This week’s ten opportunities cluster into three clear buckets: research training, patient- and access-focused work, and targeted science plus prevention. A large share of the list is pipeline-building—funding designed to move people into oncology research and keep them there, from trainees through early-career investigators. The throughline is structured development: defined mentorship, clear milestones, and programs that expect tangible outputs rather than vague exploration.
Within that training-heavy group, the emphasis is on hands-on progression: fellowships and scholarships that buy protected time, plus summer placements and internships that pull students into real labs, real datasets, and real clinical questions early. There’s also a track that treats cancer research as more than bench-to-bedside, supporting work that intersects with science policy and systems-level decision-making, alongside opportunities that are more disease-site specific and clinically anchored.
The rest of the list shifts from “who becomes a cancer researcher” to “who benefits from cancer research.” Several calls prioritize patient partnership, implementation relevance, and outcomes that matter in lived experience, alongside awards explicitly built to address inequities in access—to care, to trials, to diagnostics, and to evidence-based services. On the science side, there’s selective support for high-upside translational concepts (the kind that can unlock new approaches rather than just iterate), and the week closes with a prevention-forward option aimed at reducing cancer burden upstream through interventions that can scale beyond a single clinic or institution.
1. PCORI Cancer Partner PFA
PCORI is funding comparative clinical effectiveness research across the cancer care continuum, designed to generate actionable evidence for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and health systems. This funding opportunity emphasizes partnering research and community organizations to run studies with real-world impact.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Proposed project must fit the Cancer Partner PFA focus: comparative clinical effectiveness research across the cancer care continuum.
- Applicants must follow the requirements and submission steps in the PCORI funding announcement (LOI required).
Proposed budget must stay within the maximum direct-cost and indirect-cost limits stated in the PFA.
Funding Details:
- Total funds available: up to USD 60,000,000 (PCORI expects ~4–10 funded projects).
- Max direct costs per project: USD 12,000,000.
- Indirect costs: up to 5%.
- Project duration: up to 5 years.
- Expected funding start date: September 2026.
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): January 6, 2026 (5:00 pm ET).
- Full application: May 5, 2026 (5:00 pm ET).
Where to go for further information:
2. California Breast Cancer Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship
The California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) Predoctoral Fellowship supports doctoral students at California institutions conducting breast cancer research under the mentorship of an established investigator. The fellowship is designed to address training gaps and build the next generation of breast cancer researchers, including trainees working in environmental contributors, health disparities, and prevention. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required before submitting a full application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Enrolled in a doctoral graduate program at a California institution.
- Advanced to candidacy by the award start date.
- Proposed project aligns with CBCRP Priority Areas and is breast cancer-focused.
- Applicant (fellow) serves as PI and prepares the application.
- PI devotes 75% FTE to the project and training activities.
- U.S. citizenship is not required.
- Mentor is full-time independent faculty with active breast cancer research funding or recent publications since 2023.
- Research conducted primarily in California.
Funding Details:
- Up to USD 60,000 stipend annually.
- Allowable expenses may include insurance, tuition, supplies, travel.
- Up to 2 years.
- Indirect costs (F&A) are not allowed.
- Expected award start date: August 1, 2026.
Deadline:
- LOI (required): January 15, 2026.
- Full application (invitation required): March 5, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
- Program details.
- Contact: Katherine McKenzie ([email protected]).
3. Friends of Cancer Research Science Policy Fellowship
Friends of Cancer Research’s 2026 Science Policy Fellowship is a 6‑month, full‑time, in‑person fellowship in Washington, DC, with the possibility of extension to one year. The fellow joins Friends’ science policy team, working on oncology‑relevant regulatory and evidence‑generation projects that sit at the interface of cancer research, drug development, and health policy. Applications are currently open; the deadline is 15 January 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Able to work full‑time, in person in Washington, DC for a 6‑month term beginning in Spring/Summer 2026 (with potential extension to 12 months).
- Strong background in biomedical science, public health, health policy, statistics, or a related field; the fellowship is aimed at candidates who want to turn a serious interest in science into real‑world impact for people with cancer.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills; ability to synthesize complex scientific and regulatory information.
- Commitment to oncology‑focused policy work and to collaborative, cross‑disciplinary projects.
