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Apply For a Research Grant

As the nation's largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer, the American Cancer Society focuses its funding on investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed proposals. This process ensures that scientists propose projects that they believe are ready to be tackled with the available knowledge and techniques. This intellectual freedom encourages discovery in areas that scientists believe are most likely to solve the problems of cancer.

Definitions of Research Areas

Incorporating the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Research and Medical Grants, the American Cancer Society has eight clearly defined areas of research in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, early detection and treatment of cancer, as well as the behavioral, social and health policy cancer research.

Grant Types

The Society awards research grants and fellowships to promising early-career scientists with unique hypotheses for cancer prevention and study, fostering the next generation of cancer research and creating a strong foundation of preliminary evidence to make scientific advancements. Find information on ACS grants for independent investigators, mentored training and career development, pre-doctoral training, professorships, special initiatives, and international research programs.

Peer Review Processes

Grant applications are ranked on the basis of merit by one of several discipline-specific Peer Review Committees, each of which is composed of 12-25 scientific advisors, or peers, who are experts in their fields. The Council for Extramural Grants, a committee of senior scientists, recommends funding based on the relative merit of the applications, the amount of available funds, and the Society's objectives. Stakeholders, individuals with a personal interest in cancer, are full voting members of the Council and all Peer Review Committees, and improve review by bringing the perspective of the dedicated and impartial volunteers to the review process.

Grant Reporting Forms

To streamline the grant administration process, an electronic post award management system, Altum proposalCentral, has been added. The site is used to upload all requests for grant changes and related documents, and required reports (deliverables). The site will house all reports, requests and correspondence pertaining to a grant and is accessible to both ACS program staff and grantees.

Extramural Grants Staff Contacts

Find contact information for the American Cancer Society Extramural Grants department.