This week’s OncoGrants roundup leans heavily into two priorities that are shaping the near-term funding landscape: building the next generation of cancer researchers and accelerating discoveries toward the clinic. Fellowship and career development awards dominate the list, spanning cancer immunotherapy, pediatric oncology, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer — with early-career investigators at multiple stages of training represented across the board.
Pediatric cancer research commands notable attention this week, with three separate programs from the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation targeting emerging investigators, translational gaps, and the acceleration of existing NIH-funded work. Alongside these, two SITC fellowships open simultaneously for clinicians and scientists pursuing immunotherapy research, while AACR and BCRF jointly back early faculty working in breast cancer.
The week also brings an international dimension, with two Ireland-based opportunities — one supporting doctoral training through the Irish Cancer Society, and another funding cross-border survivorship research between Ireland and Northern Ireland through the All Ireland Cancer Consortium. Rounding out the list is a long-horizon blood cancer award from the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, offering multi-year support for research with clear clinical trial potential.
Deadlines begin as early as April 1st, so early action is essential.
1. SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship
This one-year fellowship from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) supports clinical cancer immunotherapy research and translational immunotherapeutic approaches. It is specifically intended for applicants with an MD or combined MD/PhD and is part of SITC’s annual fellowship program for early-career investigators. The 2026 cycle is open now, with the Letter of Intent (LOI) period running March 18–April 15, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be SITC members in good standing or have submitted a membership application by the April 15, 2026 LOI deadline.
- Applicants should meet the award-specific criteria for the SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship, including holding an MD or combined MD/PhD.
- Applicants may apply to more than one SITC fellowship, but only one fellowship may be awarded per applicant.
Funding Details:
- Amount: $50,000.
- Term: 1 year.
- Award term: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027.
Deadline:
- LOI deadline: April 15, 2026.
- Full application window (if invited): May 15–June 5, 2026.
- Notification: July 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: SITC Fellowships
- Contact: info@sitcancer.org.
2. Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Awards
This joint BCRF-AACR program supports early-career investigators leading innovative breast cancer research. Proposed projects may be basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, population health, or community-based, provided they have direct relevance to breast cancer. The competition is open now, with the full application due April 7, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold a doctoral degree such as PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent.
- At the start of the grant term, applicants must hold a faculty position such as assistant professor, instructor, research assistant professor, or equivalent.
- Research must have direct applicability and relevance to breast cancer.
Funding Details:
- Amount: $150,000 USD.
- Grant term: 2 years.
- Start of grant term: July 1, 2026.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: April 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.
- Decision date: June 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: BCRF-AACR Career Development Awards
- Contact: grants@aacr.org.
3. Irish Cancer Society: PhD Research Scholarship Award 2026
The Irish Cancer Society is accepting applications for its PhD Research Scholarship Award 2026, which funds structured doctoral training in cancer research. The scheme supports projects in translational biomedical, clinical, and survivorship research and includes a mobility element for a secondment of up to three months at a national or international research institution. The call is open now and is intended for excellent graduates working with approved host institutions in the Republic of Ireland.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be graduates with a background relevant to the proposed cancer research project.
- The prospective PhD researcher must be associated with an approved HRB host institution in the Republic of Ireland for the duration of the award.
- Eligible research themes include Translational Biomedical Research, Clinical Research, and Survivorship Research.
Funding Details:
- The award supports doctoral postgraduate training in cancer research.
- It includes funding for a mobility/secondment element of up to 3 months at a national or international research institution.
- The 2026 call includes two scholarships: one Translational Biomedical or Clinical Research Award and one Survivorship Research Award.
Deadline:
- 3pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026
- Use the online Grant Management System and the specific award guidelines linked on the official page for the application timetable.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: Irish Cancer Society PhD Research Scholarship Award 2026
4. Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation Emerging Investigator Fellowship Grant (2026)
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) 2026 grant cycle is focused exclusively on Emerging Investigator Fellowship Grants. PCRF states that this strategy reflects its commitment to strengthening the future pediatric cancer research pipeline by supporting early-career investigators pursuing innovative, high-potential work. The fellowship program aligns with PCRF’s institutional priorities in research, equitable care, and survivorship & mental health. The award provides up to $75,000 for one year.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have completed two years of fellowship, or be no more than two years into a junior faculty role such as instructor or assistant professor at the start of the award period.
- The program is intended for early-career pediatric cancer researchers pursuing innovative research ideas.
- PCRF notes that the full research grant cycle will reopen in 2027, while 2026 is limited to this emerging investigator mechanism.
Funding Details:
- Award amount: Up to $75,000.
- Project duration: 1 year.
- The grant is designed to help cultivate the next generation of pediatric cancer investigators.
Deadline:
- PCRF will accept LOI between February 1, 2026 and April 1, 2026 at 5 PM (PST).
- All LOIs must be submitted via ProposalCentral.
- No extension will be granted to this deadline.
Where to go for further information:
5. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Reach Grant (2026)
The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Reach Grant is designed to move hypothesis-driven pediatric cancer research toward the clinic. It specifically supports projects that identify an unmet clinical need in pediatric oncology and show how the proposed work will enable translation into clinical testing or implementation. The program sits within ALSF’s Accelerator Programs, which are intended to push promising childhood cancer research closer to patient benefit. The award provides a maximum of $250,000 in total costs over two years.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must propose pediatric oncology research with a clear translational path toward the clinic.
- The project must address an unmet clinical need relevant to children with cancer.
- ALSF’s current applicants page confirms the 2026 Reach Grant is an active application cycle.
