Updated September 26, 2026
Cancer Research Grants 2026
Open grants for cancer and oncology research, from NCI and DOD programs to disease-focused foundations. A live list sorted by relevance and updated daily.
Cancer research is one of the few areas of science funding that entered 2026 in decent shape. The National Cancer Institute received a budget increase when much of the government did not, and the institute has signaled it expects to fund more new research project grants and more early stage investigators this year than last. Add the Department of Defense's congressionally directed medical research programs and a deep bench of cancer-focused nonprofits, and oncology researchers have a wider set of live options than most of their colleagues.
Featured grants
Updated automatically from Atom's grant databaseOur Grant Process
ACS Research Scholar Grants fund early-career investigators to pursue innovative research in cancer biology, prevention, detection, treatment, or survivorship across the cancer continuum.
2027 Impact Grants
Funds innovative research and community projects to advance cancer prevention and early detection, focusing on under-screened cancers and rural health disparities.
Biology to Prevention Award
Funds interdisciplinary research using biological mechanisms to develop new strategies for preventing cancer, encouraging UK-US/Canada collaborations from discovery to practical prevention.
That breadth is worth using deliberately. Federal mechanisms remain the backbone, but disease-focused foundations and societies fund everything from basic tumor biology to prevention, early detection, health services research, and survivorship, and many run programs targeted at specific career stages or cancer types. For labs facing longer odds on any single federal application, pairing it with two or three well-matched private opportunities is now standard practice.
This collection pulls together open cancer research funding across federal, foundation, and nonprofit sources, ranked by relevance to the field. It refreshes as new opportunities post and deadlines pass, so it stays current through the funding cycles rather than snapshotting a single moment.
Oncology Information for Grant Submissions
Bayer funds educational programs advancing knowledge of new therapies, treatment strategies, and quality of life in advanced prostate cancer.
Takeda Oncology Research Grants
Takeda Oncology Research Grants fund projects advancing research and education in GI, hematologic, and thoracic cancers to improve patient outcomes and scientific understanding.
Cancer Research & Prevention Grant
The UNICO Foundation's Cancer Research & Prevention Grant funds direct research and prevention projects targeting various cancers, supporting scientific progress and early detection in the US.
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Grant Funding
This grant funds Colorado-based research and interventions to reduce cancer disparities and improve prevention and early detection, focusing on evidence-based strategies in diverse and underserved communities.
Research Scholar Grants
ACS Research Scholar Grants fund innovative, investigator-initiated cancer research by early-career faculty across all areas of cancer science.
Lung Cancer
Bayer funds educational programs on non-small cell lung cancer, focusing on biomarkers, TRK-fusion, and precision medicine to advance diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary care.
2025 Early Career Investigator Award
Supports early-career researchers advancing innovative basic, translational, or clinical studies to improve understanding and treatment of metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer.
Exploratory Grants in Cancer Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Support for innovative research to improve cancer control through behavior modification, screening, and understanding etiologic factors, with the aim of advancing population-based cancer studies.
Impact Grants
Grants fund community projects that use evidence-based strategies to prevent cancer and promote early detection, with a focus on education, outreach, and screening access for underserved populations.
Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Support basic research to uncover biological/genetic causes of cancer health disparities through innovative studies, methodologies, and data analysis.
Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
This grant supports investigator-initiated clinical trials to reduce cancer burden through early detection, prevention, and survivorship improvements.
Career Development Award Special Competitions
Conquer Cancer - the ASCO Foundation's Career Development Award Special Competitions funds mentored, patient-oriented cancer research by early-career investigators, with a special focus on ovarian cancer for 2027.
Cancer Care (Esther L. McConnaughay Endowment)
Grant funding for nonprofits in Greater Lafayette to advance cancer treatment, research, detection, and care through impactful local projects.
Scientific Discoveries Research
The Scientific Discoveries Research grant from the Andy Hill CARE Fund supports innovative, hypothesis-driven cancer research in Washington State, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.
Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2027, 2028, and 2029 (P50 Clinical Trial Required)
This grant funds research centers to conduct innovative, translational studies aimed at improving prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of specific or related human cancers, requiring clinical trials.
Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This grant funds early-stage, highly innovative technology development projects to improve cancer research or clinical care, focusing on proof-of-concept studies with high potential impact in cancer-related fields.
Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Funding available for basic research on biological/genetic causes of cancer health disparities to support innovative studies and enhance expertise in the field.
Frequently asked questions
The National Cancer Institute is the largest funder, alongside the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Private funders include the American Cancer Society, the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, Cancer Grand Challenges, and many disease-specific foundations and professional societies.
Yes. NCI runs career development and pathway-to-independence awards, and many cancer foundations offer postdoctoral fellowships and young investigator grants. These programs usually cap eligibility by years since your terminal degree or first faculty appointment.
Both. Foundation programs range from basic tumor biology and technology development to prevention, early detection, clinical and translational studies, and survivorship research. Each listing notes its focus, so check scope before applying.
Usually, yes. Many researchers pair a federal application with one or two foundation proposals. Review each funder's overlap rules, since some require you to disclose or withdraw duplicate funding if both are awarded.