Skip to main content

Biomedical, Clinical & Life Sciences

2026 Mary Kay Ash Foundation (MKAF) Innovative/Translational Cancer Research Grant

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

J. Farr (COM-T)

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Limiting Language
Each invited institution may submit one application for consideration. Institutions are responsible for conducting an internal selection process to identify their designated applicant. No exceptions will be made.

Program Overview
The Mary Kay Ash Foundation®, a committed funding source for innovative cancer research, invites applications for translational research grants focused on cancers affecting women, including but not limited to breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, and other cancers that predominantly affect women.

Grants will be awarded in the amount of $100,000 total over a two-year period to support projects with strong potential to advance the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancers affecting women.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
2/1/2026
Solicitation Type

2026 V Foundation Adult Translational and All-Star Translational Cancer Research Award

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 1

Translational Research Grant - C. Curiel (Dermatology)

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward. If you have any question concerning eligibility and details regarding the opportunity, please contact the Grants Team at Grants@v.org.

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate up to two proposals: one Translational nominee and one All-Star Translational nominee (if eligible) for the V Foundation Adult Translational Cancer Research Award 2026.


Purpose of Award:

The UACC is seeking nominations for the Translational Adult Cancer Research Grant which advances basic laboratory discoveries towards clinical use, ultimately improving human health.

This grant is restricted to adult cancer research in the preclinical or translational space, with a focus on bench-to-bedside strategies. Research on ANY adult cancer type is eligible. Applicants may propose cancer research projects that:

  • Move a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial, or
  • Use specimens from a clinical trial to test hypotheses, develop biomarkers, or establish mechanisms.

The research must apply in a direct way to human beings within 3 years of the grant’s completion. If biomarker research is undertaken, a validation set or independent clinical trial is essential. Proposals must include a plan for biomarker validation, if applicable. The endpoint of the project should be the planning or initiation of a new clinical trial or conducting an investigator-initiated trial with laboratory correlates that test hypotheses. Research areas not included in this scope are epidemiology, behavioral science, and health services research.

Applicant Eligibility

Nominee must meet all of the following criteria by the nomination due date:

  • Be nominated by their Cancer Center Director or similar high ranking research official.
  • Be employed at a non-profit research institution (e.g., 501c3, Section 170).
  • Be a US Citizen or have a legal permit (temporary or permanent) to work in the US.
  • Hold a full-time faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor or Assistant Professor-equivalent level or above. Non-promotable, adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are not eligible for Principal Investigator nomination.
  • Additional criteria for All Star eligibility:
    • Must have previously been awarded a V Foundation research grant as the lead PI and must meet at least ONE of the following criteria by the nomination deadline:
      1. Have a completed V Foundation research grant or
      2. Be in the final year of an active V Foundation grant (received final payment and on track to finish by grant end date).
      • Must have been the lead PI on the V Foundation research grant from start to finish.
      • Must have all financial and progress reports up to date.
      • Must not have a current V Foundation All-Star grant.
      • Must not have only received V Foundation non-research/Mission grant(s).

Funding Information:

A four-year, $800,000 grant, paid in $200,000 annual installments. Indirect costs up to 10% of direct costs allowed. For All Star: the total grant award is $1,000,000 over a five-year period, with annual payments of $200,000.

The V Foundation follows NIH salary cap guidelines. Institutions may supplement a grant recipient’s salary with institutional funds, if desired.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
12/5/2025 (Nomination); 1/9/2026 (Application)
Sponsor
Solicitation Type

Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award 2026

Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2

K. Huntoon (Neurosurgery)

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Limiting Language
Each applicant must be nominated by their institution. Applications will only be accepted from institutions that have been invited to submit them by the Foundation (See list). Three (3) nominations per institution, including its affiliated schools, will be accepted. 

Purpose of Award

  • The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award supports independent young physician-scientists conducting disease-oriented research that demonstrates a high level of innovation and creativity. The goal is to support the best young physician-scientists doing work aimed at improving the practice of cancer medicine.

    The Clinical Investigator Award responds to three recognized realities:

    • Though there has never been a more pressing need or more promising time for clinical cancer research, fewer young physicians enter this area of investigation every year.
    • The number of institutions committed to training young physicians in the scientific discipline and methodologies of clinical investigation is critically low.
    • The burden of medical school debt (averaging over $100,000) discourages many physicians from pursuing clinical investigation.

    The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s award offers solutions to these realities. The awardee will receive financial support for three years, as well as assistance with certain research costs such as the purchase of equipment. The Foundation will also retire up to $100,000 of any medical school debt still owed by the awardee.

