Unmet Needs and Emerging Data in Patients with High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Grant

Unmet Needs and Emerging Data in Patients with High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Pfizer, Inc.
Amount: US $50,000 - US $200,000
Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Summary

The competitive grant program by Pfizer aims to address unmet needs in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) by enhancing awareness and education on treatment options. With a focus on BCG-naive disease, this initiative seeks to improve patient outcomes through innovative research and collaboration between urology and oncology. As new immunotherapy options emerge, the program emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment approaches to reduce unnecessary interventions and associated complications, ultimately benefiting patient care.

Overview

Pfizer Inc. Pfizer's purpose is breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. We pursue that goal relentlessly and innovate every day to make the world a healthier place. It was Charles Pfizer’s vision at the beginning and it holds true today. Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies. Competitive Grants Program Pfizer supports the global healthcare community’s independent initiatives (e.g., research, quality improvement or education) to improve patient outcomes in areas of unmet medical need that are aligned with Pfizer’s medical and/or scientific strategies. Unmet Needs and Emerging Data in Patients with High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Project Types and Area of Interest High risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is a heterogeneous disease associated with increased rates of recurrence and progression. While new treatment options are available for patients who develop BCG-unresponsive disease, there is a need for more effective treatment options for BCG-naive disease. While BCG is an effective treatment option that has been used for decades, up to 50% of high risk patients will develop disease recurrence or progression1. When disease recurs or progresses, additional invasive treatments are often utilized, including repeat cytoscopy, TURBT, and potentially radical cystectomy. These procedures are often associated with additional morbidity and mortality. As more immunotherapy options enter the NMIBC treatment landscape, collaboration and coordination of care between urology and medical oncology is essential. Decisions on whether certain patients should undergo repeat treatments, like TURBT, versus employ a more personalized approach, could mean reducing unnecessary treatment and associated adverse events and complications (bladder scarring, performations, bladder crippling, urethral stricture ect), as well as costs and delays in adjuvant therapy2. This competitive grant program seeks to support independent medical education activities that will increase awareness on the burden of unmet needs in patients with BCG-naive, HR-NMIBC, emerging data and appropriate patient selection and identification.

Eligibility

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Application Details

Pfizer Independent Medical Education Grant Request
for Proposals
Competitive Grant Program – using Expert Review Panel
Unmet Needs and Emerging Data in Patients with High-Risk
Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)
Overview
This competitive grant program seeks to support independent medical education activities
that will increase awareness of emerging data responding to the unmet needs in NMIBC.
Geographic Scope
United States
Project Types and Area of Interest
High risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is a heterogeneous disease
associated with increased rates of recurrence and progression. While new treatment
options are available for patients who develop BCG-unresponsive disease, there is a need
for more effective treatment options for BCG-naive disease. While BCG is an effective
treatment option that has been used for decades, up to 50% of high risk patients will
develop disease recurrence or progression1. When disease recurs or progresses,
additional invasive treatments are often utilized, including repeat cytoscopy, TURBT, and
potentially radical cystectomy. These procedures are often associated with additional
morbidity and mortality.
As more immunotherapy options enter the NMIBC treatment landscape, collaboration and
coordination of care between urology and medical oncology is essential. Decisions on
whether certain patients should undergo repeat treatments, like TURBT, versus employ a
more personalized approach, could mean reducing unnecessary treatment and
associated adverse events and complications (bladder scarring, performations, bladder
crippling, urethral stricture ect), as well as costs and delays in adjuvant therapy2.
This competitive grant program seeks to support independent medical education activities
that will increase awareness on the burden of unmet needs in patients with BCG-naive,
HR-NMIBC, emerging data and appropriate patient selection and identification.
Key Milestones
Anticipated Grant Anticipated Project
Su bmission Deadline
Award Notification Start Date/Duration
17 SEPT 2025 14 OCT 2025 01 DEC 2025
Funding Range and Project Length
Individual projects requesting up to $50,000-$200,000 will be considered. A total of
$500,000 will be available for funding multiple projects.
Maximum project length is 18-24 months.

