Release Date: August 28, 2026
Application Due: September 30, 2026
Background & Purpose
We are excited to offer a new Pilot and Exploratory Study Proposal (PESP) opportunity specifically designed to support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer research. Funded by the University of Florida Health Cancer Institute (UFHCI) in collaboration with the Cancer AI Working Group, this program aims to advance AI methodologies and applications in basic and translational cancer research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and support early-career investigators.
Applicants for the Cancer AI PESP are encouraged to address a cancer-related research problem, focusing on either the application of AI or the development of AI methodology to tackle the problem of interest.
Examples of proposals aligned with this opportunity include (but are not limited to) support for:
- Secondary data analyses on (large) cancer data or repositories, e.g., TCGA;
- Re-analysis of data generated through other projects;
- Exploratory studies, e.g., drug repurposing or molecular screening;
- Methodological studies with cancer-related use cases;
- Data generation and experimental projects, provided they are directly tied to AI modeling performed within the project.
Who can apply?
- Each project must include at least one UFHCI member* (at any academic stage), acting as the Contact Principal Investigator (PI). Only independent investigators can apply for funding as PIs.
- Investigators may submit only one project as the Contact PI per funding cycle. Clinical/scientific advisory roles on more than one application are allowed.
- Applications from investigators with active pilot projects or active multi-investigator projects will be administratively disqualified unless:
- The active project concludes before the award is issued for the current round.
- (or) The investigator(s) is/are proposing a project that is clearly scientifically distinct from the currently funded project.
What is the application process?
- Full Application using the UFHCI Pilot Application Template found HERE, and General Application Instructions found HERE will be due by 9/30/2026. The electronic form will be transmitted directly to the UFHCI Office of Research Administration.
- Applications will be peer reviewed by the Cancer AI Working Group and by external advisors if needed.
* Cancer Institute membership is available and encouraged for all University of Florida investigators holding a faculty appointment and actively engaged, or demonstrating interest, in cancer-focused basic, clinical, translational, and population-based research.
What are the budgetary allowances?
- Up to $10,000 has been committed to this funding opportunity. It is expected that all funds will be expended within a 12-month project period.
- No-cost extensions are not allowed for this supplement.
- Budget and timeline appropriateness are key factors for the evaluation of the application.
Will support from other entities enhance the potential for funding?
Leveraging funding from this award by combining resources from other entities is expected, unless the supplement application demonstrates that data for AI analysis can be obtained independently of a funded project.
When will applicants receive notification of award?
Award notification and fund activation are expected at the 2026 UFHCI AI Symposium in October 2026. The distribution of awards is contingent upon approval of the project from the local Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), as applicable. Applicants must ensure and/or include the IRB/IACUC submission process in their timeline.
Awardee Obligations
Applicants agree to present the results of their work in one of the Cancer AI Working Group meetings or the AI Symposium by the end of the 12-month project period. Also, a 2-page executive final report of the project needs to be submitted to the AI Working Group and the UFHCI Research Administrative Team.
Publication Acknowledgement
All publications resulting from this work or utilizing a UFHCI shared resource should acknowledge that “Research reported in this publication was supported by the UF Health Cancer Institute, supported in part by state appropriations provided in Fla. Stat. § 381.915 and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30CA247796. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the State of Florida,” along with the assigned UFHCI PESP grant number or shared resource name and must be in PMCID compliance.
Questions
Please direct any questions about the application process or budget requirements to Michele Ramsey (352.273.5940 or ResearchAdmin@cancer.ufl.edu). For questions regarding research scope or other science-related inquiries, contact Dr. Ji-Hyun Lee, Associate Director for Cancer Quantitative Sciences (jihyun.lee@ufl.edu) or the Cancer AI Working Group leaders: Dr. Kiley Graim (kgraim@ufl.edu) or Dr. Ali Zarrinpar (Ali.Zarrinpar@surgery.ufl.edu ).
