Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat)
A joint initiative by AORTIC, AACR, and the U.S. National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health, the BIG Cat grant supports early-career African cancer researchers to build independent research careers addressing Africa’s cancer burden. The program provides 55,000 USD over two years, focusing on basic, translational, clinical, or population-based cancer research relevant to Africa.
Eligibility & Requirements
-
Applicants must be early-career researchers based in Africa.
-
A Local Mentor based in Africa is required.
-
An External Mentor will be assigned by AACR after selection.
-
Applicants must become members of AACR (dues waived for low-income countries).
-
All funds (except limited travel) must be spent in Africa.
Funding Details
-
Covers salary, benefits, research/lab supplies, equipment, publications, and travel (up to $10,000 for AACR/AORTIC meetings and relevant conferences).
-
Indirect costs limited to 10% of total budget.
-
Equipment costs >10% of budget require detailed justification.
Research Scope
-
Any area along the cancer continuum: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, etc.
-
Innovative local approaches and use of tech (e.g., mHealth) are encouraged.
-
Must include milestone planning and statistical approach (if applicable).
Application Requirements
-
Full Application Deadline: May 22, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
-
Submission via ProposalCentral
-
Documents required:
-
Research Project Proposal (using provided template, 6-page limit for narrative)
-
Project Milestones (template)
-
Biographical Sketches (PI, Mentor, Collaborators)
-
Letters of Support (Institution, Local Mentor, Collaborators if applicable)
-
Budget and Justification
-
Organizational Assurances and Signature Page
-
Review Criteria
-
Scientific merit and innovation
-
Feasibility and methodology
-
Impact on cancer burden in Africa
-
Researcher and institutional development
-
Justified budget and resource allocation
Obligations
-
Attendance at AACR Annual Meeting and 2025 AORTIC Conference is mandatory.
-
Grantees must participate in an annual recognition event.
-
Interim reporting includes milestone progress and final impact assessment.
Contact
-
General inquiries: [email protected]
-
Technical assistance (ProposalCentral): [email protected]
-
Challenging the Status Quo in Colorectal Cancer 2024
December 6-8, 2024
-
ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
-
ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
-
Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
-
OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
-
Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023