Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat)
The BIG Cat grant supports early-career African investigators conducting innovative, locally relevant cancer research to build research capacity and inform cancer care in Africa.
Funder: American Association for Cancer Research
Due Dates: May 12, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | September 8, 2026 (Full application, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: $60,000 USD total over 2 years; max 10% indirect costs; up to $10,000 for travel.
Summary: Supports early-career African investigators to advance impactful cancer research and build research capacity in Africa.
Key Information: Applicants must have legal residency and conduct research in Africa; AORTIC membership required at LOI stage.
Description
The Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat) is a collaborative program designed to build cancer research capacity in Africa by supporting early-career investigators. Initiated by the US National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health and now jointly administered by the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and NCI/CGH, BIG Cat funds innovative research projects across the full spectrum of cancer research—from basic to translational—aimed at generating local evidence to inform clinical, public health, and policy guidelines relevant to Africa. The grant is intended to catalyze future funding, strengthen research infrastructure, and foster the next generation of African cancer researchers.
