Funder: American Cancer Society
Due Dates: June 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Up to $215,000/year (direct costs) + 10% indirect costs, for up to 4 years (max total: $946,000 direct + indirect)
Summary: Supports independent, early-career cancer researchers with investigator-initiated projects aligned to ACS priority research areas.
Key Information: Applicants must be within 10 years of first independent faculty appointment and may not hold more than one R01/R01-equivalent grant as PI at the time of application.
Description
The American Cancer Society (ACS) Research Scholar Grants (RSG) provide substantial support for independent, self-directed researchers pursuing innovative, investigator-initiated projects across the cancer research continuum. Proposals must align with one or more ACS priority research areas, which include etiology, obesity/healthy eating and active living, screening and diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and health equity. The RSG mechanism is designed to help launch and advance the careers of early-stage faculty and clinician scientists.
These grants typically cover costs such as salaries, consumable supplies, and other research-related expenses. The institution must demonstrate a strong commitment to the applicant, including providing appropriate research space and resources.
Due Dates
- June 1, 2025
- December 1, 2025
If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are accepted the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Direct costs: Up to $215,000 per year
- Indirect costs: Up to 10% of direct costs (excluding permanent equipment)
- Duration: Up to 4 years
- Maximum total: $946,000 (direct + indirect costs)
Budget requests must be realistic and justified for the proposed research. Equipment over $5,000 is excluded from the indirect cost calculation.
Eligibility
- Career stage: Within the first 10 years of an initial independent, full-time faculty appointment (or equivalent)
- Current funding: May not be PI (including multi-PI) on more than one R01 or R01-equivalent grant at the time of application (R01-equivalent = >3 years and >$100,000/year direct costs)
- Institution: Must be a US academic institution or eligible non-profit
- Independence: Must be an independent, self-directed researcher or clinician scientist; institutional commitment (space, resources) is required
- Exceptions: Extenuating circumstances (e.g., family/medical leave) may be considered for eligibility extensions; requests must be submitted at least 6 weeks before the deadline
- Other: Only one RSG may be held at a time (exceptions for certain RFAs); may concurrently hold other ACS grants if there is no scientific overlap
Application Process
- Submission portal: ProposalCentral
- Application materials: Available on ProposalCentral ~3 months before each deadline
- Required documents: NIH-format biosketch, research plan, budget and justification, institutional support letter, other support, compliance statements, and (if applicable) letters of support from collaborators/consultants
- Review process: Rigorous peer review, including scientific and community research partner evaluation
- Resubmissions: Up to two resubmissions allowed per proposal
- No-cost extensions: May be requested for up to 1 year, subject to ACS approval
For detailed instructions, see the ACS Grant Application Instructions (PDF).
Additional Information
- Alignment with ACS priorities: Applicants must justify how their project fits within one or more ACS research priority areas. See the ACS Priority Research Areas.
- Institutional support: A strong letter from the department chair or equivalent is required, detailing space, resources, and commitment to the applicant’s research program.
- Overlap policy: Projects with overlapping aims or budgets with other funded projects are not allowed.
- Tobacco industry funding: Applicants or mentors with tobacco industry funding are ineligible.
External Links
Contact Information
For program-specific questions, see the Extramural Grants Department (EDS) Contacts.