UNC Lineberger Innovation Pilot Research Awards Program
The UNC Lineberger Innovation Pilot Research Awards Program funds innovative cancer research projects at UNC, advancing high-priority scientific areas and fostering future collaborations.
Funder: University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (projected) | July 2027: Full application deadline (projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 direct costs for one year per project; no-cost extensions are not permitted.
Summary: Supports innovative pilot cancer research projects aligned with UNC Lineberger’s strategic plan to stimulate future extramural funding and collaboration.
Key Information: Letter of Intent is required; non-Lineberger faculty must apply with a Lineberger Research Member as MPI.
Description
The UNC Lineberger Innovation Pilot Research Awards Program provides seed funding for novel cancer research ideas that align with the Center’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. The program encourages basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences research, with the goal of supporting innovative concepts that can lead to future extramural funding and foster collaborative research across the UNC community. Priority is given to projects that address strategic areas such as collaborative team science, mechanisms of cancer, prevention and early detection, immunotherapy and novel therapeutics, reducing cancer burden across North Carolina, and cancer data science. The program is open to all UNC Lineberger Research Members and, with certain requirements, to other UNC faculty.