Funding Details:
- Maximum award: $250,000 total costs.
- Project duration: 2 years.
- The program is intended to support research that can bridge the gap between strong hypothesis-driven science and future clinical application.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: April 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
- Notification timing: September 2026.
Where to go for further information:
6. SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Fellowship
This SITC fellowship supports clinical or translational research in cancer immunotherapy for early-career investigators. It is open to applicants with an MD, PhD, or combined MD/PhD and uses the same two-stage LOI/full-application process as the SITC-Merck fellowship. The 2026 cycle is currently open, with LOIs due April 15, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be SITC members in good standing or have applied for membership by the April 15, 2026 deadline.
- Eligible degree types include MD, PhD, or combined MD/PhD.
- Applicants may apply for multiple SITC fellowships, but SITC states that only one fellowship will be awarded per applicant.
Funding Details:
- Amount: $100,000.
- Term: 1 year.
- Award term: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027.
Deadline:
- LOI deadline: April 15, 2026.
- Full application window (if invited): May 15–June 5, 2026.
- Notification: July 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: SITC Fellowships
- Contact: info@sitcancer.org.
7. AACR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research Fellowship
This AACR fellowship supports a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow conducting work relevant to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The program covers basic, clinical, translational, or population sciences research as long as it is directly applicable to NSCLC. The application is open now, with the full application due May 7, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold a doctoral degree such as PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent.
- At the start of the grant term, applicants must hold a mentored research position such as postdoctoral fellow, clinical research fellow, or equivalent.
- Applicants must have completed their most recent doctoral degree within the past 5 years (degree not conferred before August 1, 2021).
Funding Details:
- Amount: $130,000 USD.
- Grant term: 2 years.
- Start of grant term: August 1, 2026.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: May 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.
- Decision date: June 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: AACR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research Fellowship
- Contact: grants@aacr.org.
8. All Ireland Cancer Consortium (AICC) Research & Innovation Grants Scheme 2026
The AICC 2026 scheme supports innovative, collaborative cross-border cancer research focused on “Survivorship – Living Well With & Beyond Cancer.” It is designed to strengthen all-island collaboration between Ireland and Northern Ireland and can fund pilot projects, mapping activities, standalone research projects, and education or training initiatives. The scheme is currently open and is administered through the Health Research Board (HRB).
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applications must include cross-border collaborators, meaning a Lead Applicant from Ireland must have a Co-Applicant from Northern Ireland, or vice versa.
- Projects must focus on cancer survivorship research aligned with the scheme theme “Living Well With & Beyond Cancer.”
- Applications must align with the HRB strategic remit and one or both jurisdictions’ cancer strategies.
Funding Details:
- Funding range: €100,000 – €330,000.
- Duration: 24 to 36 months.
- The scheme supports research pilots, mapping activities, standalone projects, and education/training initiatives related to survivorship.
Deadline:
- Closing date: May 27, 2026.
- Information webinar: March 24, 2026 at 14:00.
- Decision expected: November 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program page: HRB — AICC Research & Innovation Grants Scheme 2026
9. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation R Accelerated Grant (2026)
The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation R Accelerated Grant supports researchers focused on pediatric oncology who are working to accelerate the discovery of more effective, less toxic therapies for childhood cancers. This program is intended for investigators who already have strong independent funding and want to push an original project forward more quickly. ALSF describes it as part of its effort to fund projects that fill critical gaps in pediatric cancer research. The award totals $800,000 over four years.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be recipients of a pediatric cancer-focused NIH R01 award or equivalent within the last five years.
- The proposed project must be original and not currently funded.
- ALSF emphasizes continued commitment to pediatric cancer investigation and strong institutional support.
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $800,000 total.
- Project duration: 4 years.
- The grant is designed to accelerate research that may lead to better and less toxic treatments for children with cancer.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: June 11, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
- Notification timing: October 2026.
Where to go for further information:
10. Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation Medical Research Awards
The Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation Medical Research Awards support cutting-edge blood cancer research in leukemia, lymphoma, and related hematologic malignancies. The foundation funds projects focused on cancer prevention, detection, and treatments that are likely to translate into clinical trials within 3–5 years. It supports both mainstream scientific research and selected integrative/complementary oncology proposals. Each Medical Research Award totals $225,000 over three years.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The process is invitation-only and is sent annually to NCI-designated institutions.
- The program is structured to support promising early-career investigators in hematologic malignancy research.
- The foundation supports both conventional and integrative proposals under the same core guidelines.
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $225,000 total.
- Project duration: 3 years.
- The research emphasis is on projects that can move toward clinical trial relevance within 3–5 years.
Deadline:
- The foundation states that the annual request for proposals is sent out each spring.
- Submissions are due in August.
- Applicants are typically notified by the first quarter of the following year, if not sooner.
Where to go for further information:
From pediatric oncology fellowships to cross-border survivorship initiatives, this week’s grants reflect a broad but coordinated push to strengthen both the science and the people behind cancer research. Whether you’re a doctoral candidate, a postdoctoral fellow, or a junior faculty member with an active NIH portfolio, there’s a mechanism here worth your attention.
As always, confirm your eligibility directly with each funding body before applying, as criteria and institutional requirements vary. Check back next week for a fresh set of OncoGrants opportunities and if you haven’t already, follow the newly launched OncoGrants by OncoDaily LinkedIn page to get each week’s funding roundup delivered straight to your feed.
We’ll continue tracking high-value global oncology funding opportunities each week in OncoDaily’s OncoGrants.