The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Research Education Program 2026 supports institutional programs that introduce students in grades 6–12 and undergraduate education to cancer research and encourage long-term interest in biomedical research careers.
The R25 program combines mentored cancer research experiences, curriculum or methods development, and community outreach. Eligible organizations may request up to $400,000 in direct costs per year for up to five years, with the final application deadline on September 28, 2026. (Grants.gov)
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private institutions of higher education.
- Foreign organizations, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and foreign components are not eligible.
- Multiple PDs/PIs are permitted when appropriate.
- Student participants must be enrolled and in good standing in grades 6–12 or an undergraduate institution.
- Teachers and undergraduate faculty participants must currently be employed and engaged in science teaching.
- Student, teacher, and faculty participants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents.
- Proposed research experiences must be cancer-focused and must include all three required program components.
Funding Details
- Maximum funding: $400,000 in direct costs per year.
- Maximum duration: 5 years.
- Grant mechanism: NIH R25 Research Education Project.
- Personnel and consultant expenses are limited to up to $4,500 per participant per year.
- Up to $1,500 per participant per year may be requested for research-education expenses such as laboratory supplies, books, poster production, meeting registration, and research-related travel. (Grants.gov)
- A housing allowance may be requested, averaging no more than $1,000 per participant.
Deadline
- Application deadline: September 28, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
- Scientific merit review: March 2027.
- Advisory Council review: May 2027.
- Earliest project start: July 2027.
- NOFO expiration: September 29, 2026.
Further Information
- NCI strongly encourages programs to track student participants for at least 15 years to evaluate longer-term effects on biomedical research careers.
- Programs may complement existing federally funded training activities, but the proposed YES activities must be distinct from existing federally supported programs.
- Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity.
- Official NIH program page: View the official NOFO
- Simpler.Grants.gov: View the opportunity
- Grants.gov: View on Grants.gov