Researchers & Clinicians

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Amount: $15,000
• Eligibility: Postdoctoral fellows with fewer than four years of appointment are encouraged to apply. Researchers conducting basic, clinical, translational or epidemiologic studies are welcome.
• Click Here to Apply

The Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellowship program strives to train exceptionally talented scientists engaged in cancer health disparities research that addresses 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, a longtime Cancer Center member and 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 disparities 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 that studies disparities in access to uveal melanoma care, a rare but often fatal eye cancer in adults. Patients, especially those in rural and underserved communities, face delays in care because they struggle to access eye cancer specialists.

The Cancer Center is partnering with the College of Medicine (COM) to invite applications for pilot research projects that advance the development of biologics or cell-based therapies for cancer.

The purpose of these pilot project grants is to foster studies that bridge discovery and translation in immuno-oncology, targeted biologics, antibody-drug conjugates, engineered immune cells, or other novel therapeutic platforms and mRNA-based technologies.

These pilots are meant to advance UIC intellectual property (IP) developed by cancer researchers in the College of Medicine.

• Award: Up to $50,000 for 12 months; up to two awards will be issued in 2026
• Application Deadline: October 15, 2026
• PI Eligibility:
  • Full-time faculty at COM only
  • Cancer Center membership is not a prerequisite
  • Primary inventor and/or IP holder should have their primary appointment at COM
• Funding Decisions: November 15, 2026

Get Detailed Information and Apply Here

Questions?

Please contact Farah Mirza at fmirza@uic.edu or Erica Trujillo at eflemin3@uic.edu.

Research Grants

• Letter of Interest Deadline: 10/01/26
• Full Application Deadline: 12/09/26
• Purpose: The Foundation for Women’s Cancer Research Grants program supports early-career investigators conducting basic, translational, clinical, or population health research aimed the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of gynecological cancers. Grant opportunities range from $50,000 to $100,000 with a 10% limit on indirect costs.

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.

Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 10/26/26
• Finalist Presentation: Late February 2027
• Purpose: the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize provides $750,000 over three years ($250,000 per year; 10% indirect cost limit) to early career investigators with at least two (2) years of experience running their own laboratories but no more than six (6) years of experience by the start date of the Prize (July 2027). The goal of the Cancer Prize is to support young investigators pursuing bold, innovative, and potentially transformative cancer research, advancing new approaches that will have an impact on the understanding, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of cancer. 

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.

CRC Screening Microgrants Program

• Application Deadline: 10/12/26
• Purpose: The CRC Screening Microgrants Program supports quality improvement projects focused on increasing colonoscopy completion following an abnormal stool-based colorectal cancer screening test. Microgrants will support GI healthcare teams serving medically underserved populations in developing, implementing, and sustaining coordinated strategies to close this critical gap in the colorectal cancer screening continuum.

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.

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

• 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. 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.

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.  

• 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.

• Budget: May be for three to five years with $135,000 a year for direct costs, plus 8% allowable indirect costs.

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

Research Program

• Internal concept Paper Deadline: 10/13/26
• Sponsor Application Deadline: 12/07/26
• Purpose: The W. M. Keck Foundation Research Program provides $1,000,000 - $3,000,000 grants to support early-stage, high-risk basic science with the potential to open new fields or rewrite textbooks. Projects in disease-specific research, translational or applied work, optimization of existing techniques, or incremental extensions of established research directions or methods are not eligible. Work that other funders consider too early, too speculative, or too far from the prevailing paradigm is encouraged. Preliminary data or evidence that a federal agency has declined funding for the proposed work is not required.

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.

Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 11/02/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 03/29/27
• 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 million and $2 million.

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.

Scholars (Career Development) Awards

• Internal Concept Paper Deadline: 10/05/26
• Sponsor LOI Deadline: 12/08/26
• Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: 03/05/27
• Purpose: St Baldrick’s Scholars Awards provide $330,000 over three years ($110,000 per year; direct costs only) to help develop the independent research of highly qualified individuals still early in their careers. In addition to research to understand the biology of childhood cancers and discover leads to more effective treatments, topics of interest include, but are not limited to: adolescents and young adults; survivorship, outcomes, and quality of life; supportive care; epidemiology and pediatric cancer predispositions; precision medicine; alternative and complementary therapies.

