Internal Awards and Pilot Grants

There are a range of internal awards and pilot funding opportunities for researchers and clinician scientists. Funding opportunities are available across research areas, including basic, translational, clinical trials, population science, and community outreach and engagement.  

Funding ranges from $25,000 to $150,000, depending on the funding program. Please refer to the individual Request for Applications (RFAs)for details.For questions related to funding opportunities, contact buffettcancercenter@unmc.edu.   

To view the full Request for Applications (RFA) and submit an application, visit InfoReady.

Submit Your Application 

Cancer Center Pilot Grants:

1. American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG) Pilot Award administered by the Cancer Center supports early-stage investigators.  

• Funding period: 1-year project period 
• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in October, subject to changes in the funding schedule. 

• Funding period: 1-year project period 

• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in March, subject to changes in the funding schedule. 

3. Cancer Prevention and Control Program (CPCP) Pilot Grant supports innovative cancer prevention and control projects aligned with the program's three aims:  

• Understanding cancer risk factors 

• Developing novel screening/prevention methods 

• Improving survivor outcomes.  

With a special emphasis on community-engaged research, priority cancers [brain, breast, GI (colorectal, pancreatic), lung and prostate], and the Cancer Center’s strategic themes. 

• Funding period: 1-year project period  

• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in May, subject to changes in the funding schedule. 

4. High-Risk, High-Reward Pilot Projects Program sponsors high-quality, innovative, cancer-focused research aligned with the Cancer Center's Strategic Plan. The program supports researchers to generate preliminary data that strengthens future applications for external funding.  

• Funding period: 1-year project period 

• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in May, subject to changes in the funding schedule. 

5. Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial (IIT) Team Award supports the development of investigator-initiated trials. Proposals must include a timeline to open an IIT within two years of award.  

• Funding period: 1-2 years project period 

• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in May, subject to changes in the funding schedule. 

6. R01 Investment Program The R01 Investment Program supports members who have applied for a cancer-focused NIH R01, received an encouraging score that are below the funding threshold, and are working toward resubmission. The program provides funding to help generate additional data needed for successful resubmission. 

• Funding period: 1-year project period 

• Funding cycle: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

7. Translational Partnerships Awards Program supports collaborative translational cancer research that advances the development of innovative cancer therapies and generates preliminary preclinical data.

The program fosters partnerships between basic and clinical cancer researchers, with priority given to projects addressing Catchment Area priority cancers [brain, breast, GI (colorectal, pancreatic), lung and prostate] and advancing investigator-initiated clinical interventional treatment trials. 

• Funding period: 1-year project period  

• Funding cycle: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

8. Team Science Awards Program supports collaborative, cross-disciplinary cancer research projects that catalyze the development of multi-component grant applications, including program project (NIH P awards) and cooperative agreement (NIH U awards) funding mechanisms. The program is designed to strengthen research collaborations and position investigators for successful external fundings.  

• Funding period: 1-year project period 

• Funding cycle: Announced periodically  

9. Transdisciplinary Research Award Program is the expansion of transdisciplinary research in the three thematic areas strategically determined by the Cancer Center based upon research strengths and the needs of the Catchment Area (Nebraska). 

• Rural and Frontier Health 

• Novel Cancer Therapeutic Interventions 

• Precision Prevention and population Health 

This pilot award program is envisioned as a catalyst to increase the depth and breadth of transdisciplinary research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.  

• Funding period: 1-year project period 

• Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in February, subject to changes in the funding schedule.