Cancer Research Horizons Fund Grant

The Cancer Research Horizons Fund Grant supports innovative pilot projects led by early-career investigators at Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute. This internal funding opportunity is designed to help faculty generate preliminary data that will strengthen future applications for national research funding in all areas of cancer research.

Eligibility

  • Be at the rank of Assistant Professor at Wayne State University
  • Be within 6 years of their first independent faculty appointment
  • Not hold an NIH R01-equivalent or other national peer-reviewed grant
  • Have departmental support for salary, space, and research resources
  • Identify at least one senior cancer researcher as a mentor (dual mentorship required for those outside oncology)
  • Be a Karmanos Member (Non-members: go here to request membership),

Application Components:

  • Full proposal (max 3 pages + budget, references, and biosketches)
  • Mentorship Plan and Letter(s) of Support

Applications will be reviewed based on significance, innovation, approach, investigator readiness, and future funding potential.

Area of Interest: Cancer Immunology & Immuno-oncology (Optional Focus)

In alignment with Karmanos’ strategic research priorities and the NIH-funded DIODE P20 initiative, the 2025 Cancer Research Horizons Fund invites - but does not require - applications that explore cancer immunology, immune response variation, and immunotherapy outcomes. Projects of interest may include:

  • Genetic and epigenetic regulation of the tumor-immune microenvironment.
  • Immune profiling across populations.
  • Mechanistic studies of response or resistance to immunotherapy (e.g., monoclonal antibodies).
  • Biomarker discovery related to immune function and treatment efficacy.
  • Translational approaches to advance immune-based cancer care.

This area of interest reflects the institution's commitment to precision medicine and the development of immuno-oncology strategies. Investigators pursuing work in this area may be eligible for additional mentorship or proposal development support through the DIODE P20 infrastructure.

All applications are welcome regardless of topic, and proposals in any area of cancer research will be given full consideration.

Full Proposal

General formatting: Minimum 0.5-inch margins and Arial 11-point font are required. (Smaller type size may be used for figures and legends.) 

Required documents:

  1. Description of Research Proposed: A maximum of three (3) single-spaced pages (including tables, figures, graphs). Use the following subheadings (in order):
    • Specific Aims: Clearly state your central hypothesis and list your specific aims. The aims should be feasible within one year.
    • Background and Preliminary Studies: Summarize relevant literature and preliminary data obtained by the applicant relevant to this proposal.
    • Study Design and Methods: Describe the proposed study design and the methods to be used to achieve the specific aims. Explain how data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted, and how this will lead to future investigations. Briefly describe or reference well-documented experimental methods and standard procedures but provide more detail for novel experimental approaches.
    • Cancer Relevance: Briefly explain the potential relevance of the proposed work to cancer.
    • Literature Cited (not included in page limitation): List all references pertinent to the proposed research, including the title, all authors' names, book or journal, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.
  2. Principal Investigator Biographical Information Form
  3. Budget/Budget Justification: Complete the Budget Proposed form. Detail the proposed budget and justifications for the project period. An additional page for budget justification may be included. Direct costs are capped at $25,000 for one year only. No indirect costs are permitted.
  4. Relevance to Catchment Area and Community Engagement (1/2 a page): Briefly describe how your project will meet the unique cancer needs of our catchment area. Additionally, outline any community engagement activities, if applicable. This section is a critical component of our grant application, demonstrating the way research at Karmanos directly addresses the cancer burden and disparities within our catchment area, while also fostering engagement with our communities. For additional information on specific cancer burdens and disparities that your work may impact, please contact Hayley Thompson, Ph.D. (thompson@wayne.edu), Associate Center Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, or Brittany Dowe (doweb@karmanos.org), Staff Director of COE.
  5. Mentorship Plans and Letters of Support: Applicants must submit a concise mentorship plan detailing meeting frequency, tasks, goals, and mentor responsibilities. It should outline mentorship structure, progress review, and feedback expectations, emphasizing mentor support for the applicant’s growth. Non-oncology applicants need dual mentorship, including one senior cancer researcher. A support letter from the mentor(s), highlighting their qualifications and mentorship commitment (e.g., meeting regularity, research guidance, project management advice, problem-solving assistance), is required. The letter should also describe how the mentorship will advance the applicant’s professional development and readiness for independent cancer research.

Full Proposal Due: June 6, 2025

Download: 2025 Cancer Research Horizons Fund Information

Download: Budget Template

Download: Cancer Research Horizons RFA 2025