International Scholars

• Internal Concept Paper Deadline: 10/05/26
• Sponsor LOI Deadline: 12/08/26
• Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: 03/05/27
• Purpose: St Baldrick’s International Scholars awards provide $330,000 over three years ($110,000 per year; direct costs only) to researchers from low- and middle- income countries, preparing them to fill specific stated needs in an area of childhood cancer research upon returning to their country of origin. Recipients are called St. Baldrick's International Scholars. 

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.

Lung Cancer Discovery Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 09/18/26
• Full Proposal Deadline: 12/01/26
• Purpose: The Lung Cancer Discovery Award provides $200,000 over two years ($100,000 per year; direct costs only) to promote the development of innovative concepts and approaches, which will ultimately significantly improve the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer. The approach might be through basic biology, including host and tumor genetics, or focus on screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

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.

Academic Clinical Trials (ACT) Program

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 09/29/26
• Full Application Deadline: 01/08/27
• Purpose: The Academic Clinical Trial (ACT) initiative provides up to $1 million (15% indirect cost limit) over a period of up to three years for investigator-initiated clinical trials (IITs) that address unmet medical needs in blood cancer by testing new treatments, exploring expanded uses for existing therapies, and optimizing innovative treatment approaches in patient care. The primary focus will be Phase 1 or 2 trials positioned to begin enrolling patients within 3-6 months of the award start.

Translational Research Program

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 10/16/26
• Full Application Deadline: 01/22/27
• Purpose: Blood Cancer United’s Translational Research Program seeks to fund three-year $750,000 ($250,000 per year; 10% indirect cost limit) awards to research projects that are clinically directed or clinically translatable in hematologic malignancies and aim to develop innovative approaches to treatment, diagnosis, or prevention. Projects involving small-molecule therapies must include in vivo proof of concept (POC) in appropriate animal models. In select cases, a strong in vitro POC using patient-derived samples may be considered, depending on the mechanism of action. For projects involving cellular and immunotherapies, in vivo POC is strongly encouraged; however, in vitro POC may be acceptable where it is most appropriate for the therapeutic approach.

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.

Career Awards for Medical Scientists

• Application Deadline: 09/30/26
• Purpose: The Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS) program provides $700,000 over five years for postdoctoral fellows to bridge postdoctoral/fellowship training and the early years of faculty service. Proposals must be focused on basic biomedical, disease oriented, or translational research. Proposals in health services research or involving large-scale clinical trials are not eligible. The candidate should be a first author on at least one publication in a peer reviewed journal, and have a significant publication record.

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.

Stand Up To Cancer – Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) and the PNOC Foundation Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) Discoveries Challenge

• Application Deadline: 09/30/26
• Purpose: Stand Up To Cancer and PNOC seek to award up to two $1,000,000 grants (10% indirect cost limit) for proposals to design, validate, and test ground-breaking interventions to treat diffuse midline glioma (DMG) resulting in a step-change of long-term survival and high quality of life for children, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) patients. Projects should be planned for up to two years and may include: 1) Pioneering therapeutic approaches as proof of concept; and 2) Novel combination treatment strategies. Proposals should be focused on research at the preclinical research stage or later, i.e. candidate targets and/or interventions should already have been identified. The project must aim to deliver interventions to patients in a clinical research study within 18-24 months of the project start. Studies focused on earlier stages of clinical development should clearly describe the pathway to subsequent development, clinical testing, and implementation.

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.

Innovation Grant

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 10/15/26
• Full Application Deadline: 03/18/27
• Purpose: The Innovation Grant program provides $250,000 over two years ($125,000 per year; direct costs only) to established investigators pursuing novel, high-impact research aimed at advancing treatments and cures for childhood cancers. Proposals should have clinical translation in view. Funding may support a new research direction, and/or an innovative new idea that moves away from an investigator’s prior research but for which a strong case is made for the potential impact on childhood cancers. Applicant PIs and Co-PIs must have a track record of research grant productivity, including at least one NIH R01 equivalent awarded. 

