Guidelines for Grant Proposal Submissions

OVERVIEW (CLOSED FOR 2019-2020)

Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) is dedicated to finding a cure for cancer by funding research in and increasing public awareness of comparative oncology, the study of naturally occurring cancer in companion animals and human beings.  ACF does not fund any research that induces cancer in companion animals (dogs and cats).

We are pleased to once again offer research support for leading medical and veterinary scientists collaborating on high-potential, translational research models that must include comparisons between companion animals and human beings.  Guided by our Scientific Advisory Council, the 2018 award will focus on investigations of research that expand current or create novel comparative cancer research models with a focus on near-term veterinary and human patient benefit.

These awards will provide a $50,000 total grant for studies completed within two years as specified in the proposal.  Grants cover direct research costs, including an 8% allowance for indirect costs, if your institution charges for these costs.  Budgets for proposals must NOT exceed the $50,000 total grant.  A written summary report including budget accounting must be provided within the timeframe agreed to by ACF and the research institution as specified in grant agreement.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES:  (CLOSED 2019-2020)

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 BY 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Funding decisions will be made through peer review to be announced June 2019.

Eligibility:  Investigators representing non-profit academic research centers worldwide are eligible to apply.  Research scientists, MDs, DVMs, PhDs in fields relevant to comparative oncology may apply.

Proposal Format:  This proposal should be written on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with a minimum of ¾ inch margins; single spaced using no smaller than an 11-point font (Times, Times New Roman or Arial font preferred) and is page limited where noted.

The order of the written proposal should follow the outline described below.  Omissions shall be considered grounds for disqualification from review.  

Application Format:

  • Proposal Title
  • Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, and Co-Investigator(s) – name, degree and position.
  • Contact Information – mailing address, email, and telephone and fax numbers for Principal Investigator
  • Institutional Representative – Contact information and check information in the event of award
  • Amount request
  • Abstract, including statement of near-term benefit (one paragraph)
  • Hypothesis and specific aims (limit 1 page)
  • Preliminary data (limit 2 pages)
  • Study design (limit 2 pages)
  • Facilities and equipment (limit 1 page) Availability of necessary facilities and equipment to complete the proposed study should be documented.  If more than one institution is involved, a letter of willingness to collaborate from the outside institution must be included as an attachment
  • Budget (limit 1 page) to include Direct & Indirect Costs & Itemized Budget Justification (for example, Salary, Supplies, Clinical Tests, Drug Administration, Sample Collection, Correlative Studies, etc. as applicable).  Budget NOT to exceed $50,000 total.
  • References
  • Bio-graphical sketch of Principal Investigator (limit 1-2 pages) to include name, position title, education/training, institutional affiliations with location, degrees, years and fields of study, current role, positions & honors limited to on or after 2008, selected peer review publications (*Due to changes to the NIH Bio-Sketch requirements, researchers may send their current 4-5 pg. biosketch if that is more convenient; neither page limit is mandatory over the other for this year).
  • Other Support (no page limit): Other support for Principal Investigator. Include all financial support (e.g., federal, nonfederal, commercial, institutional) currently available in support of the investigator’s research program. Overlap, whether scientific, budgetary or commitment of an individual’s effort greater than 100 percent, is not permitted.
  • If the proposal has been previously submitted for funding to Animal Cancer Foundation, this must be indicated and revisions must be present.
  • PIs who receive additional funding for the proposal submitted to ACF after the submission but prior to the announcement of the ACF award should notify ACF in writing as soon as possible.
  • PIs who are grant award winners are REQUIRED to partake in the grant review process for a minimum two year period following the year in which the PI is awarded an ACF grant.

Submit Proposal AS A ZIP FILE PLEASE, to

Animal Cancer Foundation
Barbara Cohen, Executive Director
Email:  [email protected]
Tel:  516-595-3012
You will receive confirmation of receipt of submission by email

Past Recipients

ACF Grant 2016 : The Hope of CAR-T Therapy (Update)

Recently, a new treatment for human B cell cancers called CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell) therapy has made headlines around…

ACF Grant 2018: Canine Osteosarcoma & Tumor Microenvironment

“Cancer cells thrive in many types of microenvironments. Our work seeks to understand some of the genetic expression in these microenvironments,…

ACF Grant 2017: Pioneering Cancer Research

“We are very excited to receive this award to test elephant P53 (EP53) in growing cancer cells that come from pet…