Research Group Lab Hall

Funding Opportunities

Securing funding is an important part of the scientific research process. The MCW Cancer Center Grants Office offers a breadth of support designed to help Cancer Center members pursue research funding to advance cancer discoveries.

Pilot Grants

For questions, please contact MCWCCResearchPrograms@mcw.edu.

Funding Opportunities_Accordion Component
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American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant

The purpose of the individual ACS-IRG Pilot Awards is to support the development of exceptional cancer-related research projects for junior faculty members who are in the process of establishing independent cancer research programs.

The goal of the individual ACS-IRG pilot awards is to assist junior faculty in generating preliminary data to increase their likelihood of success in obtaining extramural peer-reviewed funding. A clear plan for how the pilot data will support development of the external funding proposal(s) is required.

Studies targeting breast and prostate cancer and sarcoma will be prioritized, though proposals involving all cancer types are eligible. All areas of cancer research – basic, preclinical, prevention and control, population, epidemiological and psychosocial cancer research (including quality of life research) – will be considered for funding. Applications for novel clinical projects (such as improvements of diagnostics and screening as well as genetic studies to improve prediction by identifying and understanding how genes and illnesses may be related) and for community-based projects are encouraged in addition to basic science projects. Note: This mechanism does not provide support for interventional treatment clinical trials. 

Budget: $40,000 for up to two years

Supplemental Funds: If awarded, supplemental funds of $20,000 are available the second year, contingent upon progress in year one.

Deadlines:

  • LOI Due: Feb. 15, 2024
  • Presentation at Cancer Research Forum (optional): Applicants are highly encouraged to present their Specific Aims at the Cancer Research Forum on Feb. 29, 2024.
  • Application Due: April 1, 2024
  • Award Begins: July 1, 2024

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

Clinical Concept Award

The MCW Cancer Center recognizes that Investigator-initiated Trials (IITs) represent the apex of academic cancer research innovation, as they help develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and provide participating patients with access to the most advanced treatments. In line with this vision, the scope of this pilot program is to encourage and support the development of an IIT or innovative correlative studies that capitalize on an already funded trial.

Researchers proposing relevant projects from all areas of science are invited to apply. Priority will be given to multi-disciplinary collaborations between clinical scientists, basic or translational scientists, and population science researchers who propose to study topics related to understanding or addressing cancer disparities. Applications that propose correlative studies, especially those that utilize MCWCC Shared Resources, are encouraged.

Budget: Up to $150,000 for two years
 
Deadlines:
  • LOI Due: Feb. 15, 2024
  • Application Due: If invited, full applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2024.
  • Award Begins: Notifications of award will be made after peer review and Director’s Council approval near the beginning of June 2024.

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

Our Patient Project

Our Patient Project: Phase 1 of 2

Our Patient Project (OPP) is an important translational research element of the MCWCC Precision Oncology high-impact initiative that is expected to drive discovery over the next three years.

The OPP has two goals:

  1. To answer a significant unanswered question in the cancer research field or address a major challenge in clinical care by fully characterizing and analyzing samples from a discrete, clinically annotated cancer patient cohort
  2. To develop a rich experimental data set on patient samples annotated with high-quality clinical data that can be leveraged by the Principal Investigator (PI), study team, and MCW CC members to foster new multi-disciplinary collaborative research projects funded through extramural sources (e.g., Multi-PI R01s, P-, U- or M-type grant awards, sponsored clinical trials) and that will lead to novel practice-changing cancer prevention and/or therapeutics.

This program is anticipated to be open through 2025, with 2-3 full applications funded per year. Each meritorious application will receive up to 4-5 years of funding. Projects will be selected for funding using a two-stage process: a letter of intent (LOI; Phase 1) followed by a full proposal (Phase 2) from invited teams.

