Funder: Matthew Larson Foundation for Pediatric Brain Tumors
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | April 1, 2027 (Award announcement) | May 1, 2027 (Funding starts)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 for one year or $150,000 annually for three years (up to $450,000)
Summary: Supports pediatric brain tumor research aimed at advancing treatments and improving patients’ lives as rapidly as possible.
Key Information: Principal investigators must hold an MD or PhD and an assistant professor or instructor rank (or equivalent) at a not-for-profit medical or scientific institution.
Description
The Matthew Larson Foundation for Pediatric Brain Tumors, known as IronMatt, funds research intended to bring cures closer for children with brain cancer. The program seeks basic and translational science projects and family education in pediatric brain tumor research, and encourages preclinical and clinical research requests. Its priority is work with the potential to advance the field and affect patients’ lives as rapidly as possible.
Physicians on the foundation’s Medical Advisory Committee guide the program through peer review. Supported research includes chemotherapy resistance, targeted therapies, tumor microenvironments, CAR T cells, CAR macrophages, epigenetic changes, and radioimmunotherapy. Recent projects address medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors, diffuse midline glioma, and other pediatric central nervous system tumors.