    The Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to provide outstanding young physicians with the resources and training structure essential to becoming successful clinical investigators. The goal is to increase the number of physicians capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient’s bedside in search of breakthrough treatments.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must hold an independent Assistant Professor position or equivalent at a U.S. institution and is expected to demonstrate significant support from the home institution through a comprehensive start-up package, ample laboratory space, and protected research time, for example.
  • The applicant must have received an MD, DO, or MD/PhD degree(s) from an accredited institution, completed their subspecialty training and be U.S. Board eligible.
  • The applicant must hold a valid, active U.S. medical license at the time of application.
  • The applicant must apply within the first four (4) years of their Assistant Professor or equivalent full-time faculty appointment (Cut-off date: July 1, 2022). Instructor, Adjunct and/or acting positions are not eligible.
  • Candidates holding or awarded R01s (or R01-equivalent grants such as the DP2 and DP5) at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
  • The applicant must commit to spending 80% of their time conducting research. [In rare unique circumstances, the CIA Committee may consider an applicant with a very modest reduction of 80% protected time if their Department Chair can provide a compelling reason explaining why a waiver of the 80% requirement should be granted, what percentage of effort will be guaranteed, and what safeguards will be put in place to make sure the individual’s research will not be compromised by their clinical/administrative activities.]
  • The applicant is required to apply in conjunction with a Mentor who is established in the field of clinical translational cancer research, cancer prevention and/or epidemiology and can provide the critical guidance needed during the period of the award. No more than two Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators will be funded to work with the same Mentor at any given time (including Co-Mentors).
  • Candidates may apply up to two times during this eligibility period.
  • Only one application will be accepted from a Mentor per review session (including Co-Mentors).
Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
1/20/2025

FFAR 2026 New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

A. Favela (Plant Science)

Limiting Language
Institutions may submit one nominee to the New Innovator Award program.

Eligibility 

  • FFAR welcomes applications from all applicants who meet the following eligibility criteria:
  • The nominated faculty member must have been hired on or after August 1, 2022, for a tenure-track or equivalent position and may work in any discipline or any department within the institution.   
    Preference will be given to individuals near the onset of their independent research career and who are within eight (8) years of receiving a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.   
  • Individuals with significant research experience prior to obtaining their faculty position will not be considered for this award. For this funding opportunity, significant research experience is defined as a nominee that has been awarded a substantial research grant (three to five years of support) or has received project funding totaling over $1M within the time of their tenure position or has been awarded similar career development awards with similar budgetary scopes.
  • The proposed research application must directly benefit U.S. agricultural interests. 

FFAR recognizes that agriculture and food sciences are highly complex, requiring individuals from a variety of disciplines to realize the potential in each field or research area. Particularly for early-stage investigators, collaborators are often essential for success. While this award is given to an outstanding early-career investigator, applicants should include information regarding any essential collaborators and include letters of support from those collaborators. In these letters, the collaborators should comment on the potential of the individual to achieve success. 

Research must align with one of the following priority areas:

  • Cultivating thriving production systems
  • Sustaining vibrant agroecosystems
  • Bolstering healthy food systems
  • Strengthening the scientific workforce 
Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
3/18/2026 (Nomination); 4/29/2026 (Full Application)

Value Assessment and Health Outcomes Research Predoctoral Fellowship

Limit: 1 per research group

A. Acharya (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) 

Limiting Langauge 
Only one predoctoral applicant per research group may apply for this award. If multiple applicants apply, they will automatically be ineligible. Potential applicants and their thesis advisors should decide who will apply.

Overview 
The PhRMA Foundation’s Predoctoral Fellowship in Value Assessment-Health Outcomes Research (VA-HOR) is designed to support promising students (U.S. and non-U.S. citizens) during advanced stages of training and thesis research in value assessment and health outcomes research.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
10/30/2025
Solicitation Type

SebastianStrong Foundation's Discovery Science Award

No Applicants // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Limiting Language
Submissions will be evaluated to ensure they align with our mission and funding criteria. A limit of two proposals may be submitted from the same institution, researcher, or foundation. 

Program Overview
SebastianStrong funds one or more proposals each year that advance meaningful change in pediatric cancer treatment. We are especially interested in research that:

  • Focuses on pediatric cancers with low survival rates or high relapse rates
  • Has transitional potential within 36 months
  • Pursues underfunded or unconventional approaches that could change the status quo
Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
11/30/2025 (LOI)
Solicitation Type

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)'s 2025 INSPIRE Research Challenge (IRC)

Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 1

A. Mukherjee (College of Public Health) 
S. Park (College of Nursing)
T. Kistner (Nutritional Sciences)
G. Leite (Pediatric Hematology Oncology, COM-T)

Limiting Language 
A maximum of five applications will be accepted from one institution in any one grant cycle; it is the responsibility of the Principal Investigators and the host institution to coordinate the number of applications submitted. Institutions are encouraged to contact us to discuss  the prioritization of their applications, if needed.