Young Investigator Grant

• Application Deadline: 12/10/26
• Purpose: The Young Investigator grant is a three-year mentored award offering $180,000 over three years ($60,000 per year; direct costs only) to support early career researchers, such as postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows or instructors, pursuing promising childhood cancer research ideas. A mentor is required, and a career development plan must be included.

RUNX1 Early Career Investigator Grant Program

• Application Deadline: 12/17/26
• Purpose: The RUNX1 Early Career Investigator grant is a three-year, $180,000 award ($60,000 per year; direct costs only) designed to fund research investigating strategies that will lead to the development of therapies that will prevent the transition from pre-malignancy to overt hematologic malignancy in patients with RUNX1-FPD.

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

Early-stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application Deadline: 11/10/26
• Purpose: Supports proof-of-concept studies and early-stage development of innovative technologies that enable new capabilities for basic and clinical cancer research, including molecular and cellular characterization, imaging, and biomarker discovery.

Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application Deadline: 11/10/26
• Purpose: Supports advanced development and rigorous validation of emerging technologies that improve molecular and cellular characterization of cancer and accelerate their adoption in cancer research.

Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (U34 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 09/25/26
• Application Deadline: 10/25/26
• Purpose: Supports preparatory activities needed to design rigorous cancer prevention and control clinical trials, including feasibility studies, intervention refinement, protocol development, participant recruitment strategies, and other planning activities necessary before launching a full-scale clinical trial.

National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application Deadline: 09/28/26
• Purpose: Supports educational programs that encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in cancer research through mentored research experiences, professional development, and cancer-focused educational activities.

NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application Deadline: 10/14/26
• Purpose: Supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independent faculty positions by providing mentored and independent research support to accelerate development into independent cancer investigators.

NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required)

Application Deadline: 10/14/26

Purpose: Supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers pursuing careers in cancer research that include independent clinical trials. The award provides mentored and independent research support to facilitate the transition to research independence.

Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports exploratory and developmental research in cancer epidemiology, prevention, control, screening, and etiology. Projects should test novel concepts, methods, technologies, or approaches with the potential to significantly advance population-based cancer research.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports pilot and feasibility studies investigating biological and genetic mechanisms underlying cancer health disparities. Research may include mechanistic studies, model development, methodological innovation, and secondary analyses that inform future R01-level investigations.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/09/26
• Purpose: Supports research in cancer etiology and early detection biomarker discovery using biospecimens and associated data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Projects must utilize PLCO biospecimens and leverage the unique longitudinal clinical, demographic, lifestyle, and molecular data available through this resource.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 02/18/27
• Purpose: Supports training of clinical scientists in community-based cancer prevention, screening, intervention, control, and treatment research. Emphasis is placed on improving cancer outcomes and clinical trial participation among populations experiencing health disparities.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports proof-of-concept studies investigating the biological mechanisms by which bariatric surgery influences cancer risk. The goal is to advance understanding of cancer-related effects beyond traditional metabolic outcomes such as weight loss and diabetes control.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/14/26
• Purpose: Supports analytical and clinical validation of molecular, cellular, and imaging biomarkers for cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, toxicity assessment, prevention, and cancer control. Projects must include both UH2 analytical validation and UH3 clinical validation phases.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports the transition of investigators from mentored cancer research positions to independent faculty careers through salary and research support during the first three years of an independent academic appointment.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/14/2
• Purpose: Supports clinical validation of analytically validated biomarkers and assays for cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, treatment response, toxicity assessment, prevention, and cancer control. Projects should be positioned for integration into clinical trials and clinical research studies.

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/14/26
• Purpose: Supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independent faculty positions by providing mentored and independent research support. Researchers in cancer control, prevention, and cancer data science are particularly encouraged to apply.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports investigators from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds through protected research time, career development activities, and mentored training to facilitate advancement toward independent cancer research careers.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports exploratory bioengineering research that demonstrates feasibility and potential utility of innovative technologies, devices, methodologies, or systems that improve biomedical research, healthcare delivery, or accessibility.

Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Congenital Anomalies: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 01/11/27
• Purpose: Supports genomic characterization of pediatric cancer and congenital anomaly cohorts through whole genome sequencing and other advanced molecular profiling approaches. Data generated through funded projects become part of the Kids First Data Resource Center for broad scientific use.

New Approaches for Measuring Brain Changes Across Longer Timespans (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports multidisciplinary research to develop innovative approaches for measuring brain activity, connectivity, genomics, and other biological processes across neurodevelopment and aging. Projects should improve longitudinal measurement of brain changes over extended periods and advance understanding of how early-life and age-related processes influence health and disease.

Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (LOI): 09/05/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports investigator-initiated clinical trials focused on cancer prevention, screening, early detection, healthcare delivery, survivorship, and quality of life. Proposed studies should have the potential to reduce the burden of cancer and improve clinical practice or public health.

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 (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports collaborative and interdisciplinary research addressing health and healthcare disparities related to chronic and non-communicable diseases in Latin America and among U.S. Hispanic/Latino populations. Areas of interest include clinical epidemiology, health policy evaluation, and measurement validation.

Interventions to Expand Cancer Screening and Preventive Services to ADVANCE Health in Populations that Experience Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports multilevel interventions designed to improve cancer screening and preventive service uptake in populations experiencing health disparities. Projects should address barriers at two or more levels, including patient, clinician, healthcare system, and community settings.

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

• Deadline (LOI): 09/05/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports Phase 0, I, and II investigator-initiated clinical trials evaluating cancer-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic interventions aligned with NCI priorities. Applications may include standalone clinical trials or trials integrated with complementary mechanistic studies.

Cancer Research Education Grants Program – Courses for Skills Development (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/25/26
  
• Purpose: Supports innovative educational programs that enhance the biomedical and clinical cancer research workforce through skills-development courses. Programs should address cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, or survivorship and advance the NCI mission.

NIH Research Software Engineer (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

• Deadline (LOI): 11/04/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 12/04/26
  
• Purpose: Provides salary support for exceptional Research Software Engineers who develop, disseminate, and maintain biomedical software, tools, algorithms, and computational resources that advance NIH-supported research.

Population Approaches to Reducing Alcohol-related Cancer Risk (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports interdisciplinary research to increase awareness of alcohol-related cancer risk, evaluate alcohol policies, and develop population-level interventions to reduce alcohol consumption and cancer burden, particularly in underserved populations.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports mechanistic studies investigating how GLP-1 receptor agonists and related incretin mimetics influence cancer risk. Research may address biological pathways underlying reported effects on thyroid, prostate, and other cancers.

Developing Novel Theory and Methods for Understanding the Genetic Architecture of Complex Human Traits (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports development of innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to understand how genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to complex trait variation across individuals, families, and populations. Projects should integrate theory, modeling, and large-scale datasets.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/28/26
  
• Purpose: Supports innovative projects that represent a significant change in research direction for Early Stage Investigators. No preliminary data are allowed, and projects must involve basic experimental studies in humans that advance fundamental biomedical or behavioral knowledge.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/28/26
  
• Purpose: Supports innovative investigator-initiated research that represents a new scientific direction for an Early Stage Investigator. Projects must not include preliminary data and may not propose clinical trials.

Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/28/26
  
• Purpose: Supports investigator-initiated biomedical research at resource-limited institutions while strengthening research capacity, enhancing institutional research culture, and providing students with meaningful research experiences.

Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/19/26
  
• Purpose: Supports continued development and sustainment of high-value informatics resources that facilitate the acquisition, management, analysis, and dissemination of data across the cancer research continuum.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/25/26
  
• Purpose: Supports collaborative international research projects involving a domestic prime institution and at least one foreign subproject. Projects must provide unique scientific opportunities, resources, expertise, populations, or environments that significantly advance NIH mission areas.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/25/26
  
• Purpose: Supports institutional predoctoral and postdoctoral research training programs that develop a diverse and highly skilled biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. Programs should integrate research training, career development, and mentorship activities.

