This week’s OncoGrants roundup brings together ten funding opportunities that reflect the full breadth of cancer research investment, from recognition awards honoring contributions to psychosocial oncology, to multi-year discovery grants targeting some of the field’s most urgent challenges.
Breast cancer features prominently, with three distinct mechanisms on offer: a career-launching young investigator award, an open-stage grant for paradigm-shifting projects, and a TNBC-focused NextGen award for early assistant professors pursuing unconventional approaches. Hematologic malignancies are equally well represented, with ASH’s flagship Scholar Award program expanding significantly following recent federal funding pressures.
Also in the mix: a postdoctoral fellowship with over 75 years of history behind it, Worldwide Cancer Research’s global discovery round, capped at 500 applications and filling fast, and Cancer Research UK’s investigator-led Discovery Programme for UK-based researchers. For those working on the clinical end of the spectrum, Lustgarten’s Clinical Accelerator Initiative continues to bridge the gap between laboratory science and patient benefit in pancreatic cancer.
Deadlines across this week’s list run from March 30 through June 1, 2026, so there’s something for every stage of preparation, but several of these close within days.
1. SU2C Young Investigator Award in Early Cancer Detection 2026 — March 30, 2026
The Conquer Cancer – Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) Young Investigator Award in Early Cancer Detection supports physician-scientists making the critical transition from fellowship or training to their first faculty appointment, with the specific goal of advancing early-stage cancer detection science across all cancer types. This is a mentored, one-year, $50,000 award — the same structure as Conquer Cancer’s flagship Young Investigator Award — and research is conducted under the guidance of an experienced mentor at the applicant’s sponsoring institution. Applications are accepted from both U.S. and international applicants, with the focus area open to all cancers as long as the proposed project advances early detection. Conquer Cancer has funded this award through Stand Up To Cancer’s dedicated support for early detection research. The application deadline is March 30, 2026. ASCO membership is required at the time of application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must hold an MD, DO, or MD/DO-PhD degree (or equivalent medical degree)
- Must be in the last year of a training or fellowship program, or in the first two years of a faculty/staff appointment at the time of submission
- Must be within 10 years of obtaining their medical degree at the time of application (exceptions may apply for foreign medical graduates)
- Must have a valid, active medical license in the country where research will be conducted
- Must be working in an oncology laboratory or clinical research setting
- Must have a mentor from the sponsoring institution in the proposed research field
- Must be an ASCO member or have submitted a membership application concurrently with the grant application
- Research must focus on early cancer detection (any cancer type accepted); 60% time commitment to research required
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $50,000 (one-year grant)
- Budget typically covers personnel, research expenses, and travel to the Conquer Cancer Grants and Awards Ceremony at the ASCO Annual Meeting
- Awardees may also be matched with additional donor-specified criteria for named awards within the broader YIA endowment pool
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: March 30, 2026
- Apply via Conquer Cancer’s online portal: log in at conquer.org, select Young Investigator Award Competitions under Programs, and click Apply
- For questions: grants@conquer.org
Contact / Further Information:
- Conquer Cancer Grants and Awards
- Conquer Cancer YIA overview
- SU2C Research Programs
- Email: grants@conquer.org
2. Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Grant 2027 — March 31, 2026
The Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) Young Investigator Grant is one of the flagship funding programs offered by one of the oldest and most respected private breast cancer research funders in the United States, having awarded over $20 million to researchers across more than two decades of operation. The 2027 cycle Young Investigator Grant provides $125,000 over two years to early-career researchers who have completed their training within the past four years and are now conducting independent breast cancer research. The BCA’s grantmaking philosophy centers on funding exceptional science that might not yet be competitive for federal funding — backing researchers before they have an established track record, specifically those without existing R01-equivalent support.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have completed residency, fellowship, or postdoctoral training within four years of the LOI submission date (i.e., training completed no earlier than 2022)
- Must hold an independent research position (assistant professor or equivalent) at an academic or non-profit institution
- Must not have received an R01 or equivalent peer-reviewed independent research award at any time
- Research must focus on breast cancer (any subtype, any stage of investigation)
- No citizenship or institutional residency restrictions specified; check current RFA for geographic eligibility
- Investigators may not hold more than one active BCA grant simultaneously
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $125,000 over two years (~$62,500 per year)
- Funds may support personnel, supplies, research-related expenses, and a small travel allowance
- Indirect costs policy: confirm with BCA at time of application
- Award start date: April 1, 2027
- Annual progress reports required
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): March 31, 2026
- LOI notification (invitation to full proposal): approximately June 2026
- Full Proposal Deadline (invited only): ~July 30, 2026
- Award start: April 1, 2027
Contact / Further Information:
3. Breast Cancer Alliance Exceptional Project Grant 2027 — March 31, 2026
The Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) Exceptional Project Grant is a one-year, $100,000 award designed for breast cancer research projects that are unusually creative, paradigm-challenging, or innovative — regardless of the investigator’s career stage. Unlike the BCA’s Young Investigator Grant, which targets early-career researchers, the Exceptional Project Grant is explicitly open to investigators at any level of seniority. This makes it one of the few breast cancer funding mechanisms that does not impose career-stage restrictions, welcoming proposals from senior established investigators pursuing bold new directions just as readily as it does from mid-career researchers launching a high-risk project.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to investigators at any career stage (no training completion date restrictions)
- Must hold an independent research position at an academic or non-profit institution
- Research must focus on breast cancer (any subtype or research domain)
- Must not hold more than one active BCA award simultaneously; check current RFA for simultaneous application policy
- No citizenship or residency restrictions specified; confirm geographic eligibility in current RFA
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $100,000 for one year
- Funds support direct research costs including personnel, supplies, and related expenses
- Indirect costs policy: confirm with BCA at time of application
- Award start date: April 1, 2027
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): March 31, 2026
- LOI notification (invitation to full proposal): approximately June 2026
- Full Proposal Deadline (invited only): ~July 30, 2026
- Award start: April 1, 2027
Contact / Further Information:
4. Worldwide Cancer Research 2026 Grant Round — April 2, 2026
Worldwide Cancer Research has opened its annual 2026 Grant Round, inviting researchers at any career stage from anywhere in the world to submit applications for discovery cancer research funding. The program supports basic, fundamental, or translational projects of 12 to 36 months in length focused on the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of any cancer type, with a maximum budget of £275,000 and a typical three-year award around £200,000. This year’s round opened on March 5, 2026, and will close on April 2, 2026—or earlier if the cap of 500 applications is reached, making early submission strongly advisable. Worldwide Cancer Research funds creative, hypothesis-driven ideas that other funders might overlook, deliberately prioritizing scientific novelty and impact over incremental progress. Note: applicants must register on the new 2026 grants system before submitting, even if they have applied in previous years.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Principal Investigators at any not-for-profit research institution anywhere in the world
- All career stages eligible, from postdoctoral fellows to senior investigators
- No citizenship or residency restrictions
- The PI must hold an employment contract lasting at least the duration of the grant requested
- Research must be discovery/basic/early translational in nature (not late-phase clinical trials)
- Projects must be discrete, hypothesis-driven, and achievable within the funding period requested
- If applying from an institution not yet in the system, contact grants@worldwidecancerresearch.org to be added before submitting
- Research using mammals with special UK protection (cats, dogs, horses, non-human primates) undergoes additional review by the NC3Rs
Funding Details:
- Award range: up to £275,000 (most three-year awards are around £200,000)
- Duration: 12 to 36 months
- Funds may cover staff salaries, consumables, equipment, and other direct research costs
- No commercial transfer of grant funds permitted
- No-cost extensions of one year may be requested
- Worldwide Cancer Research is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and follows AMRC peer-review standards
Deadline:
- Application window: Open now — March 5, 2026 through April 2, 2026 (or earlier if 500-application cap is reached)
- Daily updated application count published on the funder’s website; early submission strongly encouraged
- All applicants must register on the new 2026 grants system before submitting
- Shortlisted applications will proceed to external peer review; full timeline published in the 2026 Application Handbook
Contact / Further Information:
- Email: grants@worldwidecancerresearch.org
- 2026 Application Handbook (PDF)
- Funding Criteria
- Application Process
5. CRUK – Discovery Programme Award — April 2, 2026
The CRUK Discovery Programme Award is Cancer Research UK’s core grant for supporting high-quality, investigator-led basic and early-translational cancer research at UK institutions. This is a substantial multi-year award intended to advance fundamental understanding of cancer biology, including mechanisms of disease initiation, progression, and how cancer interacts with its microenvironment. The scheme operates with closed rounds, meaning applicants must contact CRUK to discuss their proposal before submitting an outline application. Applications are reviewed twice per year by the Discovery Research Committee.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or recognized research institution
- During the full duration of the award, must be in a post fully funded by the relevant national Higher Education Funding Council, NHS, or equivalent
- Must contact CRUK for an informal eligibility and suitability discussion before applying
- Prior CRUK funding is not a prerequisite; however, applicants should not currently hold a CRUK Fellowship or CRUK Career Establishment Award concurrently
- Research must have clear cancer relevance advancing fundamental understanding of cancer or cancer diagnostics/treatment
- Drug discovery as the sole focus of the project is not supported under this scheme
Funding Details:
- Award amount is project-dependent and determined through negotiation; covers direct research costs (salary, consumables, equipment)
- Duration: variable; multi-year funding expected (see scheme guidelines for full details)
- Indirect costs supported as per CRUK’s costs and salary guidance
- Relocation costs for grant staff are not covered
Deadline:
- Outline application deadline: April 2, 2026 (contact CRUK at least one month before)
- Full applications by invitation following outline review
- Applications managed through CRUK’s online system, Flexi-Grant
Where to Go for Further Information
- Program details.
