Project Cure CRC: Senior Investigator Award Grant

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance invites proposals for the Project Cure CRC: Senior Investigator Award, aimed at transformative research in colorectal cancer. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no deadlines. The award supports innovative projects that enhance diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Researchers can apply for up to $300,000 over two years, focusing on high-risk, high-reward strategies. Collaborations are encouraged to advance new therapies and technologies in this critical field.

NOTE: There are no application deadlines. A response regarding your proposal submission will be provided within two months of submission.
About the Alliance
In 2010, the Alliance established the Chris4Life Research Program in honor of the late Christine Sapienza and for all the families who are affected by colorectal cancer. The research program was a critical driving force in the mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime. The Alliance has already invested nearly $13 million in colorectal cancer research, including nearly $3 million as early-stage grants to innovative researchers.
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance (the Alliance) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for preclinical and clinical translational research with the potential for high impact on diagnosis, treatment, or survivorship of colorectal cancer. Project Cure CRC will prioritize proposals that embrace moving colorectal cancer research to a curative science ASAP. Submitted proposals should focus on projects that are High-Risk/High-Reward and accelerate new therapies and technologies from bench to bedside. Projects that utilize collaborations and/or public-private partnerships are strongly encouraged. Proposals will be accepted for Early-Career Investigator Awards, Senior Investigator Awards, Pilot Awards, Team Science Awards, Opportunistic Awards and Strategic Awards from academic and industry researchers. The Alliance plans to award tens of millions this year  for new research and infrastructure needs arising from this RFP.
Research Objectives
Based on the Alliance’s Research Strategy and priorities identified at the Cure CRC Summit, Project Cure CRC welcomes proposals in the following areas:
New strategies and technologies in immunotherapy and cellular therapy beyond MSI-H. Accelerating the development of antibody-drug conjugates therapies for CRC. Developing vaccine therapies for prevention of CRC recurrence, as adjuvant therapies irrespective of tumor mutational status, and modulation of the CRC TME. Leveraging AI and machine learning to develop new computational tools to support precision medicine encompassing diagnostics, development of new treatments, treatment decisions, and longitudinal disease monitoring. Proposals must include heterogenous data sources such that developed algorithms would have broad utility across healthcare providers. Targeted therapies targeting cell signaling pathways towards a cure. Leveraging new target and treatment strategies in local and metastatic CRC. New treatment strategies focused on eliminating minimal (molecular) residual disease. Development of novel chemotherapeutic agents and combination therapies with increased efficacy and durable response while minimizing off-target effects.
Senior Investigator Accelerator Awards will fund potentially transformative ideas that will accelerate the translation of new therapies and technologies to the bedside by the end of the proposed research. Collaborations are highly encouraged.
Term: Two yearsAmount: : Up to $150,000 per year for two years (up to $300,000 total)