Risk and Protective Factors of Family Health and Family Level Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports research on family health, well-being, and resilience to advance minority health and reduce health disparities. Projects may examine family-level risk and protective factors or evaluate interventions designed to strengthen family health outcomes.

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment or Prevention (SBIRT/P) for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Use and Misuse in Adult Populations that Experience Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports research evaluating innovative approaches to implementing SBIRT/P interventions for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among populations experiencing health disparities. Projects should test strategies for screening, intervention, referral, and prevention in partnership with healthcare and community organizations.

Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/25/26
  
• Purpose: Supports preparatory activities needed to design rigorous cancer prevention and control clinical trials. Funding may be used to address feasibility, accrual, intervention development, endpoint selection, operational challenges, and pilot studies that strengthen future clinical trial implementation.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports innovative research in cancer control and population sciences, including epidemiology, survivorship, behavioral interventions, healthcare delivery, implementation science, digital health, data science, and statistical methodology.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports mechanistic studies investigating biological and genetic contributors to cancer health disparities. Research may include model development, methodology innovation, and analyses aimed at understanding fundamental drivers of disparities in cancer incidence, progression, and outcomes.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports collaborative partnerships between academic and industry investigators to advance promising technologies toward practical application in disease diagnosis, prevention, treatment, monitoring, and research. Projects should move technologies beyond proof-of-concept toward validation and real-world implementation.

Interventions to Reduce Sleep Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports non-pharmacologic interventions designed to improve sleep health, reduce sleep disparities, and evaluate sleep as a modifiable factor influencing other health disparities among underserved populations.

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

• Deadline (LOI): 09/05/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports research integrating imaging and liquid biopsy approaches during cancer therapy to improve assessment of treatment response and identify mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. Projects should determine how these complementary technologies can be optimally used together in clinical settings.

Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports multidisciplinary academic-industry collaborations that translate promising technologies into practical tools for disease detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and biomedical research. Projects should advance technologies toward end-user adoption and real-world impact.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
• Purpose: Supports multi-level and multi-domain intervention research aimed at reducing disparities in liver diseases and liver cancer among populations experiencing health disparities in the United States.

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports investigator-initiated research projects that address important biomedical, behavioral, or clinical questions aligned with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Clinical trials are not allowed under this parent announcement.

The Role of Work in Health Disparities in the U.S. (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
• Purpose: Supports research examining how work-related factors contribute to minority health and health disparities. Projects may investigate occupational, social, behavioral, and structural determinants that influence health outcomes across diverse populations.

Next Steps: Advancing Healthcare for Older Adults from Populations that Experience Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
• Purpose: Supports innovative healthcare research for older adults from populations experiencing health disparities. Areas of interest include screening and diagnostic approaches, shared decision-making, care planning, and care coordination strategies.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/05/26
  
• Purpose: Supports investigator-initiated studies examining the biological mechanisms through which bariatric surgery influences cancer risk, with the goal of improving understanding of long-term cancer prevention effects beyond weight loss and metabolic outcomes.

Metastasis Research Network (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/25/26
  
• Purpose: Supports multidisciplinary U54 Specialized Centers that advance mechanistic understanding of cancer metastasis through integrated research projects addressing themes such as dissemination, dormancy, microenvironment interactions, and therapeutic response.

Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 11/10/26
  
• Purpose: Supports advanced-stage development and rigorous technical validation of emerging technologies with the potential to improve molecular and cellular characterization of cancer, biospecimen quality control, and cancer research capabilities. Part of the NCI Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program.

Early-stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research

• Deadline (Full Application): 11/10/26
• Purpose: Supports proof-of-concept studies and early-stage development of innovative technologies that enable new capabilities for cancer research, including molecular and cellular characterization of cancer and improved biospecimen analysis. Part of the NCI IMAT Program.

Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
  
• Purpose: Supports institutional career development programs that train clinician-scientists in clinical and translational cancer research. The program is designed to increase the number of independent investigators pursuing careers in oncology research.

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

• Deadline: 11/16/26
• 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 National Cancer Institute (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.

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.

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Application Deadline: 10/20/26
• Purpose: Supports research examining the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics and genomics research. Applications may include empirical, conceptual, legal, policy, and translational studies that address emerging issues associated with genomic science.

