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

June 2026 (application submission deadline, projected)

$61,200 total for a 1-year project; split between two co-PIs; no indirect costs; $600 travel per co-PI included.

Pilot funding for new, interdisciplinary cancer research collaborations between pairs of ACS-affiliated scientists.

Both co-PIs must be ACS-affiliated; only one project per co-PI pair may be funded per cycle.

--- ## Description The TheoryLab Collaborative (TLC) Grant supports innovative, collaborative pilot projects in cancer research, specifically designed to foster new interdisciplinary partnerships within the American Cancer Society (ACS) scientific community. Projects must be co-led by two investigators who are current or former ACS grantees or ACS intramural scientists, and proposals must be for new, distinct collaborative efforts. The aim is to stimulate high-impact, cross-disciplinary research that spans the entire cancer research continuum, from basic science to survivorship and health equity. --- ## Due Dates - June 2026: Application submission deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Total award: $61,200 for a 1-year period per project. - Each co-PI receives $600 for travel; the remaining $60,000 can be split between the co-PIs as needed. - No indirect costs are allowed. - If one co-PI is ineligible to receive salary support (e.g., ACS intramural scientist, federal agency, or industry), the maximum budget is reduced to $40,600, which must be allocated to the eligible co-PI at an academic or non-profit institution. --- ## Eligibility - **Co-PIs:** Both must hold a doctorate (MD, PhD, or equivalent) and a full-time faculty or independent research position at an eligible US-based, not-for-profit institution. - **ACS Affiliation:** Both co-PIs must be current or former ACS grantees (including independent investigator awards, MRSG, CSDG, IRG/IDG sub-awards, certain fellowship and training grants) or ACS intramural scientists. - **Collaborative Requirement:** Co-PIs may be at the same or different institutions but must represent different departments or disciplines. - **Prior Collaboration:** Prior collaborators are eligible if the proposed project is scientifically distinct from prior work together. - **Institutional Eligibility:** US colleges, universities, medical schools, or non-profit research organizations with appropriate infrastructure and oversight. - **Restrictions:** Projects with overlapping aims or budgets with other funded projects are not allowed. Only one TLC award per co-PI pair per cycle. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Both co-PIs must submit applications via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/default.asp). - **Materials Required:** - Joint research plan, budget, and justification (each co-PI submits a tailored budget for their institution) - NIH-format biosketches for all key personnel - Statement of project alignment with ACS research priorities - Institutional support letters, compliance statements, and other standard grant materials - **Review:** Peer review by a multidisciplinary panel, including community research partners. - **Post-award:** Grantees must present outcomes at a virtual retreat after the grant period. --- ## Additional Information - No citizenship restrictions. - Indirect costs are not permitted. - Salary support is allowed up to the NIH cap, prorated by effort. - Projects may not overlap with other funded work. - Support for finding an eligible co-PI is available via the [ACS Research Grants Database](https://proposalcentral.com/Insights/_Yrlp59zpbg%3D/Public/Index) or by contacting program staff. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Guidelines](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/theorylab-collaborative-grant.html) - [TLC Grant Policies (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/grant-policies/tlc-grant-policies.pdf) - [TLC Grant Instructions (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/grant-instructions/tlc-grant-instructions.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/default.asp) - [ACS Research Grants Database (Find Collaborators)](https://proposalcentral.com/Insights/_Yrlp59zpbg%3D/Public/Index) - [ACS Grant Types Overview](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types.html) - [FAQs: ACS Extramural Discovery Science](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/faqs-program-changes-and-application-submission.html) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role/Area | Email | |----------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Kathy Goss, PhD | Senior Scientific Director, CGRE | [kathleen.goss@cancer.org](mailto:kathleen.goss@cancer.org) | | Nicole Lopanik, PhD | Scientist, CGRE | [nicole.lopanik@cancer.org](mailto:nicole.lopanik@cancer.org) | | ACS Grants Office | General Inquiry | [grants@cancer.org](mailto:grants@cancer.org) | | ProposalCentral Support | Technical Assistance | [pcsupport@altum.com](mailto:pcsupport@altum.com) / 1-800-875-2562 | For additional staff contacts, see the [ACS Extramural Grants Contacts page](https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/extramural-grants-staff-contacts.html).

TheoryLab Collaborative (TLC) Grant

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