American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant

About the ACS IRG

The American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants (ACS IRG) is awarded to early-stage investigators to pursue basic, pre-clinical, clinical and cancer-control research studies. These funds are intended for new investigators who are within six years of their first academic appointment, and to provide new investigators with necessary resources to more rapidly develop their research, generate pilot data and publish their results, all of which enhances their ability to compete for national-level funding.

Award details

  • Awards of up to $50,000/year are provided for up to three early-stage investigators each year
  • Awardees must have an established mentor/mentoring team in place
  • A Massey investigator may only hold one active pilot research award at a time

Application requirements

  • Applicants are required to consult with a biostatistician as part of the proposal to assist with design and statistical methods if applicable. For biostatistical support, please contact Massey's Biostatistics Shared Resource.
  • Applicants are also encouraged to engage a Community Champion in the project. Please contact cancerchamps@vcu.edu to set an appointment for your consultation.

Upcoming deadlines and award dates

2026 (cycle 2) applications are now being accepted! Please find the details for the application process below:

  • Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be available on October 15, 2025
  • Letter of intents are due by December 1, 2025 
  • Full applications due by January 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (EST). 

Application Materials 

If you have questions about the ACS IRG, please contact Alex Haynes at haynesa4@vcu.edu or Cian Myers at myersc4@vcu.

Previous ACS IRG awardees