Release Date: January 15, 2026
Full Application Due: February 16, 2026
Background & Purpose
Applications should address CCPS aims focusing on prevention. however, applications whose scope expands beyond the aims are also encouraged. The two CCPS aims are: (1) Advance understanding of the biological, behavioral, environmental and geospatial determinants that shape cancer risk, progression, and survivorship and (2) Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions that improve outcomes across the cancer continuum from prevention through detection, diagnosis and survivorship. Successful applications should generate pilot data that will lead to extramural research grants and/or career development awards. Examples of proposals consistent with this opportunity include (but are not limited to) support for:
- Identifying determinants of cancer prevention from existing datasets such OneFlorida+ or publicly available data sets.
- Advance understanding of biomarkers for cancer prevention.
- Develop and pilot test a preventive intervention for cancer
- Implement an evidence-based practice for cancer prevention in a at risk-population or a population with limited resources
Applications are encouraged to foster inter-programmatic collaboration, demonstrate community impact, and
utilize UFHCI shared resources.
Who can apply?
- Each project must include at least one UFHCI member of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, acting as the Contact Principal Investigator (PI). Only independent investigators can apply for funding as a PI.
- Faculty at all academic stages may apply.
- Investigators may submit only one project during a funding cycle as the Contact PI. 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 is ending 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 February 16, 2026. While we encourage engaging your home department research administrators in the preparation and submission of PESP applications, these proposals do not need to be routed through UFIRST and are to be directly submitted to UFHCI Research Administration.
What are the budgetary allowances?
- 2 PESPs up to $50,000 total in direct costs only will be awarded. It is the expectation that all funds will be expended within the award year.
- Approved NCE’s will allow carryover of funds with approved scientific justification.
- Budget and timeline appropriateness are a key basis for 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 encouraged but not required.
When will applicants receive notification of award?
Notification of award is expected by March 2026, and funds will be distributed in April 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 Expectations
Publication Acknowledgement
All publications shall 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”
Shared Resource Acknowledgement
It is expected that pilot awardees will utilize UFHCI Shared Resources. All publications utilizing UFHCI Shared Resources shall acknowledge that “Support was provided by the University of Florida Health Cancer Institute <INSERT SHARED RESOURCE>” and must be in PMCID compliance.
Data Sharing
Scientific data (including the raw data) directly generated from this RFA must be submitted to the Cancer Data Commons for sharing and reuse with other UFHCI investigators, following the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse (FAIR) principles. The Cancer Informatics Shared Resource (CISR) will provide support in data management and assuring that study generated research data can be readily available in the Cancer Data Commons.
Presentations
It is expected that pilot awardees will present on their research within the first 6 months of the project at a Community Advisory Board meeting. Additional presentation expectations will be outlined in the award letter.
Questions
Please direct any questions about the application process or budget requirements to ResearchAdmin@cancer.ufl.edu or 352-273-5940. For questions regarding research scope or other science related inquiries, contact Sulma Mohammed smohammed2@ufl.edu or Stephanie Staras sstaras@mail.ufl.edu
*Cancer Institute membership is available and encouraged for all University of Florida investigators holding a faculty appointment and actively engaged, or demonstrate interest, in cancer-focused basic, clinical, translational, and population-based research.
