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. View open funding opportunities and submit an application through InfoReady.
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center funding opportunities support innovative cancer research and help advance new ideas across the Cancer Center. Explore research projects and recipients of Cancer Center Awards and Grants.
Pilot Grants
The 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.
The Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Pilot Project Program supports research informed or advised by community members in the Catchment Area (Nebraska). Projects must address the Catchment Area priority cancers [brain, breast, GI (colorectal, pancreatic), lung, and prostate], and have potential to lead to peer-reviewed external funding.
- Funding period: 1-year project period
- Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in March, subject to changes in the funding schedule.
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
The R01 Investment Program supports members who have applied for a cancer-focused NIH R01, received an encouraging score that is 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.
The 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.
The 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 funding.
- Funding period: 1-year project period
- Funding cycle: Announced periodically
The 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).
- Cancer and Environmental Circumstances
- Novel Cancer Therapeutic Interventions
- Next Generation Cancer Prevention
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.
Seed Grants
- Project 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 January, subject to changes in the funding schedule.
The Translational Cancer Research Program (TCRP) Seed Grant is designed to foster sustainable intra-programmatic collaborations across the Translational Cancer Research Program (TCRP). All proposals must directly align with at least one TCRP specific aim and at least one Cancer Center’s transdisciplinary theme. Contact PI must be a current TCRP full member.
- Funding period: 1-year project period
- Funding cycle: Application is expected to open in March, subject to changes in the funding schedule.