Funding Details:
- Competitive stipend for the 6‑month fellowship term; Friends notes that compensation and benefits may be tailored to individual applicants.
- Full‑time position embedded in Friends’ science policy team, with exposure to regulatory science, real‑world evidence, clinical trial design, and related oncology policy topics.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: January 15, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
4. Breakthrough Cancer Research Cancer Research PhD Scholarships
Breakthrough Cancer Research is accepting applications for its 2026 Cancer Research PhD Scholarships. This opportunity supports doctoral-level cancer research training with a defined 2026 application deadline.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must apply under the “Cancer Research PhD Scholarships 2026” call as listed on Breakthrough’s funding information page.
- Applicants must follow the specific call guidance and submission instructions provided by Breakthrough Cancer Research.
Funding Details:
- PhD scholarship support (award value, duration, and eligible costs are defined in the call materials on Breakthrough’s funding page).
Deadline:
- Application deadline: January 23, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
5. LLS Equity in Access Research Grant
This grant from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Blood Cancer United) focuses on improving equity in cancer clinical trials. It provides $2.5 million over multiple years to fund research on overcoming barriers that prevent underrepresented patients from enrolling in therapeutic trials . Studies funded by this RFP will design and test interventions to increase trial participation among minorities, rural residents, older adults, and other disadvantaged groups . Examples include strategies to reduce logistical obstacles, enhance provider referral of diverse patients, or address systemic biases in trial access. By generating evidence on effective approaches, the program aims to ensure all patients have equal opportunities to benefit from cutting-edge cancer research.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to investigators at academic institutions, cancer centers, public health organizations, or similar entities worldwide.
- Both community-based and academic researchers are encouraged to apply (international applicants allowed, as long as project relevance to improving U.S. trial equity is clear).
- Applicants should propose studies that implement and evaluate multi-level interventions to boost clinical trial accrual of underrepresented populations . Projects addressing systemic/institutional barriers (e.g. trial site selection, provider practices) and/or patient-level barriers (e.g. transportation, education, trust) are welcome.
- Multidisciplinary team approaches are encouraged (e.g. involving oncologists, implementation scientists, patient advocates). Prior experience in health equity or clinical trial research is expected.
- The project must be directly relevant to blood cancers or general oncology but should have broader applicability to trial diversity across cancer types.
Funding Details:
- Grant amount: $2,500,000 USD total, disbursed over up to 5 years (anticipated ~$500K per year) . This is a large-scale award to support robust intervention trials or multi-site studies. Indirect costs are limited (per LLS policy, typically ≤11%).
- Funds may cover personnel salaries, patient engagement costs (e.g. travel reimbursements, navigators), data collection and analysis, and other research expenses necessary for implementing the equity strategies. The budget should be appropriate to a major intervention study.
- Awardees will be part of an LLS-sponsored network focusing on trial equity and may have opportunities to collaborate or share data with other grantees. Progress will be evaluated annually, with continued funding contingent on milestones met.
Deadline:
- January 26, 2026 – Full proposals must be submitted via the LLS grants portal by 3:00 PM ET.
- Funding decisions are expected by April/May 2026 , with projects likely starting in mid-2026.
Where to go for further information:
6. CRI IGNITE Award
The CRI IGNITE Award is a new initiative by the Cancer Research Institute to support exceptional late-stage postdoctoral fellows as they transition to independent faculty positions in cancer immunology. This grant – $1.05 million over 3 years – is meant to “ignite” the careers of young scientists who have demonstrated outstanding talent and creativity . It provides a robust jump-start for newly minted principal investigators to establish their labs and launch novel research programs in cancer immunotherapy. By securing the IGNITE Award, a rising scientist gains critical resources to pursue bold ideas (e.g., exploring uncharted immune mechanisms or developing innovative therapies) at the outset of their independent career.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be senior postdoctoral researchers or clinical fellows at the cusp of starting an independent lab. Typically, candidates are in their final 1–2 years of postdoctoral training and are expected to obtain a tenure-track assistant professor position by the award start.
- Focus on cancer immunology/immunotherapy: Candidates should have strong immuno-oncology backgrounds, evidenced by impactful publications or discoveries during their fellowship. The research proposal must address an important question in tumor immunology or cancer immune therapies.
