This week’s OncoGrants roundup is heavily weighted toward lung cancer, with multiple foundation-led calls targeting prevention, early detection, treatment resistance, air pollution, and recurrence—including one seven-figure translational award aimed squarely at near-term patient impact.
Alongside these large disease-focused grants, the list includes targeted funding for lymphoma and childhood cancer translation, as well as several competitive summer research programs designed to build the oncology workforce early. Undergraduate and trainee opportunities span wet-lab biology, computational cancer dynamics, and clinical research environments at major cancer centers.
Taken together, this week’s grants reflect a dual investment strategy: scaling high-risk, high-reward lung oncology research while continuing to fund early-stage talent pipelines and disease-specific projects with clearly defined scopes and timelines.
1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) 2026
A ten-week summer internship at MSKCC in New York City for outstanding undergraduate students interested in biomedical sciences and cancer research. The SURP provides immersive laboratory research experience under the mentorship of MSK’s leading scientists in areas such as molecular biology, cancer genetics, immunotherapy, and more. Students also attend workshops, faculty lectures, and career development sessions. This program is designed to encourage students to pursue graduate education and careers in cancer research.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Current undergraduates in sophomore or junior year (exceptional freshmen considered) with strong academic standing in biology, chemistry, or related majors.
-
Must not be graduating before December 2026 (to ensure they return to school after the program).
-
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students enrolled at a U.S. college (MSK will assist with necessary visa for international students).
-
Demonstrated interest in research (prior lab experience is a plus) and a commitment to full-time participation for the program duration.
Funding Details:
-
Stipend: Approximately $6,000 for the 10-week program (disbursed bi-weekly).
-
Housing: Free housing provided in NYC dormitories for out-of-area students (or housing allowance for local students).
-
Travel: Modest travel reimbursement for students outside the NYC area to relocate to the city for the program.
-
Program runs early June to mid August 2026; at conclusion, students present their research at a poster symposium and may be eligible for MSK’s annual poster competition.
Deadline:
-
February 6, 2026 – Application deadline (8:00 AM EST) for all application materials. (Note: an earlier internal deadline of Feb 2 is recommended to account for reference letters).
-
Admission offers made by mid-March 2026.
-
Program dates: June 8 – August 16, 2026 (approximate). Students must be available for the entire period.
Where to go for further information:
-
Contact: surp@mskcc.org – MSKCC Graduate Medical Education office, which administers the SURP, for any program or application queries.
2. Cure Childhood Cancer Translation to CURE Oncology Award 2026
A Cure Childhood Cancer translational research award intended to move childhood cancer research toward patient impact, using an LOI with invited full proposals.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Proposed research must address childhood cancer and fit the award’s translational scope.
-
LOI required; full proposal is invitation-only after LOI review.
-
Applicants must follow the official eligibility and submission rules in the guidelines.
Funding Details:
-
Award amount: stated in the program’s award listing (see official page for the exact figure).
-
Costs/duration: defined in the program guidelines for this award type.
Deadline:
-
LOI due: February 13, 2026.
-
Invited full proposal due: March 30, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
3. Lymphoma Canada Research Grant 2026 Oncology Funding
Lymphoma Canada’s research grant program provides targeted funding for lymphoma-related research projects, with a defined application deadline in April 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Research must be lymphoma-focused (per program description).
-
Applicants must meet Lymphoma Canada’s eligibility rules in the application guidelines.
-
Eligibility geography: Canada-focused program (see guidelines for details).
Funding Details:
-
$50,000 (one-time grant).
-
Funds can be used within up to 2 years (per program description).
Deadline:
-
Application due: April 13, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
4. OUCH & LCRF Air Pollution Lung Oncology Grant 2026
A joint research grant program (OUCH International + LCRF) supporting lung cancer research related to air pollution and climate change, with direct full-proposal submission (no LOI listed).
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Proposed research must connect lung cancer with air pollution and/or climate change.
-
Applicants must follow the program’s RFA requirements and submission instructions.
-
Eligibility rules are defined in the official program materials.
Funding Details:
-
Up to $200,000 total (per program listing).
-
2-year project period (per program listing).
Deadline:
-
Full proposal due: June 2, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
5. LCRF Leading Edge Lung Oncology Research Grant 2026
The LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program funds lung cancer research through an LOI-first process with invited full proposals.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Project must be lung cancer–focused (per program listing).
-
LOI is required before full application consideration.
-
Applicants must meet program eligibility requirements in the RFA.
Funding Details:
-
Up to $150,000 total (per program listing).
-
2-year project period (per program listing).
Deadline:
-
LOI due: March 10, 2026.
-
Invited full proposal due: June 2, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
6. LCRF Overcoming Resistance Lung Oncology Grant 2026
An LCRF research grant supporting lung cancer studies aimed at overcoming treatment resistance, using a required LOI and an invited full proposal stage.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Proposed research must address resistance in lung cancer.
-
LOI submission is required prior to full application submission.
-
Applicants must follow the RFA’s eligibility rules (institution/PI requirements).
Funding Details:
-
Up to $150,000 total (per program listing).
-
2-year project period (per program listing).
Deadline:
-
LOI due: March 10, 2026.
