[American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org)

June 2026 | December 2026

Up to $215,000/year (direct costs) plus 10% indirects; max 4 years; total up to $946,000.

Supports independent, investigator-initiated cancer research projects aligned with ACS priority research areas, covering salaries, supplies, and essential research expenses.

This is a forecasted opportunity; all deadlines are projected and may change.

--- ## Description Research Scholar Grants from the American Cancer Society (ACS) provide substantial support for independent, self-directed researchers pursuing investigator-initiated projects across the cancer research continuum. Projects must align with ACS priority research areas and may address basic, translational, clinical, or population-based cancer research questions. Funding is intended to cover salaries, consumable supplies, and other essential research expenses necessary for the successful completion of the project. Institutions must provide customary resources and space for independent investigators. --- ## Due Dates - June 2026 (anticipated): Research Scholar Grants full application deadline - December 2026 (anticipated): Research Scholar Grants full application deadline *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $215,000 per year in direct costs, plus 10% allowable indirect costs. - Maximum project period is 4 years. - Total maximum award: $946,000 (direct + indirect). - Funds may be used for salaries, supplies, and other research-related expenses; equipment purchases above $5,000 must be justified. --- ## Eligibility - Principal Investigator (PI) must be at a US academic institution or eligible non-profit. - PI must have held their first independent, full-time faculty appointment for less than 10 years at the time of application (extensions for leave may be available upon request). - PI may not hold more than one active R01 or R01-equivalent grant (defined as >$100,000 direct costs/year for >3 years). - Applicants are encouraged to review detailed eligibility in the [ACS grant policies](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/all-grant-policies.pdf). - Proposals must align with an [ACS priority research area](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-priority-research-areas.html). - US citizenship is not required. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted electronically via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/). - Detailed instructions and required templates are provided in the [ACS Grant Application Instructions](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/all-grant-instructions.pdf). - Required materials include: - NIH-format biosketch - Research plan (with specific aims, background, innovation, preliminary studies, and research design) - Budget and justification - Statement of institutional support - Letters of support from collaborators/consultants (if applicable) - Compliance statements for human subjects/vertebrate animals (if applicable) - Only one PI per application; no multiple-PI applications allowed. - All applications must be aligned with ACS research priorities and demonstrate institutional commitment to the PI’s independence and research program. --- ## Additional Information - If the application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, submissions are accepted the next business day. - Extensions or exceptions to eligibility may be requested by contacting [grant.eligibility@cancer.org](mailto:grant.eligibility@cancer.org) at least 6 weeks prior to the deadline. - The ACS does not fund projects supported in whole or in part by another agency with overlapping aims. - All applications are peer-reviewed based on candidate qualifications, research plan, innovation, significance, approach, environment, and budget justification. --- ## External Links - [Program Page: Research Scholar Grants](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/research-scholar-grants.html) - [ACS Grant Application Instructions (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/all-grant-instructions.pdf) - [ACS Grant Policies (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/all-grant-policies.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) - [ACS Priority Research Areas](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-priority-research-areas.html) - [ACS Extramural Discovery Science Contacts](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-grants-staff-contacts.html) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Webpage | |---------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ACS Grants Office | grants@cancer.org | 1-800-227-2345 | [ACS Contact Page](https://www.cancer.org/about-us/contact-us.html) | | Grant eligibility questions | grant.eligibility@cancer.org | | | | ProposalCentral Technical Help | pcsupport@altum.com | 1-800-875-2562 | [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/) | | Extramural Discovery Science | See [ACS EDS Contacts](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-grants-staff-contacts.html) | | | ---

Research Scholar Grants

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