ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) offers a targeted funding opportunity through its Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant program. This initiative is designed to support early-career professionals currently engaged in residency or fellowship training in the field of radiation oncology within the United States. ASTRO is a leading organization in radiation oncology, committed to improving patient care through the advancement of science, education, and advocacy. The seed grant program exemplifies its mission to foster research and innovation by empowering the next generation of physician-scientists. The purpose of this grant is to provide seed funding to radiation oncology residents and fellows to support the development and execution of independent research projects. These projects are expected to contribute meaningfully to the scientific foundation of radiation oncology. While the scope of research is broad and inclusive of any area within the field, special consideration may be given to applicants proposing projects focused on lung cancer. In such cases, eligible applicants may also be considered for the ASTRO–LUNGevity Seed Grant, an associated award supported through a partnership with the LUNGevity Foundation. The total funding available for each award is $50,000, and each grant is intended to support a one-year research project. This financial support is aimed at assisting awardees in gathering preliminary data, refining research questions, and strengthening future applications for larger, long-term funding opportunities. The grant may be used for research-related expenses, including supplies, personnel support, and other project-related costs. However, indirect costs or institutional overhead are typically restricted and should be confirmed through the application guidelines provided on the ProposalCentral platform. To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be actively enrolled in a U.S.-based residency or fellowship program in radiation oncology at the time of application submission. The program is exclusive to individuals in training and does not extend to practicing physicians or post-training researchers. Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that reflect both scientific rigor and relevance to clinical or translational advances in radiation oncology. The application deadline for the current cycle is January 26, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically through ProposalCentral, the designated grant management portal. Applicants should ensure all required documents and information are included at the time of submission to be considered for review. While the announcement does not specify pre-application requirements such as a letter of intent or concept paper, applicants are advised to carefully review ProposalCentral’s submission instructions for any procedural nuances. No specific information has been provided regarding the evaluation criteria or anticipated notification timeline. Additionally, it is unclear whether this grant will be offered on a recurring basis in subsequent years. Interested applicants should direct questions and seek clarification through the ProposalCentral platform or by contacting ASTRO directly through official communication channels.