Funder: American Cancer Society
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (Winter—policies/instructions) | December 15, 2026 (Winter—RFA announcement) | February 9, 2027 (Summer LOI) | June 1, 2027 (Summer application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1.65 million over 4 years for new centers, including one research subaward
Summary: Supports community-engaged, solution-based research addressing local or regional cancer health disparities, advancing equity, and reducing cancer mortality.
Key Information: Each center requires one independent Center PI and a different research subaward PI; co-PIs and multi-PIs are not allowed.
Description
The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Health Research Centers (CHERCs) program funds coordinated research addressing demonstrated cancer health disparities in local or regional communities. Administered through Clinical and Population Sciences, it prioritizes actionable solutions that improve community health, advance health equity, and reduce cancer mortality. Research may span health promotion, prevention, screening, treatment, access to care, care delivery, and survivorship.
Each new center combines a shared scientific agenda, one research subaward, and a PI-managed Supportive Core. Community engagement is central, including a Community Advisory Board representing the community served. Core activities may include shared methods and tools, resource sharing, collaboration, mentoring, training, pilot projects, and dissemination. Applicants must explain the disparity’s magnitude, their ability to reach relevant populations, and why the coordinated center achieves more than independent projects.
