Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – 2026

Letters of Intent (LOI) are due by 05/06/2026. Upon review by the Summit Organizing Committee, selected LOI’s will be invited for a full application by 05/15/2026. Full applications will be due 06/26/2026.

A. Purpose:

• Provide pilot funding for new concepts in cancer-related research, including but not limited to: discovery, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control, and survivorship.
• Produce preliminary data to provide a basis for future applications to the NCI, other NIH institutes, or other peer-reviewing agencies or foundations. 

B. Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Priorities:

• For 2026, Massey will continue to prioritize application addressing the 2021-2025 research strategic plan focal areas – breast, prostate, lung and GI cancers; the lifestyle factors of tobacco and obesity and survivorship. 
• In addition, the Massey leadership would like to encourage applications focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence and data sciences in cancer-related sciences.
• Projects that genuinely demonstrate transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, or translational approaches to addressing cancer-related research question(s).
• Proposals that represent collaborative, team science approaches, particularly those that involve investigators from more than one Massey research program in meaningful ways.
• Projects that utilize Massey-supported shared resources, especially those applicants who have collaborated with one or more Massey-supported shared resource directors to optimize the full capabilities or innovative capabilities of a shared resource.

C. Eligibility 

• Both single and Multiple Principal Investigators (PI or MPIs) may apply. For MPIs, at least one PI must have a full-time faculty appointment at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and is required to be an NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG)-eligible member (verify with Massey Administration before applying by contacting Cian Myers, myersc4@vcu.edu). The contact PI submitting the application must be an NCI CCSG-eligible Massey member. 
• Effort between MPIs must be comparable, and both MPIs must contribute to the overall project in similar magnitude.
• An individual may submit only one application as PI or MPI per year. An individual is allowed to be a co- investigator, consultant, or mentor on multiple submissions.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement to discuss the incorporation of Massey Community Champions into their projects.
• A project submitted on a TEAM SCIENCE application will not be considered for funding as a separate INNOVATION PILOT application in the same year.
• A Massey investigator may only hold one active pilot research award at a time. Exceptions may be granted for an NCI Catalyst award when the research focus is completely different from other funded Massey pilot awards.

D. Award Information 

• Total awards are dependent upon available funding. The number of awards and the award  amount may increase or decrease each year dependent upon the Massey budget and philanthropic funding available in any given year.
• The number of awards and the award amount may increase or decrease each year dependent upon scientific merit of the projects submitted for review and the priorities established for any released NOFO.
• Projects must have compliance approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC) in place within 90 days of receipt of the Notice of Award or funding may be rescinded. The official start date of the award and the release of funding will begin once the compliance approvals have been submitted. 
• It is expected that all proposals will consult and include a biostatistician from the Massey-supported Biostatistics Shared Resource as part of the proposal. Their role is to assist with design and statistical methods. Please contact Dr. Nolan Wages (wagesn@vcu.edu), director of the Massey Biostatistics Shared Resource, as soon as possible or visit the Biostatistics Shared Resource.
• Acceptance of funds implies a firm commitment to provide a brief verbal/email check-in progress report quarterly (financial and scientific) by the deadline outlined in the Notice of Award and subsequently, a written annual update for a five-year follow-up period. Awardees who do not reply to the five-year follow-up requests will jeopardize their eligibility for future Massey awards.
• MPIs must spend on their Massey assigned index within 60 days of receipt of the Notice of Award or funding may be rescinded and will require a written explanation for the delays addressed to Massey Senior Leadership. 
• Following the initial 60-day Massey expects that the grantee will completely utilize the full amount of funding during the term of the award and are required to meet regularly with the Massey Post-Award and Administrative Teams. 
• A No Cost Extension is highly discouraged and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and must be requested no later than 60-day before the end of the project period All unspent funds at the end of the grant period will be returned to the Massey.
• All awards must have appropriate institutional compliance approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC) within 90 days of receipt of the Notice of Award and before funds will be allocated. Restrictions may be applied for expenditures prior to receiving compliance approvals .
• All awards, publications, and presentations must acknowledge Massey and as specified in the Notice of Award.
• Acceptance of funds implies a firm commitment to provide the Massey leaders access to meet with the project team, give talks at internal meeting and/or to the public, and allow tours of the facility.

E. 2026 Innovation Pilot Opportunities 

INNOVATION PILOTS (One project per Massey research program will be selected)

1. Cancer Prevention & Control 

• Projects should be focused on addressing cancer prevention and control, including but not limited to: identifying cancer risks, testing novel interventions, health policy research, implementation and dissemination research, supportive care, and cancer survivorship research. 
• Total project period may not exceed 18 months.
• Budget may not exceed $100,000.
• Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.

