The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) 2026–2027 Research Program supports innovative research across all pediatric brain tumor types and subtypes, with a new emphasis on shared data, technology, and artificial intelligence as tools to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes.
The program offers three funding levels – Idea, Impact, and Innovation Awards – ranging from $150,000 to $600,000 depending on project maturity and scope. Applications are open internationally, and all proposals must include a clear strategy for data sharing, integration, and AI/ML use.
Eligibility Criteria
- Principal Investigators at academic, medical, or research institutions in the U.S. and internationally may apply.
- Applicants may be at any career stage.
- Early-career investigators are encouraged to apply across all three award mechanisms.
- Every proposal must include a defined data contribution and deposition plan.
- Every proposal must also include an AI/ML integration plan describing the technologies, validation strategy, and scalability of the approach.
- Projects involving patient-derived data must confirm that participant consent supports broad data sharing.
- Applicants must commit to PBTF’s data-sharing, integration, and repository requirements.
- Prior PBTF funding does not advantage or disadvantage an application.
Funding Details
- Idea Award: $150,000 for 1 year.
- Impact Award: $300,000 total for up to 2 years.
- Innovation Award: $600,000 total for up to 3 years.
Deadline
- LOI opened: August 18, 2026.
- LOI deadline: September 18, 2026.
- Applicants invited to submit a full proposal: November 1, 2026.
- Invited full proposal deadline: January 12, 2027.
- Funding decisions: April 26, 2027.
- Award agreements finalized: May 30, 2027.
- Funding begins: June 1, 2027.
Further Information
- Proposals without a clear data strategy will not be funded.
- PBTF specifically emphasizes the integration of AI, machine learning, computational science, and multimodal datasets across its research portfolio.
- Official program page: View the PBTF Research Funding Opportunities
- Application portal: ProposalCentral