This week’s OncoGrants roundup highlights 10 funding opportunities for researchers at different career stages, from junior faculty building an independent programme to teams leading international collaborations. The calls span cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment research, with dedicated funding for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, chordoma, and childhood blood cancers.
The roundup includes funding for projects at very different stages: approximately €50,000 to answer new questions using existing clinical trial data, US$375,000 for early career breast cancer researchers, and up to £1.25 million for advanced fellowships at Sheffield. First deadlines run from November 27, 2026, to January 21, 2027. Check the first required step for each opportunity: some calls begin with a concept letter, nomination, or budget submission.
1. Canadian Cancer Society–Cancer Research UK Biology to Prevention Award 2026
The Canadian Cancer Society–Cancer Research UK Biology to Prevention Award 2026 supports collaborative UK–Canada research translating biological discoveries into new approaches to prevent cancer. Funding includes up to £600,000 for UK research and C$1 million for Canadian research, over a maximum of five years.
Projects may investigate preventive drugs, dietary or immunological interventions, precancerous changes, or biomarkers predicting cancer development. Applicants must explain how their research could ultimately reduce cancer risk or incidence.
Eligibility Criteria
- Teams must include UK- and Canada-based lead applicants with a genuine intellectual partnership.
- UK applicants must be based at an eligible university, medical school, hospital or research institute.
- UK applicants must have postdoctoral experience or equivalent.
- Research must address primary cancer prevention through biological or mechanistic insights.
- Applicants must discuss their proposal with CRUK before receiving access to the application.
- Canadian applicants must obtain CCS approval of their budget and include the approved costing form.
- Host institutions must approve the application and provide appropriate research resources.
Funding Details
- UK component: Up to £600,000.
- Canadian component: Up to C$1 million in direct research costs.
- Duration: Up to five years.
Deadline
- Canadian budget submission: November 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Full application: December 4, 2026, submitted by the UK lead through Flexi-Grant.
- Initial CRUK discussion: Applicants should make contact at least one month before the full deadline.
- Funding results: Summer 2027.
- Expected funding start: Late summer 2027.
Further Information
- Official Canadian Cancer Society program page
- CRUK eligibility and application guidance
- CRUK contact: pprc@cancer.org.uk
- CCS contact: research@cancer.ca
2. Yorkshire Cancer Research–Sheffield Pioneers Funding 2027
The Yorkshire Cancer Research–Sheffield Pioneers Funding 2027 supports cancer research through fellowships, project awards and grants for preliminary studies at the University of Sheffield. Round 6 opens on November 3, 2026, with advanced fellowships offering up to £1.25 million.
Fellowships welcome both internal and external candidates, providing opportunities for researchers seeking to establish or strengthen their independent careers at Sheffield. Project and small-grant lead applicants must be based at the university.
Eligibility and Application Criteria
- Fellowship applications are open to internal and external candidates.
- External fellowship applicants must nominate a mentor or supervisor holding a substantive University of Sheffield contract.
- Project and small-grant awards are restricted to internal applicants.
- Proposals must address at least one of the university’s five cancer research strategy themes.
- All applications must undergo University of Sheffield internal review.
- Fellowship applicants must include a CV with their outline application.
- Previously submitted proposals must include earlier reviewer comments.
- Only applicants approved through internal review may proceed to the full application stage.
Funding Details
- Advanced Fellowships: Up to £1.25 million over five years.
- Transition Fellowships: Up to £350,000 over three years.
- Project Awards: £100,000–£1 million over up to three years.
- Small Grants / Pump Priming: Approximately £200,000 over up to two years.
- Eligible project expenses include consumables, equipment, travel, open-access publishing and patient involvement.
Deadline
- Internal outline application: December 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. UK time.
- Fellowship interviews: February 8, 2027.
- Internal progression decisions: By February 24, 2027.
- Invited full applications: May 19, 2027, at noon UK time.
Further Information
- Official Round 6 announcement, guidance and application forms
- Funding streams and external applicant requirements
- Contact: ycr_schemes@sheffield.ac.uk
3. BCRF–AACR Career Development Awards 2027
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation–AACR Career Development Awards 2027 support early-career faculty conducting research directly relevant to breast cancer. Each award provides $375,000 over three years to help investigators develop their independent research programs.
Eligible projects span basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, population health and community-based research. The program also considers research addressing breast cancer health disparities in racial and ethnic minority populations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Hold a PhD, MD, MD/PhD or equivalent doctorate by July 1, 2027.
- Hold an eligible faculty position, such as assistant professor, instructor or research assistant professor.
- Have started the first independent faculty position on or after July 1, 2021; approved leave exceptions may apply.
- Have independent laboratory space confirmed by the institution.
- Work at an academic, medical or research institution anywhere in the world.
- Meet AACR’s Active Membership requirements by the LOI deadline.
- Must not currently hold—or previously have held—a substantial independent research award, as defined in the guidelines.
- Cannot hold another AACR grant concurrently or be pursuing another doctoral degree during the award.
