Innovation Awards

Overview

The Foundation Innovation Awards catalyze discovery in radiation medicine by awarding grants to support high priority research that will improve outcomes for patients so they can live longer, healthier lives. The topic for the annual request for proposals (RFP) is selected with input from stakeholders across the radiation oncology community to identify the most pressing challenges that can be addressed through research.

The 2026 Innovation Awards will support research to better understand how to optimally combine radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Recent advances have expanded the possibilities for combining these modalities to more effectively treat cancer and improve outcomes for patients.

• Award Amount: Up to $100,000
• Award Duration: Up to two years
• Deadline: Applications are closed for the 2026 Innovation Awards
• Award Notification: May 2026
• Start Date: August 1, 2026

Eligibility

• Qualified individuals from institutions and organizations in the radiation oncology community. Pre-doctoral students are not eligible.
• Applicants enrolled in residency programs or post-doctoral fellowships require a faculty mentor.
• The Institution that will receive and manage the grant funds must be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization or government-sponsored university in the United States or their equivalent in Canada.

How to Apply

All applicants for the Foundation Innovation Awards must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through ProposalCentral by the deadline. The LOI is composed of an application form, preliminary technical abstract, statement of relevance, biosketch(es), and institutional approval.

Each applicant may submit only one LOI for this RFP.

LOIs are evaluated by peer reviewers for alignment with the purpose specified in the current Innovation Awards RFP and scientific merit. Applicants with sufficiently promising LOIs will be invited to submit full proposals.