We fund All Types of Research

The American Cancer Society (ACS) funds a wide range of investigator-initiated cancer research. We believe that the best science will provide the greatest benefit. That’s why the goal of our Extramural Discovery Sciences program is to fund the most creative, innovative, and promising projects from the grant applications we receive, for any type of cancer and within any part of the research continuum.

Grant applicants may propose projects focused on any of these areas:

  • Basic discovery science, where the goal is to uncover fundamental mechanisms of biology, cancer, or behavior
  • Development of novel therapeutics
  • Translational cancer research, where the goal is to further demonstrate how a discovery can be moved into the clinic

Proposals can include the use of diverse preclinical cancer models (i.e., in silico/computational, cells, organoids and/or animals). Research can also focus on clinical research with people to better understand a disease and to test and refine new treatments and technologies. This includes clinical trials, epidemiologic and behavioral studies, and health services research. Our portfolio reflects this diverse scope. Each of our Scientific Research Programs accepts applications from most grant mechanisms (exceptions are made for some special initiatives).

NEW! PROGRAM, GRANT MECHANISMS, and RFAS

In addition to our traditional extramural research grants program, our portfolio includes newly launched grant mechanisms: 

  • The ACS Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) Internship is a 10-week summer cancer research experience with longitudinal networking and career development activities. The aim is to increase diversity and inclusion in the cancer workforce for underrepresented minorities who are rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest in any STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) discipline.
  • Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) support high-risk, high-reward exploratory cancer research across the research continuum. Investigators may focus on developing research methodologies, establishing feasibility, or leading pilot tests.
  • TheoryLab grants support new and transdisciplinary collaborations among TheoryLab users (a private social media platform for current and former ACS grantees) to explore high-risk ideas, including Covid-19 research, relevant to cancer or people living with cancer.

And, we have new requests for research applications!

Learn about the recent restructuring of our scientific programs and peer review committees: 
FAQs: ACS Extramural Program Changes and Grant Application Submissions.

NEW GRANT REQUIREMENTS

All applications must fit into at least 1 of 6 research priority areas.

Learn more

Biochemistry and Immunology of Cancer

This program accepts grant applications that focus on: 

  • Genes involved in cancer and the roles alterations in those genes (mutations, deletions, and amplifications) play in cancer processes
  • Molecules involved in cancer (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates) and how alterations in those molecules affect the disease
  • Potential targets for new treatments of cancer and mechanisms of signal transduction
  • Investigations of the immunology of cancer including blood cell development, immunotherapy, inflammatory responses, immunosurveillance, and innate and adaptive immunity
  • Investigations of oncogenic viruses, microbial pathogens, or the microbiome, and their involvement with molecular processes and pathways within cancer cells including tumor antigens and immunity
Scientific Director: Doug Hurst, PhD
Program Manager: Nicole Lopanik, PhD
For all questions, contact: Nicole.Lopanik@cancer.org

Cell Biology and Preclinical Cancer Research

This program accepts grant applications that focus on:

  • Fundamental controls that dictate cancer cell development and regulation of cell growth, division, migration, and fate
  • Investigations of oncogenic viruses, microbial pathogens, or the microbiome, and their involvement with cellular processes and pathways within cancer cells and between cancer cells and normal cells
  • Mechanisms driving cancer progression (including initiation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and treatment resistance) and therapy-associated morbidities
  • Cancer biomarker discovery and development
  • Discovery, synthesis and delivery of cancer drugs and biologics

Scientific Director: Lynne Elmore, PhD
Program Manager: Rachel Commander, PhD
For all questions, contact: Rachel.Commander@cancer.org
Associated Peer Review Committees

Learn More

Clinical and Cancer Control Research

This program accepts grant applications that focus on qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, multi-level research, clinical studies and clinical trials involving human subjects. Specifically:

  • Clinical research to test novel interventions, methods, and technologies to prevent, detect, treat, or survive cancer
  • Translating evidence from preclinical research and clinical trials into medical practice
  • Innovative methods and technologies to promote and sustain behavioral change
  • Advanced statistical methods and machine-learning to interrogate multiple large databases
  • Access to care, cancer care delivery, and palliative care research
  • Health equity research to uncover the root cause of inequities based on the social determinants of health and testing strategies to achieve health equity

Priority Focus on Health Equity:

ACS Extramural Discovery Sciences identifies research addressing cancer health equity as a priority within the Clinical and Cancer Control Research Program. For more information see the grant mechanism for Health Equity Research.

Senior Scientific Director: Elvan (Ellie) C. Daniels, MD, MPH
Program Manager: Julian James-Burke, MPH
For all questions, contact: Julian.JamesBurke@cancer.org
Associated Peer Review Committees

Learn More

Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR)

Starting in 2022, current Institutional Research Grantees (IRGs) that focus on increasing diversity in the cancer workforce may apply for these new programs.

Priority Focus on Health Equity:

ACS Extramural Discovery Sciences identifies research addressing cancer health equity as a priority within the Clinical and Cancer Control Research Program. For more information see the grant mechanism for Health Equity Research.

Program Manager: Chanda Felton, MPH
For all questions, contact: DiversityEDS@cancer.org 
Associated Peer Review Committees