Actionable Biomarker and Genetic Testing in Cancer

The Pfizer Independent Medical Education Grant program has released a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) aimed at supporting independent medical education initiatives in the United States. This funding opportunity, titled “Upskilling Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) on Actionable Biomarker and Genetic Testing in Cancer,” is part of Pfizer’s broader effort to enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in oncology through independent, non-promotional education. The program focuses on advancing clinical understanding of biomarker testing to improve patient outcomes in cancer care. This initiative specifically targets the educational needs of advanced practice providers, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, genetic counselors, and other non-physician oncology care team members. Eligible applicants include accredited medical, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy schools, as well as professional organizations, healthcare institutions of varying sizes, and medical education companies. Individuals and unaffiliated medical practice groups are not eligible to apply. All organizations must be legally able to receive funding from Pfizer and are encouraged to confirm this before submission. For projects involving continuing education credits, the applicant must be an accredited organization. Projects supported by this RFP must align with the overarching objective of educating APPs on biomarker and genetic testing in oncology. Acceptable activities include developing educational tools to overcome knowledge barriers, creating confidence in applying biomarker results in treatment planning, and implementing care pathways that support testing for cancers such as lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer. Additionally, the projects should aim to enhance the ability of APPs to explain biomarker testing rationale and results to patients and caregivers. Clinical research and evaluations of therapeutic efficacy are explicitly excluded from funding. Funding for individual projects will range from $100,000 to $250,000, with a total estimated budget of $500,000 for this RFP. Funded projects can span up to two years in length. Proposals are due by October 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Applicants will be notified of award decisions by November 7, 2025. Approved projects are expected to begin on January 1, 2026. Pfizer limits overhead costs to 28% of the total proposed budget. Grant payments can only be made to the grantee organization, not individuals, and all applicants must enter into a grant agreement with Pfizer if approved. Applications must be submitted via Pfizer’s online portal at https://www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/knowledge. New users must create an account and select the appropriate options during the application process, including indicating this is a competitive grant, selecting “Oncology - General” as the primary area of interest, and identifying “2025 ONC US APP Biomarker IME” as the competitive grant program. Applicants must also upload their full proposal document in the designated field. The proposal must include details such as goals and objectives, needs assessment, target audience, project methods, evaluation metrics, dissemination plans, and a budget narrative. Proposals are limited to 15 pages excluding references. For questions about this RFP, applicants are encouraged to contact Lori Carpenter at Lori.Carpenter@pfizer.com with the subject line “2025 ONC US APP Biomarker IME July 2025.” Technical support for the application portal is available through links on the Cybergrants website. All notifications and correspondence during the review process will be sent via email. Pfizer may request clarification from applicants during the evaluation phase. Approved projects must comply with Pfizer’s terms, and modifications to the grant agreement are limited to cases where legal conflicts exist.

Ensure application follows exact portal steps; confirm CE accreditation if applicable; verify funding eligibility with institution in advance.