Sarcoma Foundation’s “Last Mile” Sarcoma Research Award

The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) Last Mile Sarcoma Research Award provides one-year grants to bridge the gap (“last mile”) between a near-miss federal proposal and a successfully funded resubmission. This grant offers sarcoma researchers a lifeline to refine and strengthen an unfunded R01-equivalent application that scored well but fell just outside the payline. By funding key additional experiments or analyses, the program aims to significantly improve the likelihood of federal funding upon resubmission, ultimately accelerating new therapies for sarcoma patients.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Investigators (MD, DO, PhD or equivalent) at nonprofit institutions worldwide, within 10 years of initial faculty appointment

• Must have submitted an NIH R01 (or similar major grant) on a sarcoma-related project that was scored but not funded (≥ 50th percentile, outside payline)

• The applicant must be the Principal Investigator of the original unfunded application and plan to resubmit to the same agency

• Note: A copy of the original proposal, NIH summary statement/peer reviews, and a brief resubmission plan are required with the application

Funding Details:

• Grant amount: Up to USD 150,000 for a 1-year period

• Direct costs: May cover research supplies, assays, equipment, and salary support for junior personnel (postdocs, technicians) – PI salary is not allowed

• Indirect costs: Capped at 10% of total (maximum USD 15,000 of the $150K)

• Expectation: Awardees will use the data generated to resubmit an improved R01 within one year of the SFA grant’s end

• Miscellaneous: Travel is not specifically funded except as needed for project execution; awardees are expected to acknowledge SFA support in subsequent publications and grant applications

Deadline:

• Application deadline: February 2, 2026 (by 5:00 PM ET) for the 2026 grant cycle

• Peer review: February–March 2026 (proposals reviewed by SFA’s Medical Advisory Board)

• Notification of award: Mid-April 2026

• Grant term start: June 1, 2026 (projects are expected to run June 2026 – May 2027)

Where to go for further information:

• Official RFP and application: SFA Last Mile Grant page (Sarcoma Foundation of America) – includes instructions and the online application portal via ProposalCentral

• Note: Applicants are encouraged to contact SFA if they have questions about whether their prior grant’s score and circumstances fit the award’s scope