The Rising Tide–LUNGevity Early Lung Cancer Detection Award 2027 offers up to US$300,000 for research that could make earlier lung cancer diagnosis more accessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research and LUNGevity Foundation jointly fund the award.
The call supports clinical trials and validation studies using human samples. Teams should propose an affordable detection approach that can work across different health systems and explain how it could be adopted in routine care. Patient partners must help shape the study, from defining the research question through sharing the results.
Eligibility Criteria
- The principal investigator must be based in an LMIC and hold a doctoral degree and a faculty appointment or equivalent role at an academic or research institution. The guidelines also expect completed postdoctoral training.
- The application must demonstrate institutional support. International collaborators may participate as advisors or consultants.
- Applicants cannot hold a Rising Tide or LUNGevity award that would overlap with this grant.
- Teams must have preliminary data linking the proposed marker or test to lung cancer. Standalone awareness or prevention campaigns are outside the scope of the call.
- Patient partners must have an active role in study design and oversight. A Patient Partner Involvement Plan is required with the letter of intent.
- Applications must be submitted in English.
Funding Details
- Maximum award: US$300,000 per project over up to three years.
- Eligible costs: Study expenses such as participant recruitment, sample collection, laboratory testing and imaging.
- Excluded costs: Indirect costs and investigator travel.
Deadline
- Optional funding to prepare the Patient Partner Involvement Plan: Request by December 20, 2026.
- Letter of intent: Submit by March 8, 2027, through SmartSimple.
- Full application, by invitation: Due May 3, 2027.
Further Information
- Official request for applications
- Submit a letter of intent through SmartSimple
- Patient partner funding enquiries: zoraide.granchi@risingtide.ch