Apr 17, 2025, 11:28

2025 ACGT – Cinelli Family Foundation Investigator Award in Cell and Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer

The 2025 Investigator Award, supported by Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) and the Cinelli Family Foundation, provides funding for innovative cell and gene therapy research aimed at improving outcomes for patients with breast cancer, including aggressive forms like HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This award supports researchers who are developing next-generation immunotherapies and engineered cellular approaches to overcome challenges in treatment resistance, toxicity, and tumor microenvironment dynamics.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent, and be tenure-track or tenured faculty
Applications from biotech companies with early-stage assets in breast cancer will be considered if partnered with an academic investigator at a U.S. or Canadian institution
No citizenship restrictions
Research must be conducted at an academic medical or research center in the U.S. or Canada
Applicants must be conducting original, independent research

Research Focus Areas

CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-macrophage, or CAR-MSC therapies for breast cancer
Dual-targeting or logic-gated CAR constructs
Strategies addressing the tumor microenvironment (TME), antigen heterogeneity, or on-target/off-tumor toxicity
Oncolytic virus–driven cell therapy targeting
Combining cell therapies with bispecific cytokines
HER2-targeted CAR-T improvements

Funding Details

Amount: Up to 500,000 USD total
Duration: 2 to 3 years
Indirect Costs: Up to 10% included in total award
Allowable Expenses: Salary, technical support, supplies, equipment (not in final year), animals, etc.
Annual progress reports required for renewal

Application Timeline

RFA Opens: March 19, 2025
Abstract Deadline (LOI): May 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST
Invitation to Submit Full Application: June 27, 2025
Full Application Due: August 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST
Finalists Selected: October 17, 2025
Award Approval: November 2025

How to Apply

Submit via proposalCENTRAL
For inquiries: [email protected]

ACGT Breast Cancer cancer cancer research funding CAR-T Cell Therapy Cinelli Family Foundation gene therapy HER2 positive breast cancer immunotherapy OncoDaily Oncology Oncology Innovation proposalCENTRAL translational research triple-negative breast cancer

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