Apply for a Grant

The Extramural Research Program of the American Cancer Society has historically focused its investments on grant mechanisms that help launch the careers of investigators in cancer research. These investments have funded some of the brightest minds in cancer research. They’ve also broadly expanded knowledge about cancer biology in cells, animals, and humans, and about cancer health services and disparities, in addition to providing training for many healthcare professionals.

To extend our previous focus, we are pleased to announce our new investment initiative: Mission Boost Grants. We designed these grants to support select current and past ACS grantees specifically for the translation of their research to human testing.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) 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. We also sponsor grants in support of training for health professionals seeking to develop their clinical expertise and/or their ability to conduct independent research.

See all grant types: Find information on ACS grants for independent investigators, mentored training and career development, health professional training, professorships, special initiatives, and international programs.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about applying for a grant from the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society classifies the research and training grants into Areas of Research, a common language developed as a partner with the International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP).

Grant applications are ranked on the basis of merit by one of several discipline-specific Peer Review Committees. Each committee is composed of 12 to 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 American Cancer Society's objectives. The Council and all Peer Review Committees include "stakeholders," people with a personal interest in cancer, as full voting members. Stakeholders improve the review process by bringing the perspective of dedicated and impartial volunteers.

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 houses all reports, requests, and correspondence pertaining to a grant and is accessible to both ACS program staff and grantees.