-
Invited full proposal due: June 2, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
7. LCRF Prevention & Early Detection Lung Oncology Grant 2026
A Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) research grant supporting lung cancer projects focused on prevention and early detection, using a required Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by an invited full proposal.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Proposed research must focus on lung cancer prevention and/or early detection.
- LOI submission is required before a full application can be submitted.
- Applicants must meet the RFA’s institutional/PI eligibility requirements (see program page).
Funding Details:
- Up to $150,000 total (per program listing).
- 2-year project period (per program listing).
Deadline:
- LOI due: March 10, 2026.
- Invited full proposal due: June 2, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
8. Columbia University – Cancer Dynamics Summer Research Program 2026
A competitive summer research experience at Columbia’s Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics (ICD) for undergraduate students. This 10-week program immerses students in interdisciplinary cancer research at the interface of mathematics, data science, and oncology . Participants undertake projects in areas like tumor modeling, bioinformatics, or computational genomics under Columbia faculty mentorship, aiming to apply quantitative methods to solve cancer biology or treatment problems. The program also offers research skills training and community activities in New York City’s academic environment.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Undergraduate students (preferably rising juniors/seniors) studying applied math, computer science, biology, or related fields.
-
An interest in quantitative and computational approaches to cancer research (program is interdisciplinary – both STEM and life science majors are welcome).
-
Must be 18 or older and authorized to intern in the U.S. for the summer.
-
Women, underrepresented minorities, and students from smaller colleges without extensive research infrastructure are encouraged to apply to broaden participation in quantitative oncology.
Funding Details:
-
Students receive a stipend (approx. $5,000) for the 10-week period (to cover living expenses in NYC).
-
On-campus housing is provided or subsidized by the program for non-local students.
-
Travel support may be available for those coming from outside the NYC area.
-
Program includes social events, networking with cancer researchers, and a final poster session; top projects may lead to conference presentations (with potential travel funding).
Deadline:
-
February 1, 2026 – Application deadline (11:59 PM EST) for the Summer 2026 cohort.
-
Decisions released by late March 2026.
-
Program dates: May 26 – July 31, 2026 (approximate) , with flexibility for academic calendar differences.
Where to go for further information:
-
Contact: icd-summer@columbia.edu.
9. Rising Tide Foundation & LUNGevity Lung Cancer Recurrence Research Grant (2026)
A new high-impact funding opportunity jointly offered by the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) and LUNGevity Foundation. This grant will support innovative projects aimed at preventing lung cancer recurrence and overcoming treatment resistance . Multidisciplinary research teams with translational or clinical studies (e.g. novel adjuvant therapies, minimal residual disease monitoring, immunoprevention) are encouraged to apply. Projects should be patient-centered and have potential for near-term impact in advanced lung cancer care.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Principal Investigators can be established scientists or clinician-researchers with a track record in lung cancer research.
-
Open worldwide: institutions in any country are eligible, but collaboration with U.S. groups is encouraged (LUNGevity is U.S.-based).
-
Proposals must address lung cancer recurrence – such as mechanisms of relapse, innovative interventions post-treatment, or predictive tools for recurrence.
-
A co-funding or sustainability plan is expected (RTFCCR often requires demonstration that the project can attract additional support or fit into a larger trial pipeline).
Funding Details:
-
Up to $1,000,000 per project over 2–3 years (exact budget per proposal based on scope and review panel recommendations).
-
Projects must be translational in nature with a clear path to patient benefit in 3–5 years . This could include funding for a Phase I/II clinical trial or advanced preclinical work leading to a trial.
-
No indirect costs are allowed (grant covers direct research costs only, per RTFCCR policy).
-
Milestone-driven funding: continuance of support each year contingent on meeting predefined milestones and deliverables.
Deadline:
-
February 15, 2026 – Full application due (via RTFCCR’s grants portal) . Note: A brief Letter of Intent or pre-application might be required by mid-January 2026 – check call details for LOI stage.
-
Funding decisions expected by June 2026, with grant start dates in mid-2026.
-
This is a one-time special call announced January 2026 ; future similar calls may be issued depending on available funds and outcomes.
Where to go for further information:
-
Contacts: Email RFA@risingtide.ch or research@lungevity.org for specific inquiries about proposal scope, and assistance in connecting with patient advocates (patient engagement is a review criterion).
10. Mays Cancer Center Summer Oncology Research Program 2026
The Mays Cancer Center Summer Research Mentorship Program places students into mentored cancer research for a defined summer term, with a stated stipend and March 2026 deadline.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Student applicants (see program page for the specific student levels/requirements).
-
Must be able to participate during the listed program dates.
-
Program is hosted through UT Health San Antonio / Mays Cancer Center (location-specific participation).
Funding Details:
-
Stipend: $5,000 (per program listing).
-
Program dates: 2026-06-01 to 2026-07-24 (per listing).
Deadline:
-
Application deadline: March 2, 2026.
Where to go for further information:
If you’re tracking lung cancer funding cycles, multiple LOI deadlines are clustered in February and March—making now the decision point for positioning or partnering. For students and trainees, several summer programs close in early February, leaving little room for delay. As always, eligibility rules and submission formats vary widely—read the RFAs closely and plan backward from the earliest cutoff.
We’ll continue tracking high-value oncology funding opportunities each week—follow OncoDaily’s OncoGrants series for the next roundup.