Institutional Research Grants
The American Cancer Society IRG funds institutions to support early-stage investigators in launching pilot cancer research projects and generating data for future national grant applications.
Funder: American Cancer Society
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 | June 1, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $120,000/year for 4 years (new grants; total $480,000); up to $100,000/year for 4 years (renewals; total $400,000; institution must supplement at least $80,000 over 4 years). Individual pilot grants: $20,000–$60,000/year.
Summary: Provides block grants to institutions to seed early-stage, independent investigators in cancer research, supporting pilot projects that generate preliminary data for national grant applications.
Key Information: No indirect costs allowed; only nonprofit US institutions with established cancer research programs are eligible.
Description
This program offers block Institutional Research Grants (IRGs) to eligible US nonprofit institutions with robust cancer research programs. The goal is to provide seed funding for early-stage, independent investigators—typically junior faculty—enabling them to launch pilot cancer research projects. These pilot awards are intended to help recipients generate preliminary data, strengthening their competitiveness for future national-level grants (such as NIH R01s). The IRG mechanism also fosters institutional mentoring and career development for cancer researchers and encourages engagement with the American Cancer Society.