Researchers working in all areas of cancer science are invited to apply. Priority will be given to projects that use multi-disciplinary technologies and approaches, propose to study topics related to understanding or addressing cancer disparities in WI, and address clinically important challenges faced by the WI population and their cancer caregivers. Inclusion of correlative studies that utilize MCW Shared Resources is highly encouraged, and when shared resources outside of MCW are proposed, appropriate justification is required.

Budget: Maximum project budget is $1M total over a maximum of 4-5 years

Deadlines:

  • LOI Due: LOIs are due by 5:00 pm on March 1 and Sept. 1 of every year through 2024.
  • Full Proposal Due: Full proposals will be due the following Sept. 1 and March 1 from LOI submission, through March 2025.
  • Award Begins: The start date for funding will be dependent on the status of any required human and animal studies protocol approvals, with the understanding that it will not take longer than six months post-award notice.

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

Team Science Award

The purpose of the Team Science Award is to stimulate the development of high-quality, multi-investigator (minimum of three) program project grants that will move forward to extramurally funded grant awards. Projects with translational potential are encouraged, but not mandatory. Inter-programmatic and inter-institutional teams are also highly encouraged.

Investigators conducting cancer-relevant research from all areas of science are invited to apply. Collaborations between researchers who propose to study topics related to understanding or addressing cancer disparities, breast cancer, prostate cancer, or sarcoma will be prioritized, though proposals involving all cancer types are eligible. Proposals that utilize MCWCC Shared Resources are encouraged.

Budget: Budget cap is $150,000 in direct costs per year. 

Deadlines:

  • LOI Due: Feb. 15, 2024
  • Presentation at Cancer Research Forum (optional): Applicants are highly encouraged to present their Specific Aims at the Cancer Research Forum on Feb. 29, 2024.
  • Application Due: 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2024
  • Award Begins: On or after July 1, 2024, dependent on the status of any required human and animal studies protocol approvals, with the understanding that obtaining approvals will not take longer than three months post-award notice.

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

Breast Cancer Alliance Limited Funding Submission

Breast Cancer Alliance aims to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment, and cure. The organization is accepting applications for the following limited submission grant mechanisms (MCW may submit up to 2 applications per mechanism):

Exceptional Project Grants, which support postdocs, research scientists, and clinicians performing creative, unique, and innovative breast cancer research. The one-year grant provides $100,000.

Young Investigator Grants, which support breast cancer research by postdocs and early-stage investigators. It provides $125,000 over two years.

Learn more on the Breast Cancer Alliance website.
NCI Pathway to Independence Award

The program aims to increase and maintain a strong cohort of talented, NCI-supported, independent investigators; it provides research support during the transition from postdoc to independent researcher and helps awardees launch competitive, independent research careers.

This is a limited submission opportunity and MCW may submit up to a combined total of four applications (one from each category: Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Cancer Prevention, and Other Cancer Research) to any companion funding opportunity or any combination of companion funding opportunities: PAR-23-286 (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), PAR-23-287 (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required), or PAR-23-288 (K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required).

  • LOI: March 17, 2024
  • Deadline: Oct. 15, 2024

Learn more about the award on the NCI website.


Fellowships

MCW Cancer Center Fellowship Programs are designed to support the development of exceptional cancer scientists.
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Biobehavioral Oncology Program

This fellowship is a two-year postdoctoral research training program that integrates 1) the biology of stress and disparities on cancer, and 2) social determinants of health, behavior, and outcomes. The program is supported by an NCI T32 award.

Qualified BBOT program candidates will have an advanced degree with clear interest and focus in research. Successful PhD applicants will have obtained their doctoral degree from a PhD program with a strong foundation in basic, clinical, behavioral, or social science with documented research training. MD/DO trainees will enter the BBOT Program after their clinical training is complete and will have demonstrated an interest in research through prior participation in labs, specialized research tracks, summer research programs, publications, or scientific presentations.

