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2025 Research Grant Application

Mission Statement:
The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.

To encourage a commitment to breast cancer research, Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists, including post-docs, whose primary focus is breast cancer research and who are at any stage of their careers, to apply for funding for either an exceptional project grant or young investigator grant.

The research project must be directly related to the field of breast cancer and must
commence within thirty days of receipt of funds. Areas of relevant research may include, but are not limited to: diagnosis, etiology, immunology, genetics and epigenetics, therapies, prevention and clinical studies.

 

Eligibility:

Applicants should check the eligibility requirements for each of these grants on the
Breast Cancer Alliance website (Grants-How to Apply) before identifying which
grant they are applying for on this document.

These grants are only open to applicants at institutions within the contiguous
United States. Note: For-profit institutions are ineligible and may not apply.

 

Exceptional Project Terms:

The term of the Exceptional Project Grant is one year, beginning March 1, 2025, and provides salary support and project costs of $100,000 (distributed over the one-year period.) Indirect costs, which are included in the $100,000 award, must be limited to 8% of total direct costs.

Exceptional Project grant recipients must submit a brief midterm report documenting progress toward completion of project aims by August 31, 2026 and a final report within 60 days following the end of the grant term. Both reports must be written in layman terms and should include current accounting of expenditures to date. Failure to submit the midterm report will result in forfeiture of any remaining grant funds. Grant recipients must also schedule a site visit with Breast Cancer Alliance representatives to be held midway during the grant term.

Grant recipients must also schedule a site visit with Breast Cancer Alliance representatives to be held midway during the grant term. The site visit can be in person or virtual. The site visit will be an informal update of the status of the research project to date.

Any publication associated with the Breast Cancer Alliance-funded research must recognize Breast Cancer Alliance as a sponsor.

 

Young Investigator Terms:

The term of the Young Investigator Grant is two years, beginning March 1, 2025, and provides salary support and project costs of $125,000 (distributed over the two-year period.) Indirect costs, which are included in the $125,000 award, must be limited to 8% of total direct costs. 

Young Investigator grant recipients must submit a brief midterm report documenting progress toward completion of project aims by February 28, 2026 and a final report within 60 days of February 28, 2027, the end of the grant term. Both reports must be written in layman terms and should include current accounting of expenditures to date. Failure to submit the midterm report will result in forfeiture of any remaining grant funds. Grant recipients must also schedule a site visit with Breast Cancer Alliance representatives to be held midway during the grant term.

Grant recipients must also schedule a site visit with Breast Cancer Alliance representatives to be held midway during the grant term. The site visit can be in person or virtual.The site visit will be an informal update of the status of the research project to date.

Any publication associated with the Breast Cancer Alliance-funded research must recognize Breast Cancer Alliance as a sponsor.

 

Application procedure:

Full applications must include all required fields (identified below) and must be submitted electronically, via the online portal, by midnight EST on July 19, 2024. Any attachments must be written in size 12 font.  A hard copy of the application is no longer required to be submitted.

No email submissions will be accepted.

An Independent External Review Committee will review and evaluate the applications. Based on their results and subsequent review by the Grants Committee, applicants will be notified by e-mail by mid-February 2025 as to whether or not they are eligible to submit a full proposal. 

Arrangements for contracts and payment will be made if, and when, the award is given. Note: contract modifications are NOT accepted and any changes to the contract will result in the award being rescinded.

The grant term will begin March 1, 2025. Funding will be disbursed in two equal installments.

 

All applications are confidential and are available only to the Board of Directors, the Grants Committee and the Independent External Review Committee.  If any grantee or sponsoring institution fails to adhere to the policies and qualifications listed above, or the grant agreement, the grant is subject to termination.

 

Please contact researchgrants@breastcanceralliance.org with any questions.

C. Research Proposal

Describe the nature of the research program in which you will participate. This cannot exceed five pages of text and figures, in size 12 Time New Roman font, single spaced, and at least half inch margins, and must include the following sections: (1) specific aims (1/2-1 page); (2) background, significance and rationale (1/2-1 page); (3) preliminary data (1-2 pages); and (4) research plan (2-3 pages).

D. Bibliography

E. Biohazards Statement

Note: For any of the statements in E, F, G or the budget section in I, any format acceptable to NIH is acceptable for this application.

F. Human Investigation Statement

G. Labratory Animals Statement

H. Biosketch Upload - (current NIH format, maximum five pages). List training institutions, staff appointments, awards, and peer reviewed publications as related to breast cancer research (please limit publications to past five years). Information provided on the Biosketch should focus on work related to breast cancer or directly related to the proposed research project. No references are to be submitted.

I. Budget

Exceptional Project applicants must submit a one-year budget, and Young Investigator applicants must submit a two-year budget, reflecting projected research expenditures. Tuition costs may not be included in the budget. Travel expenditures may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). A brief budget justification should be provided.

K. Upload Letters of Reference

Please read these instructions carefully, as requirements differ for different categories of applicants.

I. For an Exceptional Project Applicant who is tenured in his/her current position, no letters of reference are required to be submitted.

II. For any Exceptional Project applicant who is not tenured in his/her position, and any Young Investigator applicant:

A. Two letters of reference are required from individuals not directly involved with the application but familiar with the applicant’s qualifications, training and interests. Letters of reference should address the candidate’s competence, potential for conducting research, evidence of originality, adequacy of scientific background, quality of research endeavors or publications to date, if any, and any additional comments that the referee may wish to provide.
B. Also required is a third letter from the applicant’s institution confirming (1) the applicant’s independent research capabilities and (2) that it commits to providing adequate resources to the applicant for carrying out the proposed project at the institution for the grant term.
C. Separate letters of support from any/all collaborators are also required, with a clear explanation of his/her role in the research.