Funding Details
- Total award: $375,000 USD.
- Duration: Three years.
- Start date: July 1, 2027.
- May cover salaries and benefits, research staff, graduate student tuition, laboratory supplies, equipment and relevant publication expenses.
Deadline
- Letter of intent: December 15, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. US Eastern Time.
- LOI decisions: February 2027.
- Invited full application: April 1, 2027, at 1:00 p.m. US Eastern Time.
- Award notification: June 2027.
Further Information
- Official program details and guidelines
- Apply through ProposalCentral
- Contact: grants@aacr.org
4. Cancer Australia–NHMRC Liver Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Grants 2026
The Cancer Australia–NHMRC Liver Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Grants 2026 support research identifying people at increased risk of liver cancer and connecting them with timely, evidence-based care. The call offers up to AUD $1 million per project.
Research may address risk prediction, surveillance, referral pathways or barriers to care. The program also welcomes culturally safe, community-led approaches that improve access for underserved populations.
Eligibility and Project Requirements
- Applications must be submitted through an NHMRC-approved Administering Institution.
- Projects must address liver cancer prevention, risk identification or early detection.
- Proposals must cover at least one research area specified in the call.
- Research should demonstrate potential for translation into practice.
- Proposals should build cancer research workforce capacity, including opportunities for early- to mid-career researchers.
- Applicants must submit minimum application data before the separate minimum-data deadline.
- Completed applications must be submitted electronically through NHMRC Sapphire.
Funding Details
- Maximum award: AUD $1 million per project.
- Total funding pool: AUD $7 million.
- Duration: One to three years.
- Jointly funded by Cancer Australia and NHMRC. Cancer Australia
Deadline
- Minimum data: December 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM AEDT.
- Full application: December 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM AEDT.
Further Information
- Official Cancer Australia program page
- NHMRC call and research priorities
- GrantConnect guidelines
- Contact: help@nhmrc.gov.au
5. Mark Foundation–Chordoma Foundation TBXT and Beyond ASPIRE Awards
The Mark Foundation–Chordoma Foundation TBXT and Beyond ASPIRE Awards offer up to $500,000 over two years for research developing new ways to target chordoma.
The call focuses on TBXT-derived peptides displayed on cancer cells and other tumour-specific surface targets. It supports basic, translational and preclinical proof-of-concept research.
Eligibility and Project Requirements
- Applicants must work at a nonprofit academic or research institution.
- Applications are accepted worldwide.
- Principal investigators must be independent researchers.
- Each researcher may submit one application as PI.
- Participation as a co-investigator on other proposals is unrestricted.
- Clinical trials and late-stage therapeutic development are excluded.
Funding Details
- Maximum: $500,000.
- Duration: Up to 24 months.
- The total includes indirect costs, capped at 10% of direct costs.
- Revenue-sharing terms apply.
Deadline
- Concept letter: December 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.
Invitations: End of January 2027.
Full application: March 1, 2027.
Grant start: June 1, 2027.
Further Information
6. Blood Cancer UK–RUNX1 Research Program Project Grant 2027
The Blood Cancer UK–RUNX1 Research Program Project Grant 2027 supports research into preventing blood cancer in people with RUNX1 familial platelet disorder (RUNX1-FPD). The partnership seeks to understand the earliest biological changes preceding malignancy and identify opportunities to predict risk or intervene sooner.
Priority questions include how inherited RUNX1 deficiency affects blood stem cells, mutation accumulation and clonal evolution. Projects may also investigate biomarkers, inflammation, immune mechanisms or approaches supporting future cancer prevention.
Eligibility and Project Criteria
- Lead applicants must be based at an eligible UK institution.
- Junior and senior investigators receive equal consideration.
- International collaborations bringing complementary expertise are encouraged.
- Projects must advance understanding or prevention of malignant progression in RUNX1-FPD.
- Studies using primary human samples should provide a feasible sample-access plan.
- Research must meet the standard Blood Cancer UK Project Grant requirements.
- Discovery and preclinical translational research are eligible; justified small clinical studies may be included.
- Clinical trials, bridging support and biobank infrastructure are outside the standard scheme’s remit.
Funding Details
- Partnership award: Up to £300,000 over three years, as listed by the RUNX1 Research Program.
- Expected support: One jointly funded project.
- Purpose: Research addressing progression from germline RUNX1 deficiency to hematologic malignancy.
- Applicants should confirm the partnership-specific budget when discussing their proposal with the funders.
Deadline
- Application deadline: January 21, 2027, at 3 p.m. UK time.
- Expected outcomes: July 2027.
- Applications require submission through the Blood Cancer UK Grants Portal, allowing time for institutional signatory approval.
Further Information
7. SU2C–AACR Nina Nicolai Pancreatic Cancer Collaboration Award 2027
The Stand Up To Cancer Nina Nicolai Pancreatic Cancer Innovation in Collaboration Award 2027, administered with AACR as SU2C’s scientific partner, provides up to $225,000 over one to two years for collaborative pancreatic cancer research.
