The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) Research Collaboration Grants

The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) is a national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of brain tumors. With over 50 years of leadership in the field, ABTA has funded early-career researchers and helped cultivate scientific progress in brain tumor research. Its Research Collaboration Grant program supports multi-investigator, multi-institutional team science to accelerate innovation and improve patient outcomes for those diagnosed with brain tumors. The ABTA Research Collaboration Grants provide $200,000 in direct costs over a two-year period. These grants are specifically designed to foster collaboration between two co-principal investigators based at distinct institutions. The proposed research must be multidisciplinary, integrating elements from basic science, translational, clinical, or epidemiological approaches. Projects are encouraged to focus on any brain tumor type—benign or malignant, primary or metastatic—and impact pediatric, adult, or both populations. Applications must demonstrate a high-risk/high-impact approach with potential to change current diagnostic or treatment paradigms. Eligible research topics include, but are not limited to, brain tumor biology, imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, genetics, molecular epidemiology, biomarkers, and novel therapeutics. The goal is to fund early-stage work that could lay the groundwork for future studies supported by larger funding streams. To apply, researchers must submit a mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) via ProposalCentral. The portal opens on November 5, 2025, and the LOI must be submitted by December 10, 2025 at noon CST. Successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full application, with submissions due on or around March 30, 2026. Notifications will be issued around July 29, 2026, and the earliest project start date is September 1, 2026. Applicants must hold doctoral degrees and full-time faculty positions as of the LOI deadline. The Lead Principal Investigator must be within 10 years of their first faculty appointment (exceptions for documented leave may be requested). Institutions must be non-governmental and non-profit, with the Lead PI’s institution located in the U.S. or Canada, and the Co-PI’s institution located anywhere globally. Indirect costs are not allowed, and budgets must adhere to ABTA’s policies, with allowable expenses including salaries, supplies, equipment under $5,000, travel related to the project, and data sharing costs. Applicants are evaluated based on significance, feasibility, team composition, and innovation. All LOIs are reviewed by an external scientific committee. Grantees are required to report annually and present their findings at the ABTA National Conference. Questions may be directed to ABTA’s Research Programs Department at grants@abta.org or 773-577-8742.

Ensure eligibility (faculty role, 10-year rule), confirm institution is nonprofit and non-governmental, follow formatting rules strictly to avoid administrative withdrawal, submit LOI early to avoid portal issues.