I. Eligibility
Geographic Scope:
 United States
Applicant Eligibility Criteria
 The following may apply: medical, dental, nursing, allied health, and/or pharmacy professional schools;
healthcare institutions (both large and small); professional organizations/medical societies; medical education
companies; and other entities with a mission related to healthcare professional education and/or healthcare
improvement.
 Only organizations are eligible to receive grants, not individuals or medical practice groups (i.e., an independent
group of physicians not affiliated with a hospital, academic institution, or professional society).
 If the project involves multiple departments within an institution and/or between different institutions/
organizations / associations, all institutions must have a relevant role, and the requesting organization must
have a key role in the project.
 The applicant must be the project/program lead or an authorized designee of such individual (e.g.,
project/program lead’s grant coordinator).
 The project/program lead must be an employee or contractor of the requesting organization.
 Requesting organization must be legally able to receive award funding directly from Pfizer Inc. We strongly
recommend that applicants confirm this with their organization or institution prior to submitting an application.
Grants awarded to organizations that are subsequently found to be unable to accept funding directly from Pfizer
Inc. may be subject to rescission.
 For projects offering continuing education credit, the requesting organization must be accredited.
II. Requirements
Primary Area of Interest:
 Genitourinary / Bladder Cancer
Specific Area of Interest for this RFP:
It is not our intent to support clinical research projects. Projects evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic or
diagnostic agents will not be considered.
Projects considered for grant support will focus on one or more of the following:
 Emerging data in NMIBC and implications on the current treatment paradigm, including the burden and impact
of disease recurrence, complications resulting from current treatment algorithms and the resulting unmet needs
for this patient population.
 Management of patients with HR NMIBC, including but not limited to, identification and selection of appropriate
patients related to emerging data in NMIBC, based on clinical risk stratification
 Leveraging best practices for safe and effective integration of new immunotherapy therapies in NMIBC with a
focus on urology and medical oncology shared decision-making
Target Audience
 Urologists, uro-oncologists, medical oncologists, Advanced Practitioners (APPs/PA/NPs), nurses, and other
healthcare professionals on the multidisciplinary care team responsible for the treatment of patients with
NMIBC, in community and academic center settings.
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Expected Approximate Monetary Range of Grant Applications
 Individual projects requesting $50,000 - $200,000 will be considered. The estimated total available budget
related to this RFP is $500,000.
 Multi-support activities also accepted.
 Project formats can include but are not limited to: stand-alone symposia, podcasts, online programs
(webcasts/microlearning/videos), print and downloadable materials, interactive tools, peer-to-peer education,
etc.
 Award amounts include direct costs, institutional overhead costs (capped at 28% per Pfizer policy), and indirect
costs.
 The amount of the grant Pfizer will be prepared to fund for any project will depend upon the expert review
panel’s evaluation of the proposal and costs involved and will be stated clearly in the grant agreement.
Key Dates:
Anticipated Grant Anticipated Project
RFP Release Date Award Notification End Date
30 JUL 2025 14 OCT 2025 31 APR 2027
Submission Deadline* Anticipated Project
17 SEPT 2025 Start Date
01 DEC 2025
IMPORTANT: Be advised applications submitted after the due date will not be reviewed.
*Please note the deadline is 23:59 Eastern Standard Time (e.g., New York, GMT -5)
How to Submit:
IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully since applications submitted not following these
instructions will not be accepted and will be cancelled.
 Please go to www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/knowledge and sign in.
o Note: there are individual portals for each grant application type. Please be sure to use the URL above.
o First-time users should click “Create your password”.
o It is strongly suggested to log in before the submission deadline to ensure organization information is up-
to-date (e.g. prior reporting requirements completed, tax ID number updated, etc.)
 Click the “Start A New Independent Medical Education/Knowledge Gap Application” button.
Requirements for submission:
o Complete all required sections of the online application
o IMPORTANT: Upload proposal (see Appendix) in the General RFP Submission field.
 In the application:
o For the question “Competitive Grant?” select “Yes”
o Select the following Primary Area of Interest: Genitourinary
o Select the following Competitive Grant Program Name: 2025 ONC US NMIBC Unmet Needs IME
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Questions:
 If you encounter any technical difficulties with the website, please click here or the “Technical Questions” link
at the bottom of the page in cybergrants.
 Please click here to view “Frequently Asked Questions” regarding the Competitive Grant Program.
 If you have questions regarding this RFP, please direct them in writing to the Grant Officer, Lori Carpenter,
lori.carpenter@pfizer.com , with the subject line “2025 ONC US NMIBC Unmet Needs”
Mechanism by which Applicants will be Notified:
 All applicants will be notified via email by the dates noted above.
 Applicants may be asked for additional clarification during the review period.
Grant Agreements:
 Under Pfizer's competitive grant program, modifications to grant agreements will not be reviewed unless a
genuine conflict exists as between applicable law and the terms of the relevant grant agreement.
 Except where prohibited by applicable law and, in any case, subject to review by Pfizer Legal, payment of grant
funding may only be paid to the grantee organization.
