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

June 1, 2026 (Summer cycle cutoff) | December 1, 2026 (Winter cycle cutoff)

Up to $75,000 total costs for a 1-year project; no indirect costs allowed.

Supports key experiments to advance ongoing cancer research projects toward commercialization and technology validation.

Projects must be ongoing with a clear commercialization plan; new projects are not eligible.

--- ## Description The Extramural Discovery Science (EDS) Accelerator Award from the American Cancer Society is designed to help researchers move ongoing cancer research projects closer to commercialization. The award specifically funds critical experiments that validate and de-risk technologies, with the goal of advancing findings toward licensing or start-up formation. Projects must already be underway and have a defined commercial objective; this mechanism does not support new research projects or new directions for existing projects. Awardees become part of an entrepreneurial learning community and gain access to educational programming and commercialization support from the ACS BrightEdge team. Example focus areas include: - Dosing, toxicity, and efficacy testing - Correlating clinical outcomes with patient samples (e.g., biopsies) - Technologies for healthcare delivery --- ## Due Dates - June 1, 2026: Full application deadline — Summer cycle cutoff (applications submitted through June 1 are reviewed in July; grant start date typically September) - December 1, 2026: Full application deadline — Winter cycle cutoff (applications submitted after June 1 are reviewed in December; grant start date typically April) If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are accepted the next business day. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $75,000 total costs for a one-year project term - Indirect costs are not allowed - No-cost extensions up to 6 months may be requested (without additional funds) --- ## Eligibility - **Principal Investigator:** Must be an independent investigator with a full-time faculty appointment (or equivalent) at a nonprofit US institution; all career stages eligible. - **Institution:** US-based, nonprofit institutions only (no for-profit, federal, or entirely federally-supported institutions). - **Project Type:** Must be an ongoing cancer research project with a clear plan for commercialization (licensing to a company or start-up if successful). - **Other:** Only one EDS Accelerator Award may be held at a time; scientific overlap with other funded projects is not allowed. - **Citizenship:** No citizenship requirement, but the institution must verify legal eligibility to work in the US for the duration of the award. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/default.asp). - Applicants have 1 month from starting an application to complete and submit. - Required materials include: - Research plan (3 pages max) - Budget and justification (up to $75,000, no indirect costs) - Letter of institutional support (from department chair or equivalent) - NIH biosketch (5 pages) - Compliance statements (human/animal subjects, biohazards, etc.) - Information on key personnel and commercialization plan - Applications are reviewed after each cycle cutoff (June 1 and December 1). - Award decisions are communicated within 12 months; high-scoring but unfunded proposals may receive contingent status. --- ## Additional Information - Awardees join a collaborative learning community and receive support from ACS BrightEdge. - Technology Transfer Officers are required to report on intellectual property developments. - No resubmissions allowed unless specifically requested by ACS. - Overlapping funding for the same project is not permitted. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Full Details](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/extramural-discovery-science-accelerator-award.html) - [Application Instructions (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/grant-instructions/eds-accelerator-award-application-instructions.pdf) - [Award Policies (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/grant-policies/eds-accelerator-award-policies.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Submission Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/default.asp) - [FAQs on ACS Grant Programs](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/faqs-program-changes-and-application-submission.html) - [ACS BrightEdge](https://www.acsbrightedge.org/) --- ## Contact Information | Name/Role | Email | Notes | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Doug Hurst, PhD (Program Contact) | doug.hurst@cancer.org | Scientific Director, Biochemistry & Immunology | | ACS Grants Office | grants@cancer.org | General inquiries | | ProposalCentral Support | pcsupport@altum.com | Technical support for application portal | | ACS Main Phone | +1 800-227-2345 | | For additional staff contacts, see the [Extramural Grants Staff Contacts](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-grants-staff-contacts.html) page.

RFA: Extramural Discovery Science Accelerator Award

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