2. Developmental Therapeutics

• Projects should address the development of innovative strategies for cancer treatment (including but not limited to): identifying and developing novel compounds to probe therapeutic targets and/or corresponding aberrant signal transduction pathways; validating compounds in vivo in preparation for clinical implementation; investigating mechanisms of actions of and resistance to both novel and existing targeted or immunologic agents.
• Studies focusing on a) design and synthesis of novel compounds using structure-based drug design or HTS, b) performing hit-to-lead optimization and structure activity relationship studies, c) using the compounds to probe aberrant cellular pathways in tumor cells, and d) studying mechanism by which these chemical probes affect proliferation, survival, invasion and other hallmarks of cancer in cell culture, patient-derived organoids and xenografts are highly encouraged. 
• Similarly, Studies focusing on cancer immunology, or cancer immunotherapy with the goal of a) developing novel biologics to treat cancer, a) identifying essential pathways for survival, invasion or metastasis and tumor interactions with stromal cells or on immune cells leading to the development of biologic agents including, but not limited to, antibodies, anticancer peptides or vaccines, CAR-T and other cell therapies, therapeutic viruses, immunomodulators, are highly encouraged.
• Total project period may not exceed 18 months.
• Budget may not exceed $100,000.
• Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.  

3. Cancer Biology

• Projects should be focused on the development of new insights across the hallmarks of cancer biology (including but not limited to): identifying and characterizing the alterations in key signaling networks that drive cancer development and progression; deciphering the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer formation and progression; investigating the molecular mechanisms governing the complex interactions between cancer cells and their immune and stromal microenvironment.
• Total project period may not exceed 18 months.
• Budget may not exceed $100,000.
• Applicants may request up to the full amount and there is no minimum amount required.

F. 2026 Innovation Pilot Deadlines

• Nofo Release: 04/15/2026
• LOI Due Date: 05/08/2026
• Selected Applicants Invited: 05/15/2026
• Full Applications due: 06/26/2026
• Earliest Start Date: 08/01/2026

G. Terms of Award

• Acceptance of funds implies a firm commitment to provide a brief verbal/email check in progress report quarterly (financial and scientific) by the deadline outlined in the NOA and subsequently, an annual update for a five-year follow-up period. Awardees who do not reply to five-year follow up requests will jeopardize future Massey awards.
• Massey expects that the grantee will completely utilize the full amount of funding during the term of the award. No-cost extensions are highly discouraged and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances. All unspent funds at the end of the grant period will be returned to the Massey.
• All awards must have appropriate institutional compliance approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC) within 90 days of receipt of the Notice of Award  and before funds will be allocated. The award will not receive a start date until the institutional approvals have been given. No aspect of the project can begin (including non-human subject research components) without documentation of all required approvals.
• Projects must start within 90 days of receipt of the Notice of Award or funding may be rescinded.
• All awards, publications, and presentations must acknowledge Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center as specified in the NOA.
• Acceptance of funds implies a firm commitment to provide the Massey leaders access to meet the team, give talks to the public, and tours of your facilities. Access to your laboratory will be facilitated by Massey Administration.

H. Review Process

Review Criteria

Applications will be evaluated and scored based on the following:

• Scientific Merit: Applications are scored according to NIH guidelines. While the Massey review mimics an NIH study section, there is a key distinction: the Massey Innovation Pilot specifically supports projects requiring vital data to become competitive for an R01 or similar award. Consequently, the potential for future funding is a primary score driver. The PI must clearly demonstrate how Massey funds will ensure a competitive future application; the dedicated page for this purpose is carefully evaluated during the Scientific Review and by Senior Leadership.
• Accelerated Impact: The potential for high-impact results on an accelerated timeline compared to the traditional pace of cancer research. The project must be appropriate for an 18-month pilot duration.
• Strategic Alignment: Alignment with Massey priorities as outlined in the current year’s NOFO.
• Biostatistical Feasibility: Evaluation of the study design and data plan.

Review Process

• Scientific Review: Each application is reviewed by two Massey/VCU-based researchers with relevant expertise. All reviewers are screened for Conflicts of Interest to ensure neutral scoring.
• Scoring Scale: Applications are scored using the NIH scale (1 = Exceptional to 9 = Poor).
• Biostatistical Review: Members of the Massey Biostatistics Shared Resource (BSSR) will assign one of three designations: (1) Acceptable, (2) Requires revisions/consultation or (3) Unacceptable (Note: Applications designated as (2) or (3) cannot be funded without a BSSR consultation and a subsequent letter of support from a BSSR biostatistician).
• Funding Selection: Scores are presented to Massey Senior Leadership. Within each program, the application with the best average score that has also met biostatistical feasibility will be awarded. In the event of a tie, Senior Leadership will make the final funding decision.
• Response to Critiques: Senior Leadership reserves the right to request a response to reviewer critiques. If requested, responses are due within 14 days.
• Minimum Score Requirement: Massey maintains a minimum average score requirement for funding. If no applications within a specific program meet this threshold, no pilot will be awarded for that program during the current cycle.

I. Questions

For any questions, please contact: 

Cian Myers - CCSG Data Analyst Email: myersc4@vcu.edu