The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) 2026 Pilot Award funds one year of high-risk, high-reward preliminary research on neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), providing $100,000 to investigators with bold ideas that have the potential to reshape the field. This mechanism is expressly designed for early-stage or exploratory projects — the kind of innovative, proof-of-concept work that is often difficult to fund through conventional channels. Investigators from any career stage and from outside the NET field are encouraged to apply, provided their proposed work is directly applicable to neuroendocrine cancer biology, detection, or treatment. The LOI deadline is March 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. NETRF provides researchers the rare opportunity to bring new methodologies and cross-disciplinary expertise into neuroendocrine cancer research.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Investigators at any career stage at non-profit academic or research institutions
- PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree required
- Open to applicants globally; no citizenship restrictions
- Projects must be focused on neuroendocrine tumors; small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, mesothelioma, and poorly differentiated NSCLC are excluded
- Investigators without prior NET experience are encouraged to apply if their approach is demonstrably applicable to NETs
- No indirect costs permitted on NETRF awards
- One application per investigator per cycle
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $100,000 over one year
- No indirect costs allowed; full award allocated to direct research costs
- Allowable expenses: personnel, consumables, equipment, and other direct project costs
- Project start date: January 2027
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): March 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Invitation notifications: Early May 2026
- Full Proposal Deadline: June 22, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Award announcement: October–November 2026
- Submit via NETRF’s online portal
Contact / Further Information: