Brain Cancer

The HCC Neuro-Oncology Specialized Program in Research Excellence (SPORE) is seeking applications for the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) projects focused on adult or pediatric gliomas.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Career Enhancement Program Awards in Brain Cancers

AWARD AMOUNT: $25,000 (total) from the grant plus $25,000 (direct) from the applicant’s department

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 20, 2026

The Neuro-Oncology Program at the Harvard Cancer Center HCC) is seeking applications for the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) projects focused on adult or pediatric gliomas. Funding will be provided through the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) mechanism for two awards. Eligible candidates are those who are in the final year of clinical fellowship or postdoctoral fellowship (M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent rank are required) or are within 5 years of their first faculty appointment who holds the current rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor. 

Applications will be judged on:

1. Their scientific merit
2. Their potential to contribute to the overall status of the HCC Neuro- Oncology program
3. The agreement of the applicant’s departmental chair to provide matching funds in the amount of $25,000 direct (+ institutional/nonfederal indirect), to be included in the application as a letter from the chair

The application deadline is July 1, 2026. Awardees will be notified by July 15, 2026. Funding will start on September 1, 2026, and will be provided at $25,000 (total) from the grant to be spent by August 1, 2027, plus $25,000 (direct) from the applicant’s department. Funds can be used for salary and/or support of research at Harvard Medical School or Harvard-affiliated hospitals and institutions.

An application consists of the following components, submitted as one PDF document:

1. Abstract and title (1-page maximum).
2. Research Plan (3 pages maximum excluding references): Specific Aims, Background and Relevance to Gliomas, Preliminary Data, Experimental Methods, Analysis Plan. 
3. NIH Biosketch of Principal Investigator and Mentor. 
4. Mentor Letter of Support (1-page maximum).
5. Other Support for Applicant and Mentor (NIH form). 
6. Budget and Budget Justification (1-page maximum). 
7. Letter from applicant’s department chair agreeing to provide matching funds of $25,000 direct (+ institutional/nonfederal indirect) to be included, if awarded. 

 Applications should be submitted by July 1, 2026, to Dr. Paul Mintz.

The HCC Neuro-Oncology Specialized Program in Research Excellence (SPORE) is seeking applications for the Developmental Research Program (DRP) projects focused on adult or pediatric gliomas.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Developmental Research Project Awards in Brain Cancers

AWARD AMOUNT: $25,000 (total) from the grant plus $25,000 (direct) from the applicant’s department

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 20, 2026

The Neuro-Oncology Program at the Harvard Cancer Center (HCC) is seeking applications for the Developmental Research Program (DRP) projects focused on adult or pediatric gliomas. Funding will be provided through the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) mechanism for two awards. Applicants must be faculty members of Harvard Medical School or the Harvard School of Public Health at the level of Instructor or higher. While the proposed research may be basic or clinical, bench-to-bedside or bedside-to-bench strategies must be addressed in the application, as the ultimate purpose of the program is to promote translational research in gliomas. 

Applications will be judged on:

1. Their scientific merit
2. Relevance to the overall mission of the HCC Neuro-Oncology program 
3. Their potential for upgrade to full project status in the HCC glioma SPORE Program
4. The agreement of the applicant’s departmental chair to provide matching funds in the amount of $25,000 direct (+ institutional/nonfederal indirect), to be included in the application as a letter from the chair

The application deadline is July 1, 2026. Awardees will be notified by July 15, 2026. Funding will start on September 1, 2026, and will be provided at $25,000 (total) from the grant to be spent by August 1, 2027, plus $25,000 (direct) from the applicant’s department. Funds can be used for salary and/or support of research at Harvard Medical School or Harvard-affiliated hospitals and institutions. 

An application consists of the following components, submitted as one PDF document: 

1. Abstract and title (1-page maximum)
2. Research Plan (3 pages maximum excluding references): Specific Aims, Background and Relevance to Gliomas, Preliminary Data, Experimental Methods, Analysis Plan
3. NIH Biosketch of Principal Investigator and other Key Personnel
4. Budget and Budget Justification (1-page maximum)
5. Letter from applicant’s department chair agreeing to provide matching funds of $25,000 direct (+ institutional/nonfederal indirect) to be included, if awarded

 Applications should be submitted by July 1, 2026, to Dr. Paul Mintz.