The award supports members of the SU2C scientific community developing innovative partnerships to accelerate new treatments. Priority is given to new SU2C collaborations, with an early-career investigator required among the project’s co-leaders.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be members of the SU2C scientific community.
- Project co-leaders must come from different institutions.
- At least one co-leader must be an early-career investigator.
- Eligible early-career researchers include junior faculty within seven years of completing training, postdoctoral fellows, clinical research fellows and mentored researchers-in-training.
- At least one applicant must be affiliated with an academic, medical or research institution.
- Each co-leader may submit only one application.
- Industry, nonprofit and government-agency applicants may participate but, as specified in the RFA, are not eligible to receive funds.
Funding Details
- Maximum award: $225,000.
- Duration: One to two years, depending on project scope.
- Funding requires SU2C approval of the final project and budget.
- Annual scientific progress and financial reports are required. research.umgccc.org
Deadline
- Application deadline: December 10, 2026.
- Applications are currently open.
Further Information
Applications require a one-page project description, budget and budget justification.
- Official 2027 request for applications
- Apply through ProposalCentral—search “Stand Up To Cancer.”
- Contact: proposals@su2c.org
8. LLSC Pediatric Blood Cancer Research Innovation Grant 2027
The LLSC Pediatric Blood Cancer Research Innovation Grant 2027, offered by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, supports research into childhood blood cancers, including rare subtypes.
The competition opens November 2, 2026, offering up to CAD $200,000 over two years. Its focus is foundational science that improves understanding of disease mechanisms and identifies potential therapeutic targets.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
- Open to Canadian researchers.
- Projects must focus on pediatric blood cancers.
- Research should advance foundational knowledge of disease mechanisms or therapeutic targets.
- Rare pediatric blood cancer subtypes are within scope.
- Applicants must submit a mandatory letter of intent.
- Full applications are accepted by invitation following LOI review.
- Both stages must be submitted through ProposalCentral.
Funding Details
- Maximum total: CAD $200,000.
- Annual maximum: CAD $100,000.
- Duration: Two years.
Deadline
- LOI: December 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Invitations: December 2026.
- Invited full application: February 10, 2027, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Award notification: Fall 2027.
Further Information
9. LCFA Clinical Trial Principal Investigator Grants 2027
The Lung Cancer Foundation of America Clinical Trial Principal Investigator Grant Program provides two awards of $150,000 each over three years to protect research time for junior clinical investigators leading national thoracic oncology trials.
The program supports National Principal Investigators on eligible National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) therapeutic trials. Disease areas include non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymoma, thymic carcinoma and pulmonary carcinoid.
Eligibility Criteria
- Hold an MD, DO or equivalent degree.
- Be an Assistant Professor with fewer than six years at that rank when the trial activates; exceptions require prior consultation.
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident.
- Serve as National PI on a fully approved NCTN Phase II/III or Phase III therapeutic trial.
- The trial must be about to activate or activate within six months.
- Eligible groups are Alliance, ECOG-ACRIN, SWOG and NRG.
- Nominations must come from an NCTN lung cancer or thoracic oncology committee chair, with Group Chair support.
- The institution must confirm support and acceptance of the award terms.
Funding Details
- Total per award: $150,000.
- Annual funding: $50,000 for three years.
- Number of awards: Two.
- Funds primarily support the National PI’s salary for protected research time.
- Institutional overhead: Not permitted.
- Reallocation to other direct costs requires prior written approval.
Deadline
- Nomination deadline: December 1, 2026.
- Award announcement: February 2027, at the IASLC Targeted Therapy Meeting.
Further Information
- Official program page
- Application guidelines
- Submission: Committee chairs email the nomination package to grants@lcfamerica.org.
10. Anticancer Fund Amplify Research Grants 2027
The Anticancer Fund Amplify Research Grants 2027 support secondary analyses of cancer clinical trial data, offering approximately €50,000 per project.
The call seeks new evidence to improve the use of existing treatments and guide therapeutic decisions for defined patient populations. Projects should answer questions beyond the original trial objectives.
Eligibility and Project Criteria
- The lead applicant’s host institution must be a nonprofit organisation.
- Projects must analyse data from cancer clinical trials.
- Analyses must primarily use prospectively collected trial data.
- Investigated interventions must be available in European clinical practice.
- Research must address clinically relevant treatment questions.
- Main results must be deliverable within 18 months of the award.
Funding Details
- Budget: Approximately €50,000 per project.
- Expected awards: Up to three.
- Research focus: Secondary trial-data analysis to optimise cancer treatment.
Deadline
- Application deadline: January 14, 2027, at 5 p.m. CET.
- Funding decisions: Expected by the end of March 2027.
Further Information
- Official call, application form and guidelines
- Contact: apply@anticancerfund.org
- Applicants are encouraged to discuss project eligibility before preparing their application.
See our “Top 4 Liver Cancer Research Opportunities to Apply for in 2026–2027” and other Funding Opportunities on OncoGrants by OncoDaily.
Written by Rima Grigoryan, MDc