Internal Funding Opportunities

Internal pilot grants supported by institutional and philanthropic dollars are critically important for advancing research activities at the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC). Internal funding mechanisms support several key research priorities, including:

  • Stimulating transdisciplinary and team-based science within the SCC’s research programs
  • Advancing scientific findings through the translational pipeline
  • Addressing cancer-relevant problems and health disparities among underserved populations in Oklahoma
  • Supporting early-stage investigators as they progress to independence in funding

Current Funding Opportunities

Pilot Grant Program

  • Purpose: To support the research of Full and Associate Members that advances the goal and aims of the SCC’s research programs. Pilot grants are expected to lead to peer-reviewed grant submissions and/or collaborative publications.
  • Preference is given to proposals that:
    • Involve two or more SCC members in a collaborative project
    • Support the translation of a novel idea into clinical or community practice
  • Funding: Up to $50,000 per award for one year.
  • Award Cycle: Pilot grants are awarded annually in the spring. Request for proposals will be sent in the winter prior to the spring award.

Team Grant Program

  • Purpose: To support the research of Full and Associate Members that advances the research goals of the SCC through collaborative, team-based science. Team grants are expected to lead to collaborative scientific publications and peer-reviewed multi-PI grant submissions.
  • Preference will be given to team projects (3-5 PIs) that support the translation of novel ideas into the clinical or community setting.
  • Funding: Up to $150,000 per award for one year (pending funding availability).
  • Award Cycle: Team grants are awarded annually in the spring. Request for proposals will be sent in the winter prior to the spring award. Team grants are pending funding availability.

American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Program

  • Purpose: Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) is a recipient of the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG). The ACS IRG is an institutional award that enables SCC to provide small pilot research funding to beginning investigators who have not yet achieved independent funding at the national level.
  • The Principal Investigator of the ACS IRG award is Rajagopal Ramesh, Ph.D. The review of applications and allocation of awards will be managed through the SCC using a peer-review process.
  • Stephenson Cancer Center collaborates with the local ACS to promote ACS research opportunities and to disseminate information about research findings and benefits to public and professional groups. To learn more about the ACS IRG and other ACS research opportunities, visit the ACS website.
  • Eligibility: Full time Assistant Professors within six years of their first independent faculty appointment and with no active peer-reviewed research funding from national funding agencies (e.g. NIH, DOD, NSF, ACS) may apply.
  • Funding: Up to $60,000 in direct costs only for one year. Upon competitive review can be renewed for a second year.

Grant Resubmission Support

  • The SCC can provide funding and other support (i.e., mentorship, project management, scientific writing) for current Full and Associate Members who receive a competitive, but not fundable, score on a qualifying peer-reviewed grant in order to enhance the likelihood of a successful resubmission.
  • To qualify, grants must have been submitted to one of the following Organizations with NCI-approved Peer-Reviewed Funding Systems.
  • For more information please contact your Program Leader.

Trainee and Student Funding Opportunities

Through the Education, Training and Career Enhancement Core (ETCE), the SCC supports the following funding opportunities:

  • Trainee Research Award program for graduate students, professional students and other trainees to enhance trainee career development opportunities and / or to augment resources toward basic, translational, clinical trial or community-based cancer projects.
  • Student Research Travel Awards are available to graduate students, professional students, and postdoctoral fellows for participation in professional meetings.

Please see the ETCE webpage for additional information.

For more information about internal funding opportunities, please contact the SCC’s Office of Cancer Research: cancerresearch@ouhsc.edu.

Local Funding Opportunities

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and other local entities also offer pilot funding opportunities. See below for more information:

OUHSC – Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Grants Program – 2019 This Program includes several opportunities:

  • Clinician Scientist Development Grants
  • Equipment Grants
  • Symposium Grants
  • Team Science Grants
  • Seed Grants
  • Research Support Grants
  • New Investigator Seed Grants

OSCTR Pilot Grants Program
OCAST Health Research Awards