Discovery Boost Grants (DBG)

The Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) offered by the American Cancer Society support innovative and high-risk exploratory cancer research. These grants, available for up to two years with a funding limit of $125,000 annually plus indirect costs, aim to generate preliminary data that can lead to further funding opportunities. Eligible applicants include independent investigators with a doctorate and a full-time faculty position, fostering advancements in cancer research across multiple priority areas.

NOTE: If the grant application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted the following business day. Submit by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline.
ACS Research Priority Areas
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has established these 6 areas to prioritize the research we fund to help advance the mission. All research proposals (except Institutional Research Grants, Mission Boost Grants, and Professor grants) must fall into at least 1 of these 6 priority areas:

• Etiology (causes of cancer)Obesity/Healty Eating and Active Living (HEAL)Screening and DiagnosisTreatmentSurvivorshipHealth Equity Across the Cancer Continuum
• Discovery Boost Grants

Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) support high-risk, high-reward exploratory cancer research across the research continuum. Investigators may focus on developing research methodologies, establishing feasibility, or leading pilot tests.
It is expected that preliminary data generated from a completed DBG will have the potential to secure additional grant funding to further the research and open new and highly innovative areas for investigation.
Awards are for up to 2 years with $125,000 a year for direct costs, plus 20% allowable indirect costs.

Eligibility

Independent investigators at any career stage are eligible to apply. Investigators must have a doctorate degree, (MD, PhD, DVM, or equivalent), and have a full-time faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or other fiscally responsible, not-for-profit research organization within the United States. There are no citizenship restrictions.