Seed the Scientist Grant

Funder: Find The Cause Breast Cancer Foundation (formerly Art beCAUSE)

Organization: Find The Cause Breast Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Geographic Scope: United States (based in Framingham, MA)

Focus Areas:

• Environmental causes of breast cancer
• Environmental chemical exposure and breast cancer development
• Prevention-focused research
• Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs)
• Research on chemical receptors and cancer cell growth
• Computational approaches to cancer genomics

Background:
A groundbreaking effort to combat breast cancer by funding early-stage research into environmental factors. The foundation recognizes that breast cancer is associated with natural estrogens and hormones, and that certain chemicals found in common household products can mimic estrogen. More than 100 chemicals have demonstrated the ability to create breast cancer cells in laboratory settings.

Key Research Areas Supported:

• Role of environmental chemical receptors (aryl hydrocarbon receptor/AhR) in breast cancer
• In utero exposure to chemicals and breast cancer development
• Bisphenol A (BPA) and breast cancer links
• Household chemical exposures (air and dust sampling)
• Endocrine disrupting compounds in personal care and cleaning products
• Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and environmental pollutants
• Computational modeling of cancer genomics and chemical carcinogenicity

Award Amounts (Historical):

• 2006: $10,000
• 2007: $12,500
• 2008: $15,000
• 2011: $30,000

Eligibility:

• Research scientists and PhD candidates at major research institutions
• Researchers in environmental health, cancer biology, and related fields

Contact Information:

• Mailing Address: Find The Cause Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 2112, Framingham, MA 01703
• Phone: 508-877-4543
• Email: info@findthecausebcf.org
• Website: findthecausebcf.org

Application Process

Selection Method:
Grants are awarded through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to major research institutions.

Process Steps:

1. RFPs are sent to major research institutions
2. Researchers submit proposals describing their research projects
3. Applications are reviewed and evaluated
4. Grant winners are selected based on proposal quality and alignment with foundation mission
5. Awards are presented and researchers begin their work

Known Requirements:

• Proposal must address environmental causes of breast cancer
• Research should focus on prevention or understanding environmental chemical impacts
• Institutional affiliation with recognized research university/medical school

Note: Detailed application instructions, forms, and specific submission requirements were not provided in the available website content. Contact the foundation directly for current application guidelines and deadlines.