The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund FY 2026–27, administered by the Florida Department of Health through the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, supports innovative cancer research and treatment models capable of producing measurable impact within a rapid 12-month funding period.
Approximately $70 million is available across the program, with individual projects eligible to request up to $2 million. Priority areas include translational research, clinical trials, innovative treatments, cancer prevention, underserved populations, technology transfer, nutrition-based prevention, and repurposing of generic drugs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Funding is available to Florida-based institutions only, and grant-funded activities generally must take place and funds must be spent in Florida.
- Eligible entities may include qualifying hospitals, cancer treatment facilities, healthcare clinics, rural or critical-access hospitals, and pediatric specialty hospitals.
- Organizations conducting biomedical research to develop cancer therapies, pharmaceuticals, treatment protocols, or medical procedures may qualify.
- Each application must identify one Corresponding Principal Investigator (PI); Co-PIs are permitted but optional.
- The PI must be an employee of the applicant organization and meet the institution’s requirements for serving as a PI.
- The PI must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; non-U.S. citizens may participate as collaborators or other members of the research team.
- Each PI may submit only one application per FY 2026–27 funding cycle, and the same project cannot be submitted under multiple grant categories.
Funding Details
- Individual award: Up to $2 million.
- Total program funding: Approximately $70 million for FY 2026–27.
- Project duration: Exactly 12 months.
Deadline
Applications are being accepted through three rolling funding periods during FY 2026–27:
- Period 1 deadline: September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
- Period 2 deadline: November 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
- Period 3 deadline: December 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
- FOA released: August 14, 2026.
Further Information
- Funded investigators will be required to provide quarterly progress reports and may be asked to report longer-term outcomes for five years after the award ends.
- Program questions: FloridaCancerInnovationFund@flhealth.gov
- Official program page: View the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund
- Download the official program document: Download the FY 2026–27 FOA