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

• Application Deadline: 10/20/26
• Purpose: Supports exploratory and developmental research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics and genomics research. Projects may generate preliminary data, evaluate emerging issues, or develop innovative approaches for future ELSI research.

Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trials Optional)

• Application Deadline: 10/25/26
• Purpose: Through this notice of funding opportunity, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to facilitate well planned clinical trials across the cancer prevention and control spectrum aimed at improving prevention/interception, cancer-related health behaviors, screening, early detection, healthcare delivery, management of treatment-related symptoms, supportive care, and long-term outcomes of cancer survivors. Preparatory studies, including pilot/feasibility clinical trials where necessary, may fill information gaps and improve trial design and rigor prior to a full-scale trial.

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

• Application Deadline: 11/01/26
• Purpose: The NCI Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) (R37) Award provides extended grant support to Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) who qualify for conversion based on receiving a percentile within the NCI payline for established investigators on their R01 applications. The award allows eligible investigators to obtain up to seven years of support in two segments — the initial approved duration, and a second phase providing an additional two years of support. This funding opportunity is specifically for currently funded NCI ESI MERIT recipients requesting the second phase of the initial award.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports highly innovative approaches for measuring brain activity, connectivity, genomics, and other biological processes across neurodevelopment and aging. The goal is to improve longitudinal assessment of brain changes and better predict health and disease outcomes over the lifespan.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/20/26
• Purpose: Supports exploratory research examining the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics and genomics research. Projects may include empirical, conceptual, legal, normative, or mixed-methods studies that address emerging ELSI issues.

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports small-scale research projects investigating ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics and genomics research. Particularly appropriate for pilot studies, preliminary data generation, conceptual analyses, and secondary data analyses.

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

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports research that develops, evaluates, and refines strategies to improve the adoption, implementation, sustainability, scale-up, and dissemination of evidence-based health interventions, policies, and practices. Special emphasis is placed on equitable implementation in underserved populations.

Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports quantitative scientists and engineers transitioning into NIH-relevant biomedical research. Provides protected time and mentored career development for investigators proposing to lead an independent clinical trial or related clinical research study.

Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports quantitative scientists and engineers seeking to apply their expertise to biomedical research through mentored career development. Applicants may gain experience in mentor-led clinical trials but may not serve as lead investigators on independent clinical trials.

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

• Deadline (LOI): 09/16/26
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports exploratory dissemination and implementation research designed to overcome barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, sustainability, scale-up, and spread of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, treatments, guidelines, and policies. Projects promoting equitable implementation and de-implementation of ineffective practices are encouraged.

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Provides protected time and mentored research training for clinically trained investigators pursuing careers in biomedical, behavioral, and translational research. Applicants may participate in mentor-led clinical trials but may not lead independent clinical trials.

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports clinically trained investigators conducting basic experimental studies involving human participants to advance fundamental understanding of biological or behavioral processes. Projects must meet NIH criteria for basic experimental studies with humans.

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Provides three to five years of protected mentored research training for investigators pursuing research independence while serving as lead investigators on independent clinical trials, clinical feasibility studies, or ancillary clinical studies.

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports mentored research career development for investigators seeking independence in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. Applicants may participate in mentor-led clinical trials but may not lead independent clinical trials.

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/12/26
• Purpose: Supports clinically trained investigators pursuing intensive mentored research experiences while serving as lead investigators on independent clinical trials, clinical feasibility studies, or ancillary clinical studies.

Developing Novel Theory and Methods for Understanding the Genetic Architecture of Complex Human Traits (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Deadline (Full Application): 10/16/26
• Purpose: Supports development of novel theories and methods to improve understanding of how genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to complex trait variation across individuals, families, and populations. Research should leverage modeling, theory, and large-scale datasets and may integrate biological, social, and ecological factors.

Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• Deadline: 10/19/26
• Purpose: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite applications for the Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). This invites Cooperative Agreement (U01) applications for the development of enabling informatics technologies to improve the acquisition, management, analysis, and dissemination of data and knowledge across the cancer research continuum including cancer biology, cancer treatment and diagnosis, early cancer detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and/or cancer health disparities. It focuses on early-stage development from prototyping to hardening and adaptation. Early-stage development is defined as initial tool development or the significant modification of existing tools for new applications. The central mission of ITCR is to promote research-driven informatics technology across the development lifecycle to address priority needs in cancer research. In order to be successful, proposed development plans must have a clear rationale on why the proposed technology is needed and how it will benefit the cancer research field. In addition, mechanisms to solicit feedback from users and collaborators throughout the development process must be included.

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

• Deadline: 11/16/26
• 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 National Cancer Institute (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.

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.

Forecasted STTR/SBIR Opportunities

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.

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.

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.

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 Funding

Department of War

Rare Cancers Research Program – Concept Award

• Deadline (Full Application): 09/30/26
• Purpose: Supports highly innovative, untested, and potentially transformative concepts in rare cancers research. Applications should propose novel ideas that could establish entirely new avenues of investigation.

Melanoma Research Program Melanoma Academy Scholar Award

• Deadline (LOI): 09/22/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/14/26
  
• Purpose: Supports early-career melanoma investigators within seven years of their initial faculty appointment through participation in the Melanoma Academy, combining independent research support with structured career development and mentorship.

Melanoma Research Program Survivorship Research Award

• Deadline (LOI): 09/22/26
  
• Deadline (Full Application): 10/14/26
  
• Purpose: Supports innovative melanoma survivorship research aimed at improving the health, well-being, quality of life, and functional outcomes of melanoma survivors, their families, and care partners. Clinical trials are allowed.

Other Funding

Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences Research Scholars Program in Solid Tumors- United States

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 11/13/26
• Full Application Deadline: 03/10/27
• Purpose: This program is designed to support any basic or clinical research limited to breast, endometrial, ovarian, or small cell lung cancer that addreses any unmet medical need in the field of Oncology Solid Tumors.

Areas of research may include, but are not limited to:

• Disparities and inequities in cancer care
• Agnostic approaches to breast, endometrial, ovarian or small cell lung cancer
• Combinational drug strategies/approaches to treatment
• Resistance mechanism identification/novel approaches to addressing resistance mechanisms
• Transformative, therapeutic modalities/approaches to treatment
• Patient-specific factors that are predictors of toxicity
• Genomic polymorphisms that impact treatment response
• Novel targets and/or biomarkers/imaging techniques
• Novel diagnostic, prevention and treatment strategies
• Research to improve Quality of Life (QoL) Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO's) e.g., adverse events, addressing unmet needs for patients
• Any other basic and clinical research that addresses an unmet medical need or gap in scientific knowledge

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

Budget: Up to $150,000; 12 months 

Next Application Deadline: TBD

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

Past Awardees

2025

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

2024

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

Budget: Up to $25,000; 12 months

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

Past Awardees

2026 (4th Round)

• Discovery of Small-Molecule LRP6 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: Sang-Oh Yoon, PhD, and Sejeong Shin, PhD

2025 (3rd Round)

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

2023 (2nd Round)

• Development of IGF1R Inhibitors with Reduced INSR-Cross Reactivity to Target SOX2-Positive Prostate Cancer: Donald Vander Griend, PhD, (PI), Malaika Argade, PhD, (Co-I)
• Allosteric binders of BiP for Prostate Cancer: Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD, (PI)

2022 (Inaugural Round)

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

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

Budget: Up to $50,000; 12 months 

Next Application Deadline: TBD

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

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”

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

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

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

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Amount: $15,000
• Eligibility: Postdoctoral fellows with fewer than four years of appointment are encouraged to apply. Researchers conducting basic, clinical, translational or epidemiologic studies are welcome.
• Click Here to Apply

The Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellowship program strives to train exceptionally talented scientists engaged in cancer health disparities research that addresses 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, a longtime Cancer Center member and 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 disparities 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 that studies disparities in access to uveal melanoma care, a rare but often fatal eye cancer in adults. Patients, especially those in rural and underserved communities, face delays in care because they struggle to access eye cancer specialists.

• Application Deadline: TBD
• Amount: $500

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