The MRF Breakthrough Consortium Pilot Translational Award supports innovative pilot projects in clinical and translational melanoma research. Preliminary data are not required, making the award particularly suitable for testing novel ideas and generating initial evidence for larger studies.
Projects should use human specimens, molecules derived from human tissue, or patient-reported outcomes and should have the potential to develop into larger multicenter research proposals. The award does not fund the conduct of a clinical trial, although correlative or bioinformatic research connected to an independently supported clinical trial is eligible.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree at the time of submission.
- Both tenure-track and non-tenure-track investigators may apply.
- The Principal Investigator must be based at an MRF Breakthrough Consortium institution.
- U.S. citizenship is not required.
- The project must focus on an aspect of melanoma research.
- Patient-derived xenograft research may be eligible.
- Projects conducted solely using tissue-culture cell lines are not eligible.
- Research cannot be identical to another currently funded MRF project.
Funding Details:
- Award amount: USD 50,000.
- Award term: 1 year.
- Expected award period: October 1, 2026–September 30, 2027.
- Only direct research costs are permitted.
- No more than 25% of the award may support PI or Co-PI salary and fringe benefits.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: August 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Award notification: September 2026.
- Anticipated project start: October 1, 2026.
- Anticipated project completion: September 30, 2027.
Further Information:
- Preliminary data are not required, although applicants may include available preliminary findings.
- The research plan is limited to two pages, excluding references, and should describe the specific aims, background, rationale, significance, experimental design, and procedures.
- Applications require PI/Co-PI biosketches and other support information, an institutional letter of support, a Data Management and Sharing Plan, scientific and lay abstracts, and a detailed budget.
- Applications must be submitted electronically through ProposalCentral, and research-program questions may be directed to research@melanoma.org.
- Official program information and application details: See the Melanoma Research Foundation Research Grants & RFPs page and the official 2026 Pilot Translational Award RFP for the complete eligibility requirements, application instructions, and submission materials.