The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center requests applications from trainees — graduate students, post-docs, residents and clinical fellows — for pilot funding to support innovative research focused on cancer. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to provide training on proposal writing, grant review process and, if funded, how to manage funds.

Proposals may span cancer biology, early drug development including target identification, new model systems development, and all aspects of cancer prevention and control, including population science and symptom management. Proposals that provide training in new technologies are strongly encouraged. The funding may not be used to support clinical trials.

Trainees do not need to be IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center members at the time of application submission but must have applied for trainee membership by the award funding date. Mentors must be a member at the full, associate, unaligned or affiliate member level.

Funding up to $10,000 is scheduled to be allocated beginning in May 2026.

Interested applicants must submit a notification of intent to apply by 5 p.m. Jan. 5 to Vicki Clements at vlclemen@iu.edu with name, draft title of proposal, name of mentor and one to two sentences describing the project.

Questions should be directed to Hari Nakshatri at hnakshat@iu.edu or Claire Walczak at cwalczak@iu.edu.