This week, OncoDaily’s OncoGrants highlight brings together 10 standout opportunities for oncology investigators, early-career scientists, and translational researchers.
From cancer prevention and survivorship to translational therapeutics, lung cancer innovation, and antimicrobial stewardship, these programs open doors for investigators, early-career scientists, and clinician–researchers worldwide.
Whether you’re exploring molecular pathways, improving clinical care, or driving public health impact, these grants cover diverse themes, geographies, and career stages – with deadlines extending through early 2026.
1. World Cancer Research Fund Regular Grant Programme
Supports innovative research on how diet, nutrition, body composition, and physical activity influence cancer prevention or survivorship. Two streams: Investigator Initiated Grants and Pilot & Feasibility Grants.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Lead applicant holds a research position at the host institution for the full project duration.
- Eligible organisations worldwide except the Americas (North, Central incl. Caribbean, and South America).
Funding Details:
- Investigator Initiated Grants: Up to £500,000 for up to 4 years.
- Pilot & Feasibility Grants: Up to £60,000 for up to 2 years.
- Themes: cancer prevention and cancer survivorship (mechanisms, host factors, outcomes).
Also welcomes studies on usual-human-exposure levels of ingested food/water contaminants (e.g., PFAS, bisphenols, phthalates, pesticide residues, heavy metals, microplastics) with clear cancer rationale.
Deadline:
- Outline Deadline: 4 November 2025.
- Full Applications Open (Shortlisted): February 2026.
- Full Application Deadline: March 2026.
- Funding Decisions: September 2026.
Where To Go For Further Information:
Program details.
Queries: [email protected]
2. IASLC Young Investigator Grant
One-year grant supporting early-career researchers worldwide to pursue impactful projects across the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and other aspects of lung cancer and thoracic malignancies.
Eligibility Criteria:
- MD, DO, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent within five years of initial faculty appointment.
- IASLC member (maintained for the grant term).
- Postdoctoral researchers at non-profit institutions eligible; for-profit institutions are ineligible.
Funding Details:
- USD 50,000 (one-year, lump-sum to the institution).
- Allowable: salary/benefits, conference registration, travel, consumables, and other research costs.
- Not allowable: indirect/overhead costs; permanent equipment.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 8, 2026.
Where To Go For Further Information:
Program details.
Questions: [email protected]
3. IASLC Adi F. Gazdar Fellowship Grant
One-year fellowship funding postdoctoral researchers training in lung cancer and thoracic malignancies across etiology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and related laboratory research. Global eligibility with regional balance encouraged.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Postdoctoral level (MD, DO, PhD, PharmD or equivalent) for the full grant term.
- Non-profit host institution; work conducted at the Principal Investigator’s institution.
- Both Fellow and Principal Investigator must be IASLC members (maintained for the fellowship).
- PI mentors the Fellow; one candidate per PI per cycle.
- For-profit institutions are not eligible.
Funding Details:
- USD 50,000 total for 1 year, paid in a lump sum to the institution.
- Allowable: salary/benefits, travel, conference fees, consumables, other project costs.
- Not allowable: indirect/overhead costs; permanent equipment.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 8, 2026.
Where To Go For Further Information:
Program details.
Questions: [email protected]
4. IASLC African Impact Grant
Supports innovative, sustainable lung cancer projects in Africa focused on epidemiology/detection (including distinguishing lung cancer from TB) or advocacy, public awareness, and policy. Multicountry, multispecialty collaborations encouraged.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant lives and conducts work in Africa; affiliated with a healthcare institution.
- One proposal per person/group/organization; MPI allowed with one corresponding PI.
- PIs/Co-PIs must be IASLC members (one-year membership may be provided at committee discretion).
- Include institutional statistics (annual lung cancer cases; relevant workforce).
Funding Details:
- Up to USD 20,000 for one year; paid to the institution.
- Funds may support research expenses, personnel, publication, travel, consumables; indirects discouraged (≤10% if necessary).
Deadline:
- LOI Deadline: October 31, 2025 (12:00 p.m. MST)
- LOI Decision: November 25, 2025
- Invited RFP Submission Deadline: December 31, 2025 (12:00 p.m. MST)
- Notification Of Award: By February 15, 2026
- Project Start: By March 25, 2026
Where To Go For Further Information:
Program details.
Questions: [email protected]
5. CFA/IASLC Translational Thoracic Oncology Research Grants
Early-career translational clinical-oncology grants to advance lung cancer detection, diagnostics, therapy selection, side-effect minimization, outcomes, and access—prioritizing projects with near-term patient impact and benefits for underrepresented populations.
Eligibility Criteria:
- IASLC member; doctoral degree (MD, DO, PhD, PharmD, ScD or equivalent).
- Instructor/Assistant/Associate Professor (or equivalent); full professors ineligible.
- Within 7 years of residency/fellowship (physicians) or postdoc (lab scientists); limited exceptions possible.
- No prior LCFA grant; not PI on R01/DOD-equivalent or ≥125,000 USD/year ×3 years peer-reviewed awards (mentored K/CDAs allowed).
- Institutional commitment ~50% effort for the applicant.
Funding Details:
- 100,000 USD per year for up to 2 years (year 2 contingent on satisfactory progress and funds availability).
- ≤50% of budget for salary/benefits; no indirects; no permanent equipment; travel capped at 1,000 USD/year.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 8, 2026.
- Applicants Notified: By May 15, 2026.
Where To Go For Further Information:
Program details.
Questions: [email protected].
6. International Innovation Grant
One-year funding for novel, impactful cancer control projects in low- and middle-income countries, with potential to reduce local burden and be transferable to other LMIC settings. Two-step process: Letter of Intent followed by invited Full Application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant organization: nonprofit or governmental agency located in a World Bank low-, lower-middle, or upper-middle-income country; ≥1 year operating; solvent; capable of delivering tangible outcomes.
