NCI Small Grants Program — R03
Supports cancer pilot research with broad domestic and international eligibility.
The NCI Small Grants Program for Cancer Research (R03) is the National Cancer Institute's standing mechanism for funding small, self-contained cancer research projects that can be completed in a short period of time with limited resources. The program was most recently issued as PAR-25-078, posted October 18, 2024, and archived February 12, 2026. It is expected to be reissued under a PAR-26 succes…
Any cancer research area. Pilot studies, feasibility studies, secondary data analysis, methodology development.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Guides for this application
All guides →NIH Biosketch Guide: Format, SciENcv Steps, and Examples
Learn what an NIH biosketch is, how the format works, what to prepare for SciENcv, and how startup teams should avoid common biosketch mistakes.
Write proposalHow to Write a Specific Aims Page
Learn how to write a specific aims page for NIH, SBIR-adjacent, and translational R&D grants, with structure, reviewer logic, examples, and common mistakes.
Where to applyGrants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
More from NCI
All grants from this funder →Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Data Innovation Challenge — Track 1
🇺🇸NCI · United States
Pays entities up to $566,665 across three milestones to add shovel-ready cancer data or tools to NCI's CCDI ecosystem.
NCI SBIR/STTR Omnibus (Next Receipt 5)
🇺🇸NCI · United States
Supports small businesses developing cancer technologies through national NIH collaboration pathways.
NCI Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG)
🇺🇸NCI · United States
Supports bioengineering teams tackling cancer by connecting life and physical science groups.
Cancer Grand Challenges
🇺🇸NCI · United States
Supports large interdisciplinary global teams tackling transformative unsolved problems in cancer biology.
NCI IMAT R61 & R33
🇺🇸NCI · United States
Supports translational cancer technology from concept proof to advanced development through NCI.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →NIBIB Small Grant Program
🇺🇸NIBIB · United States
Funds interdisciplinary technology projects for early biomedical engineering ideas at smaller budget scale.
SEED Research Program
🇺🇸UW Entrepreneurship Hub + WiSys · United States
Funds UW Madison spin-out research teams to advance commercialization through faculty-led projects.
Delaware Technical Innovation Program (DTIP)
🇺🇸DSB · United States
Administers research teams and institutions for Delaware Technical Innovation in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and hardware.
McKinney Innovation Fund — Growth Grant
🇺🇸McKinney EDC · United States
Runs non-dilutive cash for early-stage tech startups upfront over research and through the McKinney Innovation Fund Growth Grant.
NSF GRFP — Fellowship
🇺🇸NSF · United States
Funds graduate students in United States STEM fields to pursue research fellowships during PhD studies.
Frontiers in Research Summits
🇺🇸Texas A&M Innovation · United States
Funds Texas A&M faculty summits that connect researchers and trigger new collaborative science initiatives.