CGO Funding Opportunities

Center for Global Oncology Grants

Foundational Research and Capacity Building Grants in Global Oncology

The Penn Center for Global Oncology (CGO) is pleased to announce a call for applications for its Foundational Research and Capacity Building Grants, supporting Penn faculty in launching innovative global cancer projects. This initiative reflects Penn’s commitment to reducing global disparities in cancer care and outcomes through scholarship, collaboration, and long-term program sustainability.

About the Grant

The Foundational Research and Capacity Building Grants provide up to $60,000 in funding to a Penn faculty member to support early-stage global cancer research that generates preliminary data for future external grant applications that focus on research and capacity building. Successful proposals will build collaborative teams, advance scientific discovery and capacity building, and lay the groundwork for sustainable global oncology programs at Penn and with partners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Research Scope

We invite proposals for studies in the following areas:

Cancer outcomes and clinical epidemiology
Implementation science
Translational research or clinical trials
Women's cancers
HIV-associated cancers

Other high-priority topics in global oncology, such as innovations in diagnostics, ethical considerations in resource-limited settings, and palliative care, will also be considered. All proposals must demonstrate a clear strategy to produce data that will strengthen future applications for larger external grants.

Evaluation Criteria

All applications are required to have a strong component of capacity building in their application. Applications will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee and evaluated based on:

Novelty and potential impact
Capacity building through the project
Feasibility within a 1–2 year project period
Active inclusion and engagement of global partners
Evidence of existing collaboration between Penn and an LMIC partner
Clear pathway to sustainability via external funding

Cross-departmental collaborations are strongly encouraged, as is mentorship between junior and senior faculty.

Key Dates

Letter of Intent Due: September 5, 2025
Full Application Due: October 10, 2025
Notification of Award: October 31, 2025

How to Apply

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
Letters of intent and proposals should be submitted to Kierstyn Claycomb at: kierstyn.claycomb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Please feel free to reach out to Kierstyn Claycomb regarding any questions related to the grant as well.

Stay Connected

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Global Engagement Fund (GEF)

The Global Engagement Fund has provided critical seed funding to a wide range of international Penn faculty research initiatives, including PSOM Professor Ricardo Castillo Neyra’s One Health in Latin America project, which produced a mathematical model predicting the spread of rabies that was later applied to model COVID-19 transmission in Peru, and Weitzman Design Professor Bill Braham’s Energy and Comfort Assessment of Mongolian Ger Dwellings project, which went on to receive a 2018-19 UNICEF grant to further its research into 21st century Ger design boosting electric heating efficacy through better insulation.

Apply here

Announcing the Penn Center for Global Oncology Capacity Building Grant Program

Advancing Penn’s global mission to remediate global disparities in cancer care and outcomes is intimately tied to identifying a limited number of low and middle-income countries where focused, longitudinal relationships will support on-going efforts by Penn faculty, trainees and students engaged in global oncology research.

The Center for Global Oncology (CGO) is pleased to announce a competitive grant program to provide resources to Penn faculty in support of Capacity Building Initiatives in low and middle-income countries. The proposed work should focus on innovative approaches to cancer care delivery, with on-going measurements of system processes and patient outcomes.

For FY26 the Center for Global Oncology will support up to $50,000 with an estimated 2-3 initiatives funded.

Proposals will be evaluated on:

Clear demonstration of needs and objectives
Strength of M&E plan
Inclusion of global colleagues
Demonstration of existing collaborative engagement between Penn and LMIC partner
Proposals must demonstrate clear evidence of sustainability

Cross collaboration between multiple Centers and Departments is strongly encouraged as are junior faculty working with senior mentors.

Applicants must provide:

A brief description of the current relationship between Penn and the proposed site/country
Synopsis of the current state of local cancer care along with a needs assessment
Strategic plan with specific objectives
An evaluation plan to measure program success

Key Dates:

Applicants must submit a letter of intent to Kierstyn.claycomb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu by March 31, 2025
Final proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2025
Recipients will be notified of award by June 1, 2025

Please contact Kierstyn Claycomb with questions.

Capacity Building Grant Application

Announcing the Penn Center for Global Oncology Pilot Research Grant Program

Advancing Penn’s global mission to remediate global disparities in cancer care and outcomes is intimately tied to developing research projects that lead to insight, that build teams, and that result in sustainable funding for programs both at Penn and with our partners.

The Center for Global Oncology (CGO) is pleased to announce a competitive grant program that provides resources to faculty to initiate global cancer research projects that lead to preliminary results that enable receipt of external awards.

For FY26, the Center for Global Oncology will support up to $200,000 with an estimate of 2-3 recipients. In an aligned fashion, the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation (PC3I) will provide funding to support research travel to selected grantees.

Applicants should develop a global pilot study focused on cancer outcomes, clinical epidemiology, implementation science, translational science or clinical trials focused primarily on women’s cancers or in cancers associated with HIV. Other important topics in global oncology, including, but not limited to, innovations in diagnostics, ethical issues of providing care in resource constrained settings, and palliative care will also be considered. Again, the aim of the project should be to develop data to aid in applying for additional follow-on grants.

Grant proposals will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary review committee. Proposals will be evaluated on:

Novel impact/implementation
Feasibility in the timeframe of the grant (1-2 years)
Inclusion of global colleagues
Demonstration of existing collaborative engagement between Penn and LMIC partner
Proposals must demonstrate clear evidence of sustainability through larger external grant opportunities