- Principal Investigator: ASCO member (or application submitted), citizen or permanent resident of an eligible country, residing there, and affiliated with the applicant organization.
Funding Details:
- Up to USD 20,000 for one year, awarded directly to the grantee organization.
- Dedicated 2026 opportunities include: International Innovation Grant and International Innovation Grant in Cancer Prevention.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: December 10, 2025.
- Award Term: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027.
Where To Go For Further Information:
7. Pfizer Research Grant: Clinical Application Of ATM-AVI In Patients With CRE Infections
Photo: Depositphotos
Competitive research grant to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of ATM-AVI (aztreonam–avibactam) in patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), including MBL-producing CRE, across hospitals in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Principal Investigator and institution must be based in mainland China or Hong Kong.
- Only organizations are eligible to receive funding (not individuals or independent practice groups).
- PI must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent medical/clinical research degree and be employed or contracted by the applying institution.
- Institutions must be able to receive award funding directly from Pfizer Investment Co., Ltd. or Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited.
Funding Details:
- Up to USD 35,000 per project.
- Total available budget: USD 413,000.
- Project duration: 12 to 36 months.
Deadline:
- Application Due: October 15, 2025 (23:59 EST).
- Award Notification: January 15, 2026.
- Project Start: May 16, 2026 – End: May 15, 2029.
Where To Go For Further Information:
Submit online via Pfizer Research Grants portal.
Program details.
8. Pfizer Grand Challenge: Antimicrobial Stewardship In Sub-Saharan Africa
Photo: Depositphotos
Request for Proposals to fund quality-improvement projects that strengthen antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) across Sub-Saharan Africa. Projects should be context-sensitive, implementation-focused (not clinical efficacy research), and align with strategic objectives such as strengthening AMS practices, improving antibiotic access and rational use, enhancing AMR surveillance and diagnostics, and building sustainable systems for impact and scale.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Geography: Lead applicant/entity based in Sub-Saharan Africa; activities at regional, sub-regional, or national level in Africa.
- Who Can Apply: Academic/research institutions, intergovernmental organizations, regional economic communities, scientific associations/societies, NGOs, and other entities with demonstrated AMR commitment in SSA; qualified individuals may also apply.
- Partnerships: Collaboration strongly encouraged (e.g., with universities, hospitals/health systems, public health institutions, regulators, or professional societies). Partners must have defined roles; the lead applicant plays a central role. Grass-roots/local organizations and projects targeting vulnerable populations prioritized.
- Project Fit: QI initiatives only (not clinical efficacy research); include clear pathways for implementation, monitoring & evaluation, and sustainability.
Funding Details:
- Budget Per Award: Up to USD 100,000.
- Total Program Budget/Number Of Awards: USD 400,000 total; expected 4–6 awards.
- Project Duration: Up to 24 months (anticipated Jan 2026–Dec 2027 performance period).
- Use Of Funds: Per QI grant rules; subject to Pfizer grant agreement terms and overhead policy.
Deadline:
- Full Proposal Due: October 4, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, New York).
- Panel Review: October 2025.
- Notifications: October–November 2025.
- Grant Disbursement (post-agreement): December 2025.
- Period Of Performance: January 2026 – December 2027.
Where To Go For Further Information:
9. MRFF Brain Cancer Research Grant Opportunity
Supports transformative research and innovation to reduce treatment toxicity and adverse effects of brain cancer therapies, improving quality and length of life for people with brain cancer and their carers. Administered by NHMRC on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and Cancer Australia.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Eligible Australian research organisations and investigators conducting brain cancer research.
- Projects must develop novel approaches to reduce short- and/or long-term treatment toxicity and adverse effects.
- Applications submitted in accordance with NHMRC/Sapphire and institutional requirements.
Funding Details:
- Grants of financial assistance under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
- Aims to reduce burden from treatment and improve health and wellbeing through evidence-based, implementable outcomes.
Deadline:
- Applications Open: 03 September 2025.
- Minimum Data Due: 21 January 2026.
- Applications Close: 04 February 2026.
Where To Go For Further Information:
- MRFF grant opportunities page.
10. Jane Coffin Childs Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postdoctoral fellowship supporting early-stage researchers; application portal is open with strict time-since-degree limits and U.S. host requirement for non-U.S. citizens.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Postdoctoral research experience ≤12 months by February 2, 2026 (first postdoc start date on/after February 2, 2025; dual-degree MD/PhD should contact the program office for timelines).
- PhD conferred on/after February 2, 2024; MD conferred on/after February 2, 2023.
- PhD candidates without degree at deadline may apply; if awarded, PhD must be conferred and lab start before July 1, 2026.
- Postdoc at the same institution as PhD is not preferred (same lab as PhD is ineligible).
Cannot hold another postdoctoral fellowship award concurrently (T32 at application allowed, but not concurrent with JCC stipend). - Must have a committed sponsoring lab and institution at application; positions contingent on funding are discouraged.
- Applicants of any nationality; non-U.S. citizens must hold the fellowship at a U.S. sponsoring institution.
- Lab limits: ≤1 new Fellow per sponsor per award year; ≤2 JCC Fellows concurrently in the same sponsor’s lab across years.
Funding Details:
- Stipend and terms set by the program; additional awards may be used for research expenses only (not stipend) unless JCC approves. Refer to program guidelines.
Deadline:
- Application Due: February 2, 2026, 3:00 p.m. EST
- Earliest Start: Before July 1, 2026 (for candidates pending PhD at deadline)
Where To Go For Further Information:
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