Funding

LOI Due October 15 | University of Massachusetts Boston & Harvard Cancer Consortium Cancer Advancement Through Partnerships in Research and Infrastructure RFA

September 29, 2026

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Boston (UMass Boston) – Harvard Cancer Consortium (HCC) Cancer Advancement through Partnerships in Research and Infrastructure (CAPRI) (U54) Grant

Funding Source: Federal

Award Level: Pilot Project (up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for two years) | Full Project (up to $150,000 in direct costs per year for three years)

The UMB – HCC Partnership, in existence for more than two decades, aims to reduce cancer risk, incidence, morbidity, and mortality and enhance quality of life in cancer survivors through an orderly sequence from research on interventions and their impact in defined populations to the broad, systematic application of the research results through dissemination and diffusion strategies. The Partnership is submitting a competing application for renewal on 25 January 2027. Projects selected will be included in the application and evaluated by NCI. Funding is contingent upon NCI’s successful award of the U54 CAPRI grant.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Letter of Intent: October 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST

Application: December 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST

Anticipated Award Date: December 2027

View Full RFA

Overview

The purpose of this RFA is to call for proposals for research that aim to reduce cancer risk, incidence, morbidity, and mortality and enhance quality of life in cancer survivors. This RFA is explicitly aimed at fostering and supporting collaborations between investigators at UMass Boston (resource limited institution ) and HCC (an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center).

Specific requirements for applications:

Projects may span basic science, population sciences, outcomes, and social science related to cancer. May include basic, clinical, translational, prevention, behavioral, and population research, as well as emerging technologies, precision medicine, clinical trials, and outreach efforts, all of which align with NCI's priorities.
Hypothesis-driven outreach research projects are also appropriate, including those aimed at increasing high-quality, clinically annotated biospecimens from populations representative of the partnering institutions' catchment area.

Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, cancer prevention (such as cancer screening, vaccines, smoking prevention and cessation), cancer imaging, cancer initiation and progression, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and cancer care delivery.

All applications must:

Be led by PIs from both UMass Boston and HCC faculty;
Have high potential for leading to external funding through the NIH K-series, R03, R15, R21, R01 mechanisms or through NSF or foundation support; and
Encourage involvement of Early Stage Investigators (ESIs).

Interested faculty who do not have a UMass Boston or a HCC collaborator may request assistance from the Partnership at u54partnership@umb.edu.

Application Information

Letter Of Intent (LOI) due October 15, 2026

Submission of an LOI is required. LOIs are limited to up to three pages and must include the following:

UMass Boston and HCC PIs and contact information;
A brief description of the proposed research and draft specific aims;
A brief paragraph on methodology or approach;
A brief paragraph on the scientific significance and how it relates to the goals of the NCI CAPRI and UMass Boston – HCC Partnership; and
2-3 bullet points on how the outcomes of the proposed work will position the project well for funding as a future U54 full project (if pilot application) and/or NIH (e.g. R01/R15/R21-level funding) or NSF mechanism.

Applications for submission to NCI will be selected based on their potential for fit with the UMB/HCC U54 and NCI priorites, contributions to advancing cancer science and feasibility.

Application due December 15, 2026 (If your project is selected)

Complete the Application Guide and Template here.
Complete NIH R&R budget forms (Form Page 4 and Form Page 5) here.
Submit a current NIH biosketch for all personnel using the PHS 398 Biographical Sketch Format Page.
Compile all of the above documents into one PDF and submit to u54partnership@umb.edu.

Proposal Review Criteria

Final applications will be reviewed drawing on 2026 NIH review criteria by designated review committees as well as on U54 Partnership priorities as outlined below. Reviewers will assign a score on the overall application based on the following criteria:

Importance of the Research (significance and innovation):
Significance: Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Innovation: Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Rigor and Feasibility (approach, rigor, and feasibility):
The overall strategy, methodology, and analyses are well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project, and cross-institutional integration of research labs/programs is clearly defined.

If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

Expertise and Resources (investigators and environment):
The PIs, collaborators, and other key personnel have the necessary experience and expertise to accomplish the goals of the proposed research project. The investigators have complementary and integrated expertise and institutional resources are appropriate to ensure the successful execution of the proposed work.

Career Development:
There is a well thought-out and reasonable plan for career development of early stage investigator(s). Mentor(s) have been identified and the appropriate mechanisms are in place to achieve career development goals outlined.Does the program/project further advances the career development of Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) and trainees to cultivate a robust cancer research workforce and supports coordinatedoutreach and education activities that align with and reinforce the partnership's research objectives.

Potential for External Funding: There is a high likelihood that the proposed research project will lead to NIH K-series, R03, R21, R01 etc. mechanisms, or other types of foundation funding.

UMB-HCC Partnership Cores

Utilization of the Partnership cores is strongly recommended.

Research Design and Analysis Core (RDAC)
The Research Design and Analysis Core offers consultation to investigators who would like guidance regarding the design of their proposal. The RDAC can assist with research design, survey and measure development, qualitative research, and feedback on quantitative and qualitative project feasibility. Population science and basic science research projects involving statistical analysis must consult with the RDAC to develop a strategy for study design and data analysis. To request an appointment, contact Carol Lowenstein (Carol_Lowenstein@dfci.harvard.edu).

Genomics Core
The Genomics Core is partially funded to assist investigators who wish to incorporate advanced genomics-based technologies (NextGen or single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics) in their study design. Proposed projects interested in development funds for core services ($2-3K max) as they prepare their pilot or full applications can contact Jill Macoska (Jill.Macoska@umb.edu). Study design questions can be directed to Jill Macoska as well.

Outreach and Engagement Core
The Outreach Core aims to maximize the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based strategies to promote cancer prevention behaviors in faith-based and other community settings. The Outreach Core can assist research projects with dissemination and building relationships with community organizations. To request an appointment, contact Sara Minsky (Sara_Minsky@dfci.harvard.edu).

Eligibility & Requirements

PIs must be appointed as tenure track or non-tenure track faculty at their respective institutions; post-doctoral fellows and staff scientists (UMB) are not permitted to serve as PIs on proposals. Research scientists and instructors at HCC institutions and research professors at UMB are eligible to serve as PIs.
Investigators may not: A) submit a pilot application if they have received Partnership pilot project funding within the last two years (other than seed projects), or B) submit more than one application. Former pilot project recipients are encouraged to apply for a full project. Former seed project recipients are encouraged to apply for a pilot or full project.
HCC and UMass Boston collaborators must complete separate budgets which, when combined, do not exceed the award amount in direct costs. These budgets should be roughly equivalent and should not exceed a 60/40 split.
This is a joint application. All materials must be submitted to u54partnership@umb.edu as a single PDF.

Projects selected for funding must complete the following sections, if applicable, upon notice of selection:

Human subjects and clinical trials. A fillable template for this section can be found here (PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information) and assistance will be provided if the project is selected.
Vertebrate Animals Section. Guidance on what to include in this section can be found here.

Projects in need of IRB or IACUC approval must apply in order for funds to be released.