Submit Applications for Innovation Grant Program (US and Canada)

The Innovation Grant is designed to provide critical and significant seed funding for established researchers with a novel approach to pediatric oncology scientific investigation. Proposals should have clinical translation in view. This may represent a change in research direction and/or an innovative new idea that moves away from an investigator’s prior research but for which a strong case is made for the potential impact on childhood cancers.

Scope 

• Proposals must fall within the scope of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s mission, focused on childhood cancers. Proposals with a sole/primary focus on patients >19 years of age will not be considered.
• Proposal must be hypothesis driven and mechanistic.
• Innovation must be clearly presented.
• Potential for major scientific and/or clinical impact in pediatric oncology is critical.
• While preliminary data are not required, the applicant must demonstrate feasibility of the research plan.

Funding Information

• The requested budget should be in proportion to the scope of the proposed project and should be for direct costs of $250,000 USD or below over two years. A maximum of $125,000 in total direct costs may be requested per year.

Ineligible Expenses

• ALSF adheres to the NIH Salary Cap for principal investigator(s).
• Indirect costs are not allowed.
• The grant may not be renewed; one no-cost extension request is allowed with the Final Report.
• Other budget items may include fringe, travel, supplies and small pieces of equipment. ALSF funds cannot be used for tuition remission.
• If utilizing a subcontract or sub award, you must include this expense in the budget:
  • No indirect costs will be paid.
  • The PI’s institution is responsible for disbursing funds for sub awards and/or subcontracts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant institutions must be based in the United States or Canada. Applicants need not be United States citizens. Funds must be granted to nonprofit institutions or organizations.
• Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD (or equivalent) and be appointed as faculty (or equivalent) at an academic institution.
• Applicants must have a track record of publication with at least one publication as a Senior Corresponding Author and funding productivity that demonstrates the project can be accomplished by the investigators.
• Applicants must have a track record of research grant productivity with at least one NIH R01 equivalent awarded.
• Applicant must propose a new research direction, not a continuation of ongoing funded research.

Ineligibility Criteria

• ALSF does not fund proposals for research utilizing human embryonic or fetal stem cells, or non-human primates. Research with human induced pluripotent stem cells is permissible.
• Proposals focused on social determinants of health with an emphasis on oncologic outcomes (rather than psychosocial outcomes) are permitted.
• Investigators may only submit one LOI for one project.
• Researchers may not have active concurrent Innovation grants.
• Researchers may not be a Co-PI on any other application in the same cycle.
• Researchers may not have active ALSF grants that are more than or equal to $125,000/year at the time of award.

For more information, visit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.