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)
Graduate Fellowship

The MCW Cancer Center Graduate Fellowship provides research fellowships to support the development of highly promising and accomplished PhD trainees with the potential to become independent cancer research scientists. Due to the complexity of cancer, finding ways to prevent and cure this disease requires a multidisciplinary effort. Therefore, doctoral students in any discipline at MCW with an interest in cancer research are encouraged to apply. The MCW Graduate Fellowship will provide up to two years of support, providing an opportunity for the most promising students to become more immersed in cancer research. 

  • LOI Due: Deadline extended to End of Business Day, Jan. 19, 2024
  • Application Due: Feb. 16, 2024
  • Award Begins: July 1, 2024

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

MCW Medical Student Fellowship

This fellowship provides a one-year, full-time research fellowship to support the development of highly promising and accomplished medical student trainees with the potential to become cancer researchers. Due to the complexity of cancer, finding ways to prevent and cure this disease requires a multidisciplinary effort. MCW medical students with an interest in cancer relevant research are encouraged to apply.

  • LOI: April 26, 2024
  • Deadline: July 26, 2024
View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)
Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship

The purpose of the Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship Program is to recruit and train high quality, innovative basic science and clinical/translational cancer researchers with the potential to successfully compete for extramural funding. Fellowships will be awarded to promising postdoctoral or clinical fellows who are focused on cancer. For clinical fellows, this award is intended to support additional years of research training after completion of their clinical training. 

  • LOI Due: Deadline extended to End of Business Day, Jan. 19, 2024
  • Application Due: Feb. 16, 2024
  • Award Begins: July 1, 2024

View the RFA for full details and instructions. (PDF)

Past Awardees

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February 2023 RFA Awardees

ACS-IRG Award
Kelly Rentscher, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (Socioenvironmental Disparities and Accelerated Aging in CAR T Cell Therapy Recipients)

Fellowships (Graduate)
Omar Cortez-Toledo, (Elucidation of microenvironmental signals that contribute to pancreatic cancer metastasis); Mentor: Nikki Lytle, PhD

Viren Shah, (Computational Simulations of Network Dynamics and Response in CART Therapy); Mentor: Ranjan Dash, PhD

Casey Zoss, (Discovery and application of iron and angiogenic biomarkers in glioblastoma to optimize treatment with gallium maltolate); Mentor: Kathleen Schmainda, PhD


October 2022 RFA Awardees

ACS-IRG Award
M. Muska Naliansyah, PhD, MPH, Department of Surgery (Estimating Care Attrition Risk and Outcomes of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer using CMS-SEER Data Linkage)

Idea Award
Cecilia Hillard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (Studies of kynurenine metabolites as a link between socioenvironmental disparities and poor outcomes in CAR T therapy)

Yongxia Wu, MD, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (Fli-1 Regulates CD8 T-Cell Response for Controlling Hematological Malignances)


February 2022 RFA Awardees
Clinical Project Award
Liliana Pezzin, PhD, JD, Institute of Health and Equity (Understanding real world effects of breast cancer and its treatment on cognitive functioning: a longitudinal, nationally representative study)

Joseph Zenga, MD, Department of Otolaryngology (Investigating the SDG-1/CXCR4 pathway in clinical head and neck cancer and humanized patient-derived xenografts

Graduate Fellowship Award
Alfredo Colina, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (Biological mechanisms and immune signatures driving antitumor CAR-T cell responses in patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma); Mentor: Anthony Zamora, PhD

Olivia Franklin, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy (Defining the role of GATA4 in esophageal diseases); Mentor: Michele Battle, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
Jasmine George, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Chemoresistance mechanism orchestrated through FXR1 in ovarian cancer); Mentor: Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan, PhD

October 2021 RFA Awardees
ACS-IRG Award
Rachel Cusatis, PhD, Department of Medicine (Pilot study of the VitalPRO: a remote monitoring system of patient reported outcomes and vital signs in Chimeric antigen receptor t-cell outpatient care)

Jing Dong, PhD, Department of Medicine (Landscape of pathogenic germline variants in multiple myeloma and its precursor in African Americans)

