Current Funding Opportunities

Through our Research Program, Komen evaluates and invests in science and technology that will accelerate research discoveries to change the standard of breast cancer care and improve the delivery of that care. We’re focused on conquering aggressive and metastatic breast cancers and eliminating breast cancer disparities. Our goal: to advance personalized medicine and improve health outcomes for everyone.

Each year, we release Request for Applications or Letter of Intent (LOI) Announcements to communicate which grant mechanisms and scientific focus areas are available for funding. The types of mechanisms and the scientific focus areas may vary from year to year.

2023-2024 (FY24) Letter of Intent Announcement

• LOI Announcement Release Date: June 15, 2023
• LOI Submission system open date: June 15, 2023
• LOI Submission deadline: July 14, 2023 at 1:00pm EST
• Invitation to submit an Application: July 25, 2023 at 1:00pm EST

CAREER TRANSITION AWARD (CTA) 

This new Susan G. Komen grant mechanism aims to help outstanding senior postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows working under the guidance of a mentor to launch their competitive, independent breast cancer research careers. The Career Transition Awards provide up to five years of funding in two phases: Phase 1 supports the final years of mentored, postdoctoral training and Phase 2 supports the independent research of the early career, tenure-track investigators.

GRANT TERMS: Applicant/PI may request up to 5 years of funding totaling up to $650,000.00 over the two phases of the Award. Up to $100,000.00 per year (direct costs only) for up to two years may be requested for the first phase of the Career Transition Award to support the postdoctoral work. For the second phase of the Career Transition Award, the Applicant/PI may request up to $150,000.00 per year (direct and indirect costs) for up to three years to support independent research.

Eligibility: Individuals pursuing independent breast cancer research careers who are in the final years of mentored postdoctoral research training positions with no more than five years of total postdoctoral research experience at the time of Letter of Intent submission (July 14, 2023). For this application clinical fellows are considered eligible and equal to the postdoctoral rank. 

Research Focus: Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research goals and priorities and mission to save lives from breast cancer.

Download the current Career Transition Award LOI Announcement (PDF) for more details

Komen Career Transition Award Review Process 

Susan G. Komen® utilizes a multi-step approach to grant application and review that first requires submission of a Letter of Intent and upon invitation only, submission of an Application. 

Applicants/PIs will be notified of Letter of Intent review decisions via email. Applicants/PIs invited to submit an Application will then be granted access to the Application site in proposalCENTRAL. 

All institutions and industry partners must agree to adhere to Komen’s Policies and Procedures for Research and Training Grants. A copy of the latest version of these awards is found with the other documents for the LOI in proposalCENTRAL.

ASPIRE: A Supplement to Promote Inclusion for Research Excellence

Despite progress in breast cancer research and patient care, not everyone is benefitting from the scientific advances and improvements in breast cancer care and outcomes. This new Susan G. Komen grant is intended to enhance the diversity of the breast cancer research workforce by providing established breast cancer scientists with supplemental funding to support research trainees from communities historically minoritized and marginalized in research. A breast cancer research workforce that represents the breast cancer community is one way to work towards health equity and better outcomes for all. By supporting these promising trainees early in their research careers, Komen seeks to ensure that a diverse group of highly trained scientists who reflect the communities we serve will emerge as the next generation of leaders in breast cancer research and end breast cancer forever.

Award amount: up to $100,000 per year to cover a trainee’s salary for one year or two years.

Eligibility: Lead mentor must have a currently funded breast cancer research project that has undergone a rigorous peer review (see request for application for link of organizations that fall under this category). Trainees supported with this supplement are from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data. This includes individuals who identify as Black or African American, Latino or Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders; individuals with disabilities; and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds according to the criteria used by the NIH (https://diversity.nih.gov/about-us/population-underrepresented). Eligibility for disadvantaged background will be measured using the same characteristics as the NIH, i.e., at least two of the criteria must be met to be included.

Download the current ASPIRE Request for Applications for more details here.

All institutions must agree to adhere to Komen’s Policies and Procedures for Research and Training Grants.

Key Dates:

Applications due November 1, 2023

Award notification on or around April 15, 2024.