Brain SPORE Project Development
NCI-FUNDED BRAIN SPORE P50CA221747
APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS FOR DRP/CEP FUNDING
We invite investigators to apply for funding and support from the NCI-funded Brain SPORE: Translational Approaches to Brain Cancer P50CA221747.
Two types of grants will be supported:
1)Developmental Research (pilot) Projects.
2)Career Enhancement Program (CEP) projects.
Applications should be translational in nature and focus on brain tumor related research. Translational applications can either be early stage (involves substantial pre-clinical investigation), or late stage in which there is an imminent clinical application.
ELIGIBILITY
DRP applicants must have an M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree and hold Northwestern faculty appointments at the level of assistant professor or above.
Applicants for the CEP may be instructors, research assistant professors, team scientists, or assistant professors.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should include: 1) a title page with investigator name(s) and contact information; 2) an abstract < 200 words summarizing the proposed research; 3) the research proposal which should be no longer than 3 pages inclusive of figures, specific aims, and research strategy; 4) references; 5) a simple budget page (maximum $50,000) that lists (i) personnel and corresponding salary support for the percent effort to be directed to the research, (ii) estimate of supply costs, including purchase and housing of animals, if applicable, and (iii) estimate of costs of services, such as institutional cores, if applicable; and (6) NIH Common Forms (ScienCV and Other Support) for participating faculty.
Applications should be submitted as a single PDF to Northwestern Competitions at the following link: https://competitions.fsm.northwestern.edu/grants/BrainSPORE2026
Please contact Jodi (JJ) Johnson, Ph.D. at jodi-johnson@northwestern.edu with questions.
Deadline for applications is: Monday, July 1, 2026.
REVIEW AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
The SPORE Executive Committee will review applications and make final funding decisions by July 27, 2026. Funding decisions will be based on proposal scientific merit and feasibility, as determined by the Committee, relative need for research in specific areas that bear upon the treatment of brain tumor patients, and the applicant’s record of scientific productivity.
The start date for funded projects will be August 1, 2026.
Newly-awarded projects are eligible to apply for a second year of support based on progress made during the initial year of support. Funded applicants will be required to have appropriate IRB, ACUC and/or other relevant approvals in place per Feinberg School of Medicine guidelines prior to funds being distributed. Funded investigators will be required to attend SPORE meetings and provide a progress report outlining project progress, plans for publications(s) or derivative grant applications, and any project obstacles/barriers and plans to remediate these. It is also required that any publications made possible by this support cite the grant: P50CA221747 SPORE for Translational Approaches to Brain Cancer.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS FOR DRP/CEP FUNDING
We invite investigators to apply for funding and support from the NCI-funded Brain SPORE: Translational Approaches to Brain Cancer P50CA221747.
Two types of grants will be supported:
1)Developmental Research (pilot) Projects.
2)Career Enhancement Program (CEP) projects.
Applications should be translational in nature and focus on brain tumor related research. Translational applications can either be early stage (involves substantial pre-clinical investigation), or late stage in which there is an imminent clinical application.
ELIGIBILITY
DRP applicants must have an M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree and hold Northwestern faculty appointments at the level of assistant professor or above.
Applicants for the CEP may be instructors, research assistant professors, team scientists, or assistant professors.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should include: 1) a title page with investigator name(s) and contact information; 2) an abstract < 200 words summarizing the proposed research; 3) the research proposal which should be no longer than 3 pages inclusive of figures, specific aims, and research strategy; 4) references; 5) a simple budget page (maximum $50,000) that lists (i) personnel and corresponding salary support for the percent effort to be directed to the research, (ii) estimate of supply costs, including purchase and housing of animals, if applicable, and (iii) estimate of costs of services, such as institutional cores, if applicable; and (6) NIH Common Forms (ScienCV and Other Support) for participating faculty.
Applications should be submitted as a single PDF to Northwestern Competitions at the following link: https://competitions.fsm.northwestern.edu/grants/BrainSPORE2026
Please contact Jodi (JJ) Johnson, Ph.D. at jodi-johnson@northwestern.edu with questions.
Deadline for applications is: Monday, July 1, 2026.
REVIEW AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
The SPORE Executive Committee will review applications and make final funding decisions by July 27, 2026. Funding decisions will be based on proposal scientific merit and feasibility, as determined by the Committee, relative need for research in specific areas that bear upon the treatment of brain tumor patients, and the applicant’s record of scientific productivity.
The start date for funded projects will be August 1, 2026.
Newly-awarded projects are eligible to apply for a second year of support based on progress made during the initial year of support. Funded applicants will be required to have appropriate IRB, ACUC and/or other relevant approvals in place per Feinberg School of Medicine guidelines prior to funds being distributed. Funded investigators will be required to attend SPORE meetings and provide a progress report outlining project progress, plans for publications(s) or derivative grant applications, and any project obstacles/barriers and plans to remediate these. It is also required that any publications made possible by this support cite the grant: P50CA221747 SPORE for Translational Approaches to Brain Cancer.