Program Overview
The WCRF/AICR Network was among the first to recognise and support research on how lifestyle factors could reduce cancer risk and improve survivorship. Three Expert Reports, four decades of funding research projects, annual conferences highlighting the latest research and the Global Cancer Update Programme (formerly Continuous Update Programme), have all cemented  the WCRF/AICR Network as the most trusted source of the latest evidence. 

The concepts pioneered by the WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations are now the mainstay of public health cancer (and other noncommunicable diseases) prevention initiatives and clinical practice. Despite this huge success, cancer incidence rates and the burden of disease remain unacceptably high so the urgent demand for progress remains. 

The WCRF/AICR Network has always been at the forefront of innovative research, new ideas and fostering progress in the field of diet, nutrition  and cancer. As part of our continued commitment to accelerating progress, WCRF International  is running the INSPIRE Research Challenge,  in parallel with our Regular Grant Programme. 

The INSPIRE Research Challenge is aimed at  Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and will prioritise innovative, bold, and creative proposals with the potential to catalyse rapid and impactful advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship.

Internal Deadline
External Deadline
11/4/2025 (LOI); 2/16/2026 (Full Application)
Solicitation Type

NSF 25-548: Accelerating Research Translation (ART)

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1

Track 3: Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Track 4: Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0
D. Hockstad (Tech Launch Arizona)

Track 5: No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

This funding opportunity requires institutional coordination with Tech Launch Arizona. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact Doug Hockstad.  

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona is eligible for tracks 3, 4, and 5 (high research translation readiness level category). For Tracks 3, 4, and 5, an eligible organization can submit a maximum of one proposal per Track. 

Track Synopses 
  
Track 3: Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE)   

  • The ART program aims to leverage the experience and resources of IHEs or non-profits with strong research translation capacity (and/or experience) to launch a network of regional Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE) that promote regional technology transfer and technology development activities available to multiple IHEs in a region with low or emerging research capacity and little or no dedicated technology transfer or research translation resources.  A Track 3 award for a RESOURCE is expected to provide guidance, training, education, and services to other IHEs in a region who have a low RTRL. A Track 3 award is expected to be up to a total of $8 million for a duration of 4 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 5 RESOURCE awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 4 more years and additional funding of up to $2 million, subject to the availability of funds. As noted above, the lead IHE for this Track is expected to be an IHE with a very high RTRL or a non-profit with significant expertise related to technology transfer, entrepreneurship and related areas leading to sustained economic impacts.      

  Track 4: Education and Training (ET)    

  • This nationally focused Track invites proposals from IHEs or non-profits with any combination of either a strong, vibrant and established research translation ecosystem, and/or demonstrated experience to develop, evaluate, and deploy educational and training resources related to entrepreneurship, technology transfer and related activities. The beneficiaries for these education and training resources to be developed will be lower RTRL IHEs located anywhere in the United States (including but not limited to Track 1 and Track 2 awardees). Track 4 awards may be budgeted up to a total of $3 million for a duration of 3 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 4 ET awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 2 more years and additional funding up to $2 million (subject to the availability of funds), to scale up the deployment and adoption of the developed resources and training materials nationally.

Track 5: Coordinating Accelerating Research Translation (CART) 

  • This Track invites proposals from IHEs or non-profits for the creation of a unifying center that will facilitate the development of an integrated platform for coordinating, evaluating, and monitoring the progress being made by teams that are supported under both Tracks 1 and 2. The CART awardee would also coordinate activities to be carried out under awards pursuant to Tracks 3 and 4. The Track 5 CART cooperative agreement award may be budgeted up to a total of $3 million for a duration of 5 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 2 awards under the CART Track. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal for up to 5 more years and additional funding up to $3 million, subject to the availability of funds. Proposals for this Track must be led by one IHE with a high RTRL with significant expertise and experience in areas related to technology transfer, intellectual property management, entrepreneurship as well as initiatives and programs directed at sustained economic and collective impacts. 



 

Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional) - January 2026 Deadline

No Applicants // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Limiting Language
Two applications per institution (with a Unique Entity Identifier ) and a unique NIH eRA Institutional Profile File (IPF) number) are allowed per review round. The same or a similar topic may be submitted for subsequent review rounds involving the same or a similar team, but must be presented as a New application, not a Resubmission.

Program Description 
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed to support highly integrated research teams of three to six Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) to address ambitious and challenging research questions that are within the mission of NIGMS. Project goals should not be achievable with a collection of individual efforts or projects. Collaborative program teams are expected to accomplish goals that require considerable synergy and managed team interactions. Teams are encouraged to consider far-reaching objectives that will produce major advances in their fields.

This FOA is not intended for applications that are mainly focused on the creation, expansion, and/or maintenance of community resources, creation of new technologies, or infrastructure development.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
1/27/2026