INSPIRE Research Challenge
INSPIRE Research Challenge supports early-career researchers worldwide with innovative studies of modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors to advance cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship.
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Funder: American Institute for Cancer Research
Due Dates: October 5, 2026, 9am BST (LOI opens) | November 13, 2026, 5pm GMT (LOI deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $85,000 for 12 months (2023 funding brief)
Summary: Supports early-career researchers worldwide pursuing innovative research on modifiable factors in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship.
Key Information: The 2026–27 call requires alignment with at least one of six research priority areas.
Description
The INSPIRE Research Challenge supports bold, innovative and creative research with the potential to accelerate advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. World Cancer Research Fund International runs the challenge in partnership with the American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund in the UK and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands. It is aimed at early-career investigators worldwide and runs alongside the Regular Grant Programme.
Building on the network’s longstanding diet-and-nutrition research focus, INSPIRE addresses modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors, including sleep, psychological stress, immune function, ingested contaminants and pathogens. The program emphasizes novel ideas, methods and collaborations rather than incremental research. For the 2026–27 call, proposals must address at least one of six priority areas while demonstrating scientific quality, relevance, feasibility and potential impact.