- Contact for eligibility discussion (before submitting): researchfunding@cancer.org.uk
6. CIHR – Institute of Cancer Research & CAPO Research Excellence Award in Psychosocial Oncology — April 10, 2026
Two organizations (CIHR–ICR and CAPO) jointly run this award to recognize major contributions in psychosocial oncology. The award is tied to the CAPO annual conference: the recipient is expected to attend and present. Submissions for the 2026–2027 cycle are currently open.
Eligibility Criteria:
- CAPO member for at least 1 year.
- Recognized contribution to psychosocial oncology (e.g., research, clinical practice, education).
Funding Details:
- Travel reimbursement up to $1,000 to attend the CAPO conference (per award terms).
Deadline:
- Submission deadline: Apr 10, 2026.
- Winner notified: May 2026.
Where to go for further information:
7. TNBC Foundation–AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research 2026 — April 14, 2026
The Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Foundation–AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research provides $300,000 over three years to an early-career assistant professor committed to driving paradigm-shifting discoveries in triple negative breast cancer research. Re-established in 2024 through TNBC Foundation’s renewed partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), this grant is designed to fund bold, unconventional approaches to understanding, treating, detecting, or preventing TNBC — specifically research that may not receive support through conventional funding channels. The award covers basic, translational, and clinical research and aligns with TNBC Foundation’s three strategic priorities: developing more targeted, less toxic therapies; expanding molecular subtyping for precision medicine; and investigating nutrition, metabolism, and disease prevention. AACR membership is required. The LOI deadline is April 14, 2026; full applications are due August 4, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must hold a tenure-track or equivalent position at the rank of assistant professor at the start of the grant term (November 1, 2026)
- Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, visiting professor, or instructor are eligible
- Must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent)
- Must be an active AACR member in good standing; non-members may apply for AACR membership concurrently
- Proposed research must focus on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and align with TNBC Foundation’s strategic research priorities
- Projects may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature
- International applicants are eligible; the AACR accepts applications from investigators at institutions worldwide
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $300,000 total over three years
- Allowable costs include salary and benefits for the awardee, research personnel, supplies, equipment, and publication charges for funded work
- No indirect costs are permitted (per AACR standard policy for these awards)
- Grant term: November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2029 (approximate)
- Decision date: October 2026
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): April 14, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: August 4, 2026
- Decision date: October 2026
- Grant start date: November 1, 2026
- Applications submitted via AACR ProposalCentral portal
Contact / Further Information:
- TNBC Foundation Research Grants
- AACR Grants Program
- AACR Grant Inquiries: grants@aacr.org
- TNBC Foundation
8. ASH Scholar Award (2027 Activation Cycle) — May 1, 2026
The ASH Scholar Award, first established in 1985, is ASH’s flagship career development program for hematologists in the US and Canada at the Fellow, Fellow to Faculty, and Junior Faculty stages. The 2026 cycle saw a record-breaking expansion of the program—ASH increased its commitment by $9 million and awarded 53 scholars in response to federal funding cuts threatening the research pipeline. This is directly relevant to oncology, as the program funds research on leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other hematologic malignancies. The next LOI cycle (for July 2027 activation) is now open.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or Canadian citizen/permanent resident
- Must be an ASH member in good standing at the time of the LOI deadline
- Fellow level: PhD applicants within 6 years of terminal degree; MD/DO applicants with 4–6 years post-residency; must be in a fellow/trainee position
- Fellow to Faculty level: 6–11 years post-degree/residency; moving toward independence
- Junior Faculty level: holds an independent faculty appointment (Assistant Professor or equivalent)
- Must have at least 75% protected research time (exceptions considered with strong justification)
- Must not have successfully competed for a substantial award (e.g., NIH R01 or equivalent) as PI or co-PI before the application deadline
- Cannot hold multiple ASH awards concurrently
- Research must be hematology-focused (blood disorders, including malignant hematology)
Funding Details:
- Fellow Scholar Award: up to $100,000 over 2–3 years
- Fellow to Faculty Scholar Award: up to $125,000 over 2–3 years
- Junior Faculty Scholar Award: up to $150,000 over 2–3 years
- Payments made quarterly to the institution
- Up to 15% of award may be used for benefits (health/dental/retirement); indirect costs not allowed
- Award activation: July 1, 2027
Deadline:
- LOI (Letter of Intent) deadline: May 1, 2026 (submitted via ASH online awards system)
- Eligible applicants notified and invited to apply in early June 2026
- Full application deadline: August 3, 2026
Where to Go for Further Information:
9. Lustgarten Foundation Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI) 2026 — May 31, 2026
The Lustgarten Foundation’s Robert F. Vizza Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI) funds highly collaborative, science-driven clinical studies in pancreatic cancer research, designed to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into patient benefit. The CAI is a flagship Lustgarten program and represents a unique funding model: rather than a fixed award size, it supports carefully designed, typically smaller-scale studies that enable deep translational analyses, maximize learnings, and move the most promising science into the clinic. Proposals are reviewed by Lustgarten’s Translational Advisory Group (TAG), and only select applicants receive invitations to submit full grant applications. Letters of Intent are due May 31, 2026, via ProposalCentral. The Lustgarten Foundation is the world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, and the CAI is its primary mechanism for supporting science that has reached clinical readiness. Award notifications are expected by January 2027.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Principal Investigators conducting pancreatic cancer research with translational or clinical components
- Applicants must be at non-profit academic, medical, or research institutions
- Projects should be collaborative and team-based, ideally involving multiple investigators or disciplines
- Studies should demonstrate direct potential for patient benefit; purely basic science proposals without a clinical pathway are generally out of scope
- No explicit career stage restriction listed; proposals reviewed on scientific and translational merit
- International applicants may be eligible; consult the current LOI instructions for geographic requirements
Funding Details:
- Funding amount: Variable; determined by project scope and scientific merit (no fixed cap publicly listed)
- CAI studies are typically smaller in scale, focused on generating deep translational insights
- All submissions via ProposalCentral
- Multi-institutional and multi-investigator collaborations are preferred
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): May 31, 2026
- Invitations for TAG Presentations: by July 2026
- Invitations for Grant Applications: by September 2026
- Award Notifications: by January 2027
Contact / Further Information:
-
- Lustgarten Current Funding Opportunities
- Clinical Accelerator Initiative overview
- Jaclyn Lyman, Head of Clinical Research and Development: jaclyn.lyman@lustgarten.org
- Andrew Rakeman, Ph.D., VP, Research: andrew.rakeman@lustgarten.org
- Sejin Chung, Ph.D., Program Scientist: sejin.chung@lustgarten.org
10. American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship — June 1, 2026
The American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF) has been supporting early-career cancer scientists for over 75 years, making it one of the longest-running oncology postdoctoral funding programs in the US. It supports new investigators across the full spectrum of cancer research—from basic science and preclinical research through clinical, psychosocial, behavioral, epidemiology, health services, and health policy research. The fellowship provides multi-year funding along with mentored career development, and fellows benefit from ACS community connections and meeting presentation support. Applications for the June 2026 cycle became available in March 2026 on ProposalCentral.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a US citizen or non-citizen holding an appropriate visa at time of application submission
- Must have completed 3 or fewer years of postdoctoral research training at the time of the deadline
- Terminal doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent) required; degree must be conferred before grant activation
- Research must be cancer-focused and conducted at an approved non-profit US university, hospital, or research institution
- A named primary mentor/sponsor with an independent, established research program is required
- Cannot concurrently hold another postdoctoral fellowship at the time of activation
- Applicants with a T32 at time of application may apply, but cannot hold T32 concurrently with an active ACS PF
Funding Details
- Progressive stipends: $66,000 (Year 1), $68,000 (Year 2), $70,000 (Year 3)
- Annual $4,000 fellowship allowance (for health insurance, workshops, conference costs)
- Additional $1,500 travel allowance in the final year (for ACS Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium or domestic scientific meeting)
- Duration: up to 3 years
- Top-ranked fellowships may receive supplemental endowment funding above standard stipend
- No indirect costs
Deadline
- June 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
- Applications available on ProposalCentral from March 2026 (applications opened this month)
- Submit via proposalcentral.com
- If deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, accepted the following business day
Where to Go for Further Information
- Program overview and all grant types.
- Eligibility and policies.
- Eligibility questions (at least 6 weeks before deadline): grant.eligibility@cancer.org.
From early-career physician-scientists stepping into their first faculty roles to senior investigators pursuing high-risk, high-reward discoveries, this week’s grants span nearly every career stage and cancer type. What connects them is a shared commitment to moving the science forward, whether that means funding a bold hypothesis that federal mechanisms might overlook, accelerating a promising finding toward the clinic, or honoring the researchers who have spent careers advancing cancer care in ways that don’t always make headlines.
With multiple deadlines falling in the next two weeks, including the SU2C Young Investigator Award, both BCA grants, and the Worldwide Cancer Research round, now is the time to act. Keep checking OncoDaily’s OncoGrants section each week for the latest opportunities across the full cancer research and care landscape.
We’ll continue tracking high-value global oncology funding opportunities each week in OncoDaily’s OncoGrants.