- No citizenship restrictions – open globally. However, award activation requires the recipient to have secured a faculty post at a nonprofit research institution by the time funding begins. The application should outline the support to be provided by the host institution (startup, lab space) to ensure the candidate’s successful transition.
- Only applicants who do not yet have a funded independent position at the time of application are eligible. (If already in a PI role, they should consider other CRI grants.)
Funding Details:
- Grant amount: $1,050,000 USD over 3 years . This is disbursed as $350,000 per year. It is a largely flexible funding package: can cover the new PI’s salary, key reagents and equipment to set up their lab, and hiring of initial lab staff.
- The award start date is expected mid-2026 and runs for 36 months. Annual progress reports are required. Continuation of funding in years 2 and 3 is contingent on the recipient securing and maintaining a faculty appointment and making research progress.
- No indirect costs are allowed. IGNITE recipients will also receive mentorship and engagement through CRI’s network.
- They may be invited to present at CRI meetings and will join a cohort of other early-career CRI-funded scientists.
- This award is non-renewable. It is intended as a one-time boost to independence, after which recipients are expected to compete for other grants (e.g., federal R01s). If a recipient does not transition to a faculty position in a timely manner, unused funds may be retracted.
Deadline:
- January 9, 2026 – Full application due via the CRI grants portal by this date . (There is no separate LOI; this is a one-step application.) Award notifications will likely be made by spring 2026 so that funding can commence as early as July 2026.
Where to go for further information:
7. Breakthrough Cancer Research Summer Student Scholarship
Breakthrough Cancer Research is accepting applications for its 2026 Summer Student Scholarship. This opportunity supports short-term student engagement in cancer research with a fixed 2026 deadline.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must apply under the “Summer Student Scholarship 2026” call listed on Breakthrough’s funding information page.
- Applicants must follow the eligibility rules and submission steps defined in the call materials.
Funding Details:
- Summer student scholarship support (award value/terms defined in the call materials).
Deadline:
- Application deadline: February 4, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
8. Cancer Research Internship Summer Program (CRISP) – IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
CRISP is a ten-week summer internship for undergraduates offered by the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, designed to provide meaningful exposure to cancer research and clinical/research career paths in oncology. Applications for the upcoming cycle are currently open.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Undergraduate students (program is explicitly a ten-week summer internship for undergraduates).
- Applicants must apply through the program’s application link and submit before the close date.
Funding Details:
- Ten-week summer internship experience in cancer research (program details provided on the CRISP page).
Deadline:
- Applications close: January 31, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
9. Miller Mindell Gynecologic Oncology Research Fellowship
The Miller Mindell Gynecologic Oncology Research Fellowship supports a gynecologic oncology trainee to complete dedicated research training focused on gynecologic cancers. The award provides salary support for a 1–2 year research fellowship period starting in summer 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must hold an MD.
- Must have completed, be currently training in, be accepted into, or be applying to a gynecologic oncology training program in Canada (or an equivalent system).
- Must meet any additional requirements listed in the fellowship call and application materials.
Funding Details:
- Duration: 1–2 years.
- Salary support at the PGY‑6 level (Resident Doctors of BC salary scale: CAD 97,877.39).
- Expected start date: June 1, 2026 or July 1, 2026.
Deadline:
- January 30, 2026 (11:59 PM PST).
Where to go for further information:
10. Shade Grant Initiative (Cancer Council SA / Preventive Health SA)
Cancer Council SA and Preventive Health SA are funding permanent shade structures (new builds or structural repairs) to reduce UV exposure for children in school and early childhood settings. This is a prevention-focused funding opportunity with a clear construction deliverable.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant site must be a public education or care site (school or early childhood setting).
- Applicants must meet eligibility requirements (checked via the program’s eligibility process).
- Only one application per education institution will be considered (latest submission counts if multiple are submitted).
- Applicants must demonstrate support from their governing council/management committee/school board.
- Applicants are asked to contribute 10% of the awarded amount (with limited waiver/adjustment options described by the program).
Funding Details:
- Grant funding: up to AUD 50,000 per site to construct or structurally repair a permanent shade structure.
- Funded activity: construction of a new permanent shade structure or repairs to an existing permanent structure.
- Payment/activity window: grant recipients deliver the activity and funds are paid April 9, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Deadline:
- Applications open: December 1, 2025
- Applications close: February 20, 2026 (5:00 pm)
Where to go for further information: