an additional year in the period of performance.

Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award Level 3

Deadline (LOI): 06/12/26
Deadline (Application): 09/30/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award mechanism supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception:
- Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
- Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
- Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
- Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
- Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
- Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
- Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
- Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that do all of the following: improve survival, are more effective, and are less toxic
- Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

For this funding mechanism, small-scale clinical trials are allowed but not required. Applications proposing projects with a clinical trial should be submitted under the Clinical Trial option.
The research team must include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates.
This funding mechanism allows for a single Principal Investigator (PI), or two partnering PIs referred to as the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI. For the Partnering PI Option (PPIO), only the Initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but both PIs will need to submit at the full application stage. Be advised, failure to submit all associated (Initiating and Partnering PI) applications by the deadline may result in administrative withdrawal.

Lung Cancer Research Program Translational Research Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/23/26
Deadline (application): 09/02/26
Purpose: The Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports advanced translational research that will foster transformation of promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications.

This funding mechanism intends to support a broad range of translational studies and allows application submission under: Funding Level 1 – Advanced/late-stage preclinical work or correlative studies; or Funding Level 2 – Pilot clinical trials of novel interventions.

Breast Cancer Research Program Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/12/26
Deadline (Application): 09/30/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award supports collaborations and ideas that will transform the lives of individuals with, and/or at risk for, breast cancer and will significantly accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. Applications must propose a synergistic, highly integrated, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional consortium of leading scientists, clinicians and breast cancer consumer advocates that will address a major problem in a way that a single investigator or group could not accomplish. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception:
- Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
- Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
- Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
- Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
- Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
- Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
- Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
- Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that do all of the following: improve survival, are more effective, and are less toxic
- Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Ovarian Cancer Research Program Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award

Deadline (LOI): 09/15/26
Deadline (Application): 10/01/26
Purpose: The Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy (OCCTA) supports the next generation of Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) in clinical trial research to produce effective treatments and cures for ovarian cancer. Research funded under this funding opportunity will support translational research and small-scale, early-phase clinical trials in ovarian cancer. Preliminary data are required, however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from the ovarian cancer research field.

Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope Scholar Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/24/26
Deadline (Application): 07/08/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Era of Hope Scholar Award supports individuals who are early in their careers with significant potential to effect meaningful change in breast cancer. As the Intent of the FY26 BCRP Era of Hope Scholar Award is to recognize creative and innovative individuals rather than projects, the award’s central features include the Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) demonstrated ability to go beyond conventional thinking in their field and the innovative and meaningful contributions that they can make toward ending breast cancer.

The Era of Hope Scholar Award requires exceptionally talented scientists that are among “the best and the brightest” in their field(s), with demonstrated experience forming effective partnerships and collaborations and strong potential for future leadership in breast cancer research. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception:

Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that do all of the following: improve survival, are more effective, and are less toxic
Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast

Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award Level 4

Deadline (LOI): 06/12/26
Deadline (Application): 09/30/26
Purpose: The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award mechanism supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception:
- Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
- Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
- Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
- Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
- Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
- Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
- Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
- Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that do all of the following: improve survival, are more effective, and are less toxic
- Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Applications must address the challenge in a way that can lead to a breakthrough and have major impact. The FY26 Breakthrough Award mechanism contains four different funding levels designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level specifies a distinct research scope. This program announcement discusses the Breakthrough Award Level 4. Distinctive Features:

Clinical trials are required;
The research team must include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates;
This funding mechanism allows for a single Principal Investigator (PI), or two partnering PIs referred to as the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI. For the Partnering PI Option (PPIO), only the Initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but both PIs will need to submit at the full application stage. Be advised, failure to submit all associated (Initiating and Partnering PI) applications by the deadline may result in administrative withdrawal.

Lung Cancer Research Program Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award

Deadline (LOI): 08/18/26
Deadline (Application): 09/02/26
Purpose: The Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award (PCOSA) promotes evidence-based and patient-centered approaches to improve health and lung cancer related outcomes and enhance the patient experience in defined populations. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis in the Health Outcomes and Survivorship category. This funding mechanism requires the research team to include an advocate who is a lung cancer patient/survivor or caregiver, and allows proposed projects to include translational or clinical research, including pilot clinical trials.

Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Clinical Trial Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/26/26
Deadline (Application): 10/05/26
Purpose: The Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Clinical Trial Award supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to significantly impact cancer treatment or management within at least one FY26 PRCRP Topic Area. Supported studies may evaluate new drugs, biologics, devices, clinical guidance, or emerging technologies, ranging from proof-of-concept and early-phase studies to large-scale efficacy trials up to Phase III.

Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Impact Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/26/26
Deadline (Application): 10/05/26
Purpose: The PRCRP Impact Award supports mature research with strong potential for near-term impact on clinical cancer care within one of the FY26 PRCRP Topic Areas. Applications must include strong preliminary data and may involve clinical trials. The mechanism supports either a single PI or partnered PI structure designed to accelerate clinically impactful cancer research relevant to the Military Health System.

Pancreatic Cancer Research Program Translational Research Partnership Award

Deadline (LOI): 07/07/26
Deadline (Application): 10/07/26
Purpose: The Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) Translational Research Partnership Award supports collaborative translational research partnerships that accelerate movement of promising pancreatic cancer discoveries toward clinical application. The mechanism encourages convergence science and multidisciplinary collaboration and supports retrospective tissue analyses, correlative studies, and pilot clinical trials. Research must address at least one FY26 PCARP focus area, including cachexia, metabolism, biomarkers, early detection, survivorship, or novel therapeutics.

Ovarian Cancer Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Deadline (LOI): 07/13/26
Deadline (Application): 10/01/26
Purpose: The Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award supports high-impact research addressing critical unmet needs in ovarian cancer or patient/survivor care. Applications must include a strong scientific rationale and preliminary data. Supported projects may range from basic through translational research but may not include clinical trials.

Lung Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award

Deadline (LOI): 06/23/26
Deadline (Application): 09/02/26
Purpose: The Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Idea Development Award supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research with the potential to generate major advances in lung cancer research. Projects should address at least one FY26 LCRP area of emphasis and may include early-stage concepts supported by feasibility data. A dedicated New Investigator category is also available.

Pancreatic Cancer Research Program Focused Pilot Award

Deadline (LOI): 09/16/26
Deadline (Application): 10/07/26
Purpose: The Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) Focused Pilot Award supports innovative, patient-centered pancreatic cancer research designed to generate strong preliminary data for future clinical or translational studies. Research may include clinical studies but not clinical trials or preclinical animal studies. Priority areas include quality of life, survivorship, metabolism/cachexia, and novel therapeutic approaches.

Department of Health and Human Services

Novel Approaches to Support Therapeutic Development in Ultra-Rare Cancers

Deadline (LOI): 05/18/26
Deadline (Application): 07/15/26
Purpose: The purpose of this NOFO is to support new approaches that can be applied to facilitate therapeutic development in ultra-rare pediatric and adult cancers, including molecularly-defined subsets of more common cancers. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Development of infrastructure for a coordination network and data repository for patient-level data across institutions and internationally to support drug development and regulatory decision making for one or more ultra-rare cancers.
- Investigations to explore opportunities to develop and validate early clinical endpoints and other novel efficacy endpoints for evaluation of treatments for ultra-rare cancers.
- Development and implementation of a collaborative multi-stakeholder effort to support generation and use of real-world data leveraging a registry framework for use in development of new therapies for pediatric patients with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) (including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, DIPG).
- Innovative approaches to identify new biologically-driven opportunities for clinical development of previously approved drugs or biologics (hereafter referred to as drugs), including drugs for which development has been discontinued, in ultra-rare cancers.
- Research to develop novel approaches to preserve the availability of drugs for which commercial developers have discontinued adult development that have strong potential in ultra-rare cancers but lack financial incentives for commercial development.
- Development of methods to incorporate use of telemedicine and/or pragmatic trial design elements (e.g., collecting laboratory and/or imaging data from local facilities) for patient assessments to facilitate enrollment of patients with ultra-rare cancers.
- Development of nanoparticle-based delivery approaches for therapeutic nucleic acids targeting onco-fusion transcription factors in metastatic tumor animal models using targeted bio PROTAC degradation or genomic editing strategies. Successful efforts should demonstrate effective delivery and expression in-vivo to tumor cells, and downregulation of the target transcription factor protein while minimizing off-target effects and limiting sequestration of the nanoparticle by the liver, spleen, and lungs.
- Research to exhaustively characterize the plasma-membrane protein expression (surfaceome) of an ultra-rare cancer and the presumed healthy tissue of origin, as well as the resident-tissue stem cells, by single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics. These studies, and available correlative database analyses, should be designed to identify possible combinatorial signatures of plasma membrane proteins unique to the ultra-rare tumor. Tumors of interest include Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT).

Other Funding

American Association for Cancer Research

AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award

Letter of Intent Deadline: 06/04/26
Full Proposal Deadline: 09/16/26
Purpose: The AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award provides a one-year $225,000 grant to encourage and support tenure-eligible junior faculty. The research proposed for funding must focus on cancer etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention and may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature. Applicants must hold a tenure-eligible appointment at the rank of assistant professor.

AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grants

Application Deadline: 06/04/26
Purpose: AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grants provide $350,000 over three years (10% max for indirect costs) to support independent investigators who are conducting innovative research focused on Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; intermediate frequency, low intensity, alternating electric fields that disrupt cell division in cancer cells) as well as to encourage independent investigators to enter the TTFields research field.

Pfizer

Improving Metastatic Prostate Cancer (mPCa) Care Through Innovative Strategies

Application Deadline: 07/01/26
Purpose: In collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), Pfizer is offering a new grant opportunity for investigator-initiated research to improve mPCa care. Awards will provide up to $250,000 (28% indirect cost limit) to support quality improvement studies to advance health care quality, the delivery of quality care, and improve health care provider performance in mPCa care.

Improving Precision Oncology Care Through Molecular Diagnostic Integration and Data Quality Improvement

Deadline: 06/02/26
Purpose: Pfizer is launching a competitive Quality Improvement (QI) grant program to support initiatives in Kazakhstan that measurably improve the data collection, linkage, standardization, and use of oncology data across the patient pathway. Projects should focus on integrating molecular diagnostic results (actionable biomarkers) with treatment processes and selected outcomes to enable more timely, consistent, and evidence-informed care delivery and health system planning. This program is intended to strengthen data quality and data-enabled care processes in selected advanced cancers where precision diagnostics are critical to clinical decision-making. Applicants are encouraged to propose data-driven QI projects that strengthen the diagnostic-to-treatment pathway through improved data capture, integration, governance, and reporting. Eligible activities may include: improving data quality and linkage (core focus); diagnostic pathway and testing process improvement; individual-level data integration for population-level insight (epidemiology and service planning)

Cancer Center Ongoing RFAs

Cancer Center-American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG) Bridge Pilots

Budget: Up to $50,000; 12 months

The Cancer Center-American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG) Bridge Pilots are intended to provide seed money for newly independent investigators to initiate cancer research projects. The intent is to support junior faculty in initiating cancer research projects so they can obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for national research grants.

Past ACS-IRG Awardees

2025 Pilot Projects

Lobna Elkhadragy, PhD: Molecular Determinants of the Response of TP53 Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Chemoembolization
Hunter Holt, MD: Cervical Cancer Screening Among Older Sexual Minority Ciswomen
Mayra Guerrero, PhD: A Multilevel Mixed-Methods Study of Social and Community Factors in Liver Cancer Prevention Among Latinos
Brian Lampkin, PhD: Spliceosome Assembly Inhibition as a Novel Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Strategy

2024 Pilot Projects

Noah Birch, MD, PhD: Investigating Co-Mutation Interactions in Poor-Risk, ASXL1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Carlos Murga-Zamalloa, MD: The Actin Cytoskeleton Function During Transcriptional Heterogeneity in T-Cell Lymphomas
Frank Weinberg, MD, PhD: Identification of Immunometabolic Biomarkers in Underrepresented Lung Cancer Screening Patients who Develop Lung Cancer.
Preetish Kadur Lakshminarasimha Murthy, PhD: Tumor Suppressor Genes and Subtypes of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

2023 Pilot Projects

Bhrandon Harris, MD, FAAFP, FAMIA: Towards AI-Based Early Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Zilai Wang, PhD: Functional characterization of GBM subtypes in patient derived models
Vanessa Oddo, PhD, MPH: Elucidating precarious employment and stress-related health disparities
Natalie Reizine, MD: Actionable Targets for Prostate Cancer Patients of African Descent

Team Science Award

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

U2D2: University of Illinois Cancer Center—UICentre Drug Discovery Program

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)

Stimulus Grants for Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs) for Cancer

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.

Cancer Center Pilot Projects

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.

Awardees

2026

Cancer Center members Bin He, PhD, and VK Gadi, MD, PhD: "Targeted Oncolytic HSV Immunotherapy"
Cancer Center members Ece Mutlu, MD, MBA, and Constance Jeffery, PhD: "Exploring a Role for Steroid Synthesis, Receptors and Microbiota in Colon Cancer"

2025

Cancer Center members Gye Young Park, MD, and Kevin Haas, MD: “Development of Novel Biomarkers to Enhance the Diagnostic Accuracy of EBUS/TBNA in Identifying Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Primary Lung Malignancies”

Hope Leaders

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).

Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellowship

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.

Trainee Travel Awards

The University of Illinois Cancer Center offers Trainee Travel Awards annually in the spring and fall. The awards provide $500 each to three trainees to cover the costs of travel and registration to present their cancer-related research at a conference or scientific meeting.

Researchers & Clinicians