Cancer Research New Funding Opportunities

Grants for Pediatric Brain Cancer

Application Deadline: June 1, 2026

Budget: $100,000 

Award: Funds translational, clinical, basic and delivery projects that further efforts in pediatric brain cancer. Focus is on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and Medulloblastoma.

Please contact Alex Hood, Associate director foundation relations at alex.hood@bcm.edu with any questions.

AACR-Novocure Cancer Research Grants

Application Deadline: June 4, 2026

Amount: $350,000 over 3 years, including indirect costs

Award: To support independent investigators who are currently conducting innovative research focused on Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; intermediate frequency, low intensity, alternating electric fields that disrupt cell division in cancer cells), as well as to encourage independent investigators to enter the TTFields research field.

These grants are intended to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of this novel anti-cancer treatment modality and to accelerate the development of new treatment strategies to advance therapeutic options for cancer. The research proposed for funding may be basic or translational in nature; however, studies promoting the transition of in vitro work into in vivo systems, combination therapies involving TTFields, or translational projects bringing treatments involving TTFields into the clinic will be prioritized. The Inovitro® system (which will be provided by Novocure, if needed) must be included in the experimental design. Training on the use of the Inovitro® system will be provided by Novocure, if needed. Note that inter-laboratory collaboration is encouraged, particularly for applicants new to TTFields research.

Bio-Therapeutics Impact Grant

Application Deadline: June 9, 2026

Amount: Up to $1.8 million over 3 years ($600k/year) – indirect costs not allowed

Award: The ALSF Bio-Therapeutics Impact Award provides funding to support investigator-initiated clinical trials using biologic therapies, including but not limited to immunotherapy (including cell therapies), gene therapy, and small molecules. This grant category was initiated to accelerate the development of clinical trials for promising biologic approaches to treat childhood cancers.

Please contact Mary Nunciato, Senior Director of Foundation Relations, at mary.hall@bcm.edu with any questions.

AACR-Exelixis Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Fellowship

Application Deadline: June 11, 2026

Amount: $130,000 over 2 years

Award: To encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct renal cell carcinoma research and to establish a successful career path in this field.

Please contact Alex Hood, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, at alex.hood@bcm.edu with any questions.

Aging & Cancer

LOI Deadline: 6/15/2026 by 5 p.m. ET

Amount: $500,000 inclusive of 10% indirect costs

Award: This RFP supports collaborative research exploring how aging drives cancer risk, progression, and treatment resistance across both solid and blood cancers. The program prioritizes interdisciplinary teams with clearly synergistic aims that investigate the biological interplay between aging and cancer—particularly the roles of immune system decline, inflammaging, and tumor microenvironment changes. Core goals include uncovering molecular mechanisms linking aging to cancer, identifying actionable biomarkers, and advancing therapeutic strategies tailored to older or high-risk populations.

PI Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be independent investigators with established, multi-year funding and faculty appointments at nonprofit research institutions. Each application must include one PI and one co-PI from different institutions, forming a collaboration that brings complementary expertise—such as cancer biology paired with aging, immunology, or computational science. Both investigators must lead well-supported labs (e.g., NIH R01-level funding or equivalent internationally) and may only participate in a single application. Current holders of Mark Foundation Aging and Cancer awards are not eligible to apply.

Please contact Mary Nunciato, Senior Director, Foundation Relations, at mary.hall@bcm.edu with any questions.

Clinical Trials to Validate AI-Driven Drug Repurposing

LOI Deadline: June 26, 2026

Budget: Up to $100,000, including a 10% institutional match, with additional funds available for community engagement.

Accepting submissions of investigator-initiated, proof-of-concept, Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials to validate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven repurposing opportunities in any unsolved disease, where the therapies supported by AI models are already approved. Eligible clinical repurposing trials must include AI-generated data as part of the preclinical support for the trial.

Want to learn more? Join one of our AI Validation RFP info sessions!

Please contact Alex Hood, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, at alex.hood@bcm.edu with any questions.

2026 Scholars Program

Deadline: June 30, 2026

Amount: $400,00 over 4 years

Award: The MMRF Scholars program is intended for early-career scientists and clinicians. They should propose a clinical or laboratory project relevant to the field of multiple myeloma. All applicants must have a mentor (associate professor or higher) with established research in multiple myeloma or related fields such as genomics, cancer immunology, or bioinformatics.

Please contact Tiffany Gardner, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, at Tiffany.Gardner@bcm.edu with any questions.

SWOG Early Exploration and Development Fund

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

Budget: $50,000 (direct costs) over 1- or 2-years

Award: Awards to encourage preliminary research that will potentially translate to future clinical trials or trial-associated projects (translational medicine studies) within SWOG and the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). These awards may assist investigators with projects that support the following types of studies: pre-clinical data, secondary data analysis from clinical trials, pilot and feasibility studies (including early-stage clinical trials), small, self-contained research projects, or development of research methodology/technology. Direct application to future SWOG research, larger in scope, is critical and will be a metric of success for this funding program. Another metric of success will be the ability to obtain extramural funding based on studies done during the tenure of the support of this grant. Any SWOG member investigator eligible for NIH funding is encouraged to submit to this program.

Please contact Alex Hood, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, at alex.hood@bcm.edu for additional information.

Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Amount: Up to £250K per project for up to 18 months – indirect costs not allowed

Award: This scheme aims to de-risk early projects to facilitate further drug discovery research, funding, or partnering. We invite applications for early drug discovery proposals from across all childhood cancer indications and modalities. Some examples of projects we might fund include the following areas:

• Deconvolution and validation of novel targets and pathways
• Novel therapeutic approaches to validated targets
• Target identification projects (including development of platforms, assays and screens) 
• Drug discovery feasibility and de-risking

Please contact Mary Nunciato, Senior Director, Foundation Relations, at mary.hall@bcm.edu with any questions.

Community Grants

Application Deadline: Ongoing until funds are used.

Budget: $20,000-$40,000, for one year.

Award: The Colon Cancer Coalition seeks to provide funds to liked-minded partners advancing colon cancer research. Funds must be used on programs that will benefit individuals in and around the event city where the money is raised. Priority will be given to programs working to increase screening for adults over 50 to reach the national goal of 80%, patient screening navigation, or addressing young adult-onset colorectal cancer.

Contact: Please contact Lyndsie Whitehead, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations, at lyndsie.whitehead@bcm.edu for additional information.

Open Proposals Program

Application Deadline: Funding is available on a rolling basis, and new grants are awarded frequently.

Budget: $50,000 - $828,027, from 6 months to 36 months (average $224,000 for 2 years). NTAP supports indirect costs at a maximum of 10% of direct costs.  

Award: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine – Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Acceleration Program (NTAP) supports research projects designed to accelerate the development of effective treatments for NF1-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors. NTAP’s Open Proposal program is open to any stage of drug development.  However, the proposal must focus on the peripheral nerve tumors of NF1 (Cutaneous, Plexiform and Atypical).

Please contact Lyndsie Whitehead, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations, for additional information.