Funding Opportunities
New opportunities will be added to this page, please check back for new postings. Postings here are for both internal and external opportunities for faculty and trainees.
2026 Young Investigator Awards
The Prostate Cancer Foundation champions investment in human capital to fast-forward solutions for prostate cancer with the ultimate goal of ending death and suffering from metastatic prostate cancer. We continue to focus significant efforts on developing gifted cohorts of young prostate cancer researchers. Since 2007, PCF has awarded 469 PCF Young Investigator Awards in 16 countries, making it one of the most prodigious, productive, competitive and prestigious early career awards in cancer research. We are pleased to announce a new round of funding for PCF Young Investigators. We especially encourage young investigators working on prostate cancer health disparities to apply. The award funds may be used innovatively and flexibly to advance the career and research efforts of the awardee. This for example, includes funding ‘protected time’ or direct costs for laboratory science. This award does not support indirect costs such as institutional overhead. The online application submission portal will go live at https://pcf.smartsimple.com on Monday, January 12, 2026. The submission deadline for Applications is Monday, February 23, 2026, 3:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
2026 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research are now open and will remain so until February 28, 2026. This annual award honors researchers whose seminal discovery or pioneering body of work has contributed to cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment and has had a lasting impact on understanding cancer, holding the promise of improving or saving the lives of cancer patients. The winner of this prestigious award will be recognized at NFCR’s Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship Friday, October 9, 2026 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The Foundation encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies and prevention including molecular approaches to cancer prevention for inherited cancers.
The primary criteria used to evaluate applicants are:
- the quality of the research proposal (importance of the problem, originality of approach, appropriateness of techniques and clarity of presentation)
- the qualifications, experience and productivity of both the candidate and the Sponsor
- the quality of the research training environment in which the proposed research is to be conducted and its potential for broadening and strengthening the candidate’s ability to independently conduct innovative and substantive research. The proposed research and training environment should represent a new opportunity for the candidate to expand their scientific skill set. Direct extensions of the candidate’s graduate work (in approach, technique or exact area of study) will not be funded.
To apply, please log into Altum | Proposal Central and search for Damon Runyon Fellowship Award. Applications are due by 4:00 pm Eastern Time on March 16, 2026
Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages applications promoting transformative discoveries in cancer biology and/or oncology through the use of nanotechnology. Proposed projects should address major barriers in cancer biology and/or oncology using nanotechnology and should emphasize mechanistic studies toward fundamental understanding of nanomaterial and/or nanodevice interactions with biological systems. These studies should be performed in context of research concerning the delivery of nanoparticles and/or nano-devices to desired and intended cancer targets in vivo and/or characterization of detection and diagnostic devices in vitro. IRCN awards are expected to produce fundamental knowledge to aid future and more informed development of nanotechnology-based cancer interventions. The clinical translation of these interventions is outside of the scope of this NOFO. Applications are due on May 4, 2026.
Translational & Genomic Pediatric Cancer Epidemiology Research
The University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center seeks applicants for its highly successful training program in translational and genomic pediatric cancer epidemiology research. Fellows gain experience across the spectrum of pediatric cancer research from etiology to outcome of therapy to survivorship, with a goal of interdisciplinary cross-training. Contact Dr. Logan Spector (spector@umn.edu) with questions.
Apply for various grants through the Cancer Research Institute. The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) offers competitive research grants, fellowships, and awards to support scientists at every stage of their careers. Whether you’re an early-career investigator or an established researcher, CRI’s grant programs are designed to advance groundbreaking discoveries and accelerate the development of life-saving immunotherapies. Learn how to apply and join our global network of immuno-oncology pioneers.