Thomas McFall, PhD, Department of Biochemistry (Quantitative systems approach to overcoming innate resistance to KRAS G1C inhibitors in colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer)

Clinical Project Award
John Charlson, MD, Department of Medicine (Sarcoma biopsy tissue banking)

Idea Award
Jong-In Park, PhD, Department of Biochemistry (Biochemical modifications of ISCU regulated ERK1/2)

Pre-Clinical Project Award
Bing Yu, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering (Development of a deep-learning algorithm to enable deep-UV microscopy for intraoperative assessment of breast tumor margins.

February 2021 RFA Awardees

ACS-IRG
Sunila Pradeep, PhD (award recipient 2020- funds activated 7/2021); Title: Harnessing PD-L1 expression in ovarian cancer

John Pulikkan, PhD (award recipient 2020- funds activated 7/2021); Title: SMARCA4 as a novel target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with CEBPA mutations

Clinical Concept Award
Jennifer Connelly, MD / Christopher Chitambar, MD; A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Oral Gallium Maltolate for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Glioblastoma

GSPMC/CC NGS Based Award
Weiguo Cui, PhD / Tyce Kearl, MD, PhD; Epigenetic Regulation of the Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell Therapy

Daochun Sun, PhD; A comprehensive transcriptome comparison study on metastatic MPNST mouse models'

Callisia Clarke, MD; Elucidating the Epigenetic Landscape of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Hui-Zi Chen, PhD; Transcriptomic characterization of small cell lung cancer subtypes: a step closer towards precision therapy.

Why apply for a pilot award?

The Cancer Center’s pilot funding opportunities are a direct investment in the MCW faculty and programs that will drive cancer discoveries.
Zenga Himburg Lab

Pilot awards are instrumental in catalyzing cancer research because they support investigators to:

  • Explore novel ideas and approaches that may not have been fully investigated due to limited resources.
  • Collect preliminary data providing evidence of progress and potential success.
  • Identify potential challenges at an early stage to prevent similar issues during larger-scale research and implementation.
  • Increase collaboration and encourage partnerships among researchers, institutions, and experts in different fields.
  • Gain valuable feedback that can be used to elevate future projects and pave the way for more comprehensive studies.
  • Secure larger funding: positive results from pilot studies can attract larger funding for further investigation.

Resources

Developing a competitive grant application takes time and effort. Applicants are encouraged to access these resources for support.

MCW Cancer Center Grants Office

The Cancer Center Grants Office can help gather, review or draft ancillary components of the application so you can devote your time to drafting the heart of the application.

Email the Grants Office

Biostatistics Shared Resource

The Biostatistics Shared Resource team works collaboratively with MCW investigators to provide analyses, computational methods, models, and algorithms.

Learn more about the Biostatistics Shared Resource

Clinical & Translational Science Institute

Learn how to prepare a successful submission by attending a Methods in Grant Preparation seminar series.

Register for a seminar

Pilot Grant Review Chairs

If you are interested in joining a pilot grant review committee or have any questions, please contact MCWCCResearchPrograms@mcw.edu.

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Gustavo W. Leone, PhD

Director, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center; Dr. Glenn R. and Nancy A. Linnerson Endowed Chair in Cancer Research; Senior Associate Dean of Cancer Research; Professor, Department of Biochemistry

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Mehdi Hamadani, MD

Professor, Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)

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Jennifer Knight, MD, MS, FACLP

Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology

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Sridhar Rao, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology/Transplantation and Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy; Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Associate Investigator, Versiti Blood Research Institute

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Melinda Stolley, PhD

Professor; Associate Director of Population Sciences Research, Cancer Center

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Vera Tarakanova, PhD

Professor, Microbiology & Immunology

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Xue-Zhong Yu, MBA, MS, MD

Professor, Microbiology & Immunology; Associate Director of Basic Sciences in the MCW Cancer Center