Breast Cancer Alliance Research Grants

Breast Cancer Alliance Research Grants

Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Program Summary

Breast Cancer Alliance provides seed money – scientific venture capital – to fund innovative breast cancer research with emphases on programs that have not yet qualified for federal grants. To secure federal funding, a researcher must prove a theory works. Breast Cancer Alliance creates the critical bridge between novel research and the opportunity to generate preliminary results.

Young Investigator Grant (YIG)

Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists in the early stages of their careers, including postdocs, whose proposals focus on breast cancer. This award is designed to advance the careers of promising researchers who do not yet have major independent grant support but are leading their own research projects. The Young Investigator Grant is awarded for a two-year term beginning April 1, 2027, and provides $125,000 in total support for salary and project costs, distributed over the two-year period.

Exceptional Project Grant (XP)

Breast Cancer Alliance also invites clinical doctors and research scientists at any career stage, including postdocs. This award supports creative, novel, and highly innovative research related to breast cancer. The Exceptional Project Grant is awarded for a one-year term beginning April 1, 2027, and provides $100,000 in total support for salary and project costs over the one-year period.

Deadlines

• CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MT March 2, 2026
• Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Sponsor Application Deadline (by invitation): July 30, 2026

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

• Category (choose one):
  • Young Investigator Grants ($125K/two-years)
  • Exceptional Project Grants ($100K/one-year)
• PI Curriculum Vitae (NIH Biosketch format)
• Letter of Intent (2 pages maximum): The letter of intent should include: 1) the complete project title and hypothesis; 2) an outline of the research aim(s) and methods; and 3) a brief discussion of the project’s potential impact.

To access the online application, visit: https://cuboulderovcr.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/7151/home

Eligibility

For the Young Investigator Grant (YIG), applicants:

• Must not have held a tenure track faculty or tenure track research position for more than four years following completion of their training, as of March 1, 2027
• Must not have been or are not a principal investigator on an NIH R01 or equivalent national/international non-mentored award as of March 1, 2027
• Must dedicate at least 50% of their work effort to research

Limited Submission Guidelines

Each institution may submit one letter of intent, either for YIG or XP.

Award Information  

Young Investigator Grant (YIG)

• Award Amount: $125,000 total
• Duration: 2 years (April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2029)

Exceptional Project Grant (XP)

• Award Amount: $100,000 total
• Duration: 1 year (April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028)