 This RFP is supported by Pfizer Inc. and, if approved, the payment will be issued by a Pfizer US based legal
entity.
References
1) Durant, A. M., Nguyen, M., Choudry, M. M., Mi, L., Andrews, J. R., & Tyson, M. D. (2024). Repeat TURBT in
large volume high-grade non-invasive bladder cancer. Bladder Cancer, 10(4), 270–277.
2) Osman, Y., Elawdy, M., Taha, D.-E., Zahran, M. H., Abouelkheir, R. T., Sharaf, D. E., Mosbah, A., & Ali-El
Dein, B. (2023). Bladder perforation as a complication of transurethral resection of bladder tumors: The
predictors, management, and its impact in a series of 1570 at a tertiary urology institute. *International
Urology and Nephrology*, 55, 2161–2167.
About Pfizer Grants
Pfizer supports the global healthcare community’s independent initiatives (e.g., research, quality improvement or
education) to improve patient outcomes in areas of unmet medical need that are aligned with Pfizer’s medical and/or
scientific strategies.
Pfizer’s competitive grant program involves a publicly posted general Request for Proposal (RFP) that provides
details regarding a general area of interest and sets timelines for review and approval. Organizations are invited to
submit an application addressing the research gaps as outlined in the specific RFP.
For all Investigator Sponsored Research (ISRs) and general research grants, the grant requester (and ultimately
the grantee) is responsible for the design, implementation, sponsorship, and conduct of the independent initiative
supported by the grant, including compliance with any regulatory requirements. Pfizer must not be involved in any
aspect of study protocol or project development, nor the conduct or monitoring of the research program. An ISR
grant request cannot be submitted for a study that has already commenced and was not originally supported by
Pfizer.
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Appendix
IMPORTANT: RFP Submission Requirements
Applications will be accepted via the online portal listed in the How to Submit section. Project Proposals
should be single-spaced using Calibri 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Note there is a 15-page limit
exclusive of references. When uploading your Project Proposal please ensure it addresses the following
sections:
Goals and Objectives
 Briefly state the overall goal of the project.
 List the objectives you plan to meet with your project, in terms of learning and expected outcomes.
Assessment of Need for the Project
 Include a description of your organization’s needs assessment for this proposed project which may include
a quantitative baseline data summary, initial metrics, or a project starting point (please cite data on gap
analyses or relevant patient-level data that informs the stated objectives) in your target area.
Target Audience
 Describe the primary audience(s) targeted for this project. Indicate whom you believe will directly benefit
from the project outcomes. Describe the overall population size as well as the size of your sample
population.
Project Design and Methods
 Describe the planned project, the educational approach, and the way the planned methods address the
established need. Describe how, and if, the program will be updated throughout the anticipated project
timeline.
Innovation
 Explain what measures you have taken to ensure that this project is original and does not duplicate other
projects or materials already developed. Describe how this project builds upon existing work, pilot projects,
or ongoing projects developed either by your institution or other institutions.
Evaluation and Outcomes
 In terms of the metrics used for the needs assessment, describe how your organization will determine if
the gap was addressed for the target group. Identify the sources of data your organization anticipates using
to make the determination. Describe how your organization is expected to collect and analyze the data.
 Explain the method used to control for other factors outside this project (e.g., use of a control group or
comparison with baseline data). Quantify the amount of change expected from this project in terms of the
target audience. Describe how your organization will determine if the target audience was fully engaged in
the project.
Dissemination Plan
 Describe how the project may have extended benefit beyond the grant. Will the teaching materials be
made available to others to use? Will there be tools or resources that are made publicly available beyond
the initial project. Describe how the project outcomes might be broadly disseminated.
Anticipated Project Timeline
 Provide an anticipated timeline for your project including project start/end dates.
Additional Information
 If there is any additional information you feel Pfizer should be aware of concerning the importance of this
project, please summarize here.
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Organization Detail
 Describe the attributes of the institutions / organizations / associations that will support and facilitate the
execution of the project and the leadership of the proposed project. Articulate the specific role of each
partner in the proposed project.
Budget Detail
 Please include a budget narrative that describes in greater detail the line items specified in the budget
submitted within the application.
 While estimating your budget please keep the following items in mind:
 Independent Medical Education Grants awarded by GMGP cannot be used to purchase therapeutic assets
(prescription or non-prescription).
 Overhead rates of up to 28% of the total proposed project budget may be supported by Pfizer. Please click
here for details. General organizational running costs such as legal fees, insurance, heating and lighting
etc. should be included in an Institutional Overhead (if required). These costs are not specific to a grant
request and therefore should not appear as line items in budgets. However, costs that are specific to the
study (e.g., some countries require insurance to be taken out on a per-study basis for clinical research)
would be acceptable to be included as line items.
Required Documents
 Project Plan/Proposal or Meeting Proposed Agenda
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