Discovery Boost Grants

The Discovery Boost Grants program is administered by the American Cancer Society, a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to funding cancer research, patient support, and prevention initiatives. As part of its Extramural Discovery Science portfolio, the program is designed to accelerate innovative cancer research by supporting early-stage, high-risk, high-reward projects. Since its launch, the program has funded a substantial number of exploratory studies, reflecting the organization’s commitment to advancing scientific breakthroughs that may not yet have sufficient preliminary data for traditional funding mechanisms. The primary purpose of the Discovery Boost Grants is to enable investigators to explore novel hypotheses, develop new methodologies, and conduct pilot studies that can establish feasibility for future research. The program emphasizes innovation across the cancer research continuum, encouraging projects that may open entirely new areas of investigation or significantly expand existing knowledge. By focusing on exploratory work, the grants aim to generate preliminary data that can position researchers to secure larger, long-term funding from other sources. Funding under this program is structured to provide up to 135000 dollars per year for a maximum duration of two years, with an additional allowance of 10 percent for indirect costs. This results in a maximum total award of 297000 dollars for the full project period. The funding is intended to support research-related expenses necessary to carry out the proposed work, including personnel, supplies, and other direct costs associated with the research project. The program does not specify a required cost-sharing or matching component, allowing investigators to focus fully on the proposed exploratory research. Eligibility for the Discovery Boost Grants is limited to investigators who hold an independent faculty appointment and are affiliated with a United States academic institution or an eligible nonprofit organization. This requirement ensures that applicants have the institutional support and independence necessary to conduct rigorous research while maintaining alignment with the program’s focus on advancing scientific discovery within established research environments. The application process typically involves submission of a full research proposal detailing the project’s objectives, methodology, and anticipated outcomes. While specific application components are not detailed in the available information, standard expectations for research grants of this type include a project narrative, budget justification, and supporting documentation demonstrating the investigator’s qualifications and institutional backing. Applications are evaluated based on their scientific merit, innovation, and potential to generate impactful preliminary data that could lead to future funding opportunities. As of the most recent update, the American Cancer Society has temporarily paused the Discovery Boost Grants program for the Summer 2026 grant cycle in order to restructure and refine the funding mechanism. This pause reflects a strategic effort to better align the program with emerging research priorities. Although no active application window is currently available, the program is expected to return in future cycles. Historically, the program has operated on a recurring basis, suggesting that future opportunities will likely be announced once the restructuring process is complete.