Robert L. Fine Cancer Research Foundation Grant Awards

The Robert L. Fine Cancer Research Foundation offers a biannual research grant to support outstanding early-career scientists engaged in basic and translational pancreatic cancer research. Designed to promote bench-to-bedside scientific advancements, this grant targets innovative, time-bound projects that can be executed with limited resources. Eligible studies may include pilot projects, feasibility studies, independent research endeavors, and the development of new methodologies or technologies. However, the grant does not support purely clinical research. This funding opportunity is formalized through a once-yearly Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), with two grants awarded every other year. Each award provides $250,000 in direct costs, disbursed over two years in annual installments. While pre-award costs incurred up to 30 days before the grant's start date are allowable, they do not guarantee funding. The earliest start date for awarded projects is January 1, 2027. Eligible applicants include public and private research institutions such as universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other nonprofit organizations. Principal Investigators (PIs) must be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level and should not have received more than one RO1 or equivalent grant, including renewals. Dual PIs are allowed and encouraged, particularly for interdisciplinary projects. PIs may submit multiple proposals, provided there is no scientific overlap; however, only one award may be received per PI, although they may participate as co-investigators in additional projects. Covered expenses include direct costs such as salary (subject to the NCI salary cap), equipment, and services like core facility usage. Indirect costs are not eligible for reimbursement. A detailed budget and justification are required as part of the submission. The application must follow NIH formatting standards and include several key components: a cover letter signed by all PIs and an institutional official, a five-page research strategy including specific aims, citations, up to two letters of support, an institutional letter from the department chair, NIH biographical sketches, a detailed budget and justification, and either an IRB-approved protocol or a plan for obtaining HRPO approval for projects involving human research. Awards involving human subjects will not be disbursed until IRB approval is confirmed. The deadline to apply for the 2026 funding cycle is August 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. For more information or questions, applicants can contact the foundation at grants@rlfcrf.org. The foundation is headquartered at 907 Stuart Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543.

The foundation seeks to support projects that are ambitious in scope but feasible within a limited timeframe, emphasizing the potential for significant impact in the field of pancreatic cancer.