MCC is committed to supporting early career cancer researchers (pre-R01 equivalent), including students, research staff, and faculty, wanting to advance in cancer careers. We actively share training and funding opportunities to help build successful research careers in cancer.

Connect with Heidi Eschenbacher (general inquiries) 🗓️Office Hours to to get to know your interests and and connect you to resources. 

STRIDE (Support and Training for Research Development and Engagement) has been supported from funds from the National Cancer Institute Training Navigation Supplement 3P30CA077598-26S1 from October 2023 - September 2025 and continues with MCC support. 

The Masonic Cancer Center wants people to use our shared resources. 

We will be hosting Lunch & Learn sessions with the Translational Therapy Lab and Antibody Engineering in October 2026. More soon the details. 

STRIDE How To events, resources, and recordings are included below; recordings are also available on the STRIDE playlist. Please email Heidi with your ideas of How To topics for future events or how you would like to see cancer researchers' support and/or gatherings at MCC.

Padlet - Time Management for Busy Researchers: View the ideas of others and add your ideas to this interactive Kanban board of ideas and tactics to manage your time.

• Shared Resources for Masonic Cancer Center Members

• UMN wide research resources: University Imaging Centers (UIC) | Office of Measurement Services (OMS) | Research and Innovation Office Support Units, Inventor Resources, Startup Support

• Libraries Research Support Services | How I Work (2016-18)

• University Relations - Communicating via email | Internal Communication Tools

• Office for Digital Accessibility (tips on designing for accessible products from the start) - 7 Core Accessibility Skills

• National Postdoctoral Association  - Postdoc timeline (requires free Postdoctoral Association membership)

Please contact Daanis Chosa (dchosa@umn.edu), the AI/AN Training Navigator to connect to the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) about health and cancer career resources. 

If you are not Native American (American Indian or Alaska Native) and want to learn more about collaborating with CAIMH, please contact Heidi Eschenbacher (hje@umn.edu), Kiara Ellis or Rahel Ghebre about getting connected through MCC. 

Scholarship Opportunities for AI/AN applicants

Grants for Native American Nations & Organizations

• NIH: NARCH R34 Planning Grants Award Program

Native American (American Indian / Alaska Native) Organizations and Groups affiliated with STEM & Cancer

• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), UMN chapter: aises@umn.edu 

• American Indian Faculty & Staff Association, The purpose of the American Indian Faculty & Staff Association (AIFSA) is to create a space and opportunity for Indigenous faculty, staff, and graduate students at the University of Minnesota to connect with one another. All Indigenous faculty, staff, and graduate students are welcomed, including Native American, American Indian, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, First Nation, Aboriginal, Maori, and other native peoples. Contact: AIFSA@umn.edu | Follow AIFSA on Facebook

• U of M Indigenous Women & Women of Color, University Women of Color sponsors events and gatherings that create a space for all women of color and indigenous women within the University to feel valued, supported, respected, and connected. Contact: uwoc@umn.edu 

• Employees of Color and American Indians (UMN Duluth), The Employees of Color and American Indians (EOCAI) association's mission is to foster a community of support and interdependence to assist members to navigate the university systems, so that members can thrive and, ultimately, be successful at UMD.  The association organizes mentoring programs and shares resources to support the professional development of its members, engages in campus diversity inclusion and equity activities, takes actions for racial and social justice issues, and works to promote infrastructure change to better serve its members. Contact: eocai@d.umn.edu 

• Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN) - a student group and support services

• American Indian Alumni Network for the University of Minnesota

• College of Pharmacy American Indian Affinity Group 

• Community of Scholars Program (COSP), UMN Graduate School "COSP is a welcoming and inclusive community for Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE)  Fellows and domestic graduate students of color and Native American graduate students in research-based programs. We provide year-round programming including social events, community networks, writing support, a lounge space, personal guidance, funding opportunities, and more for COSP Scholars to build connections and gain support along their graduate school journeys." Community of Scholars Program Writing Initiative

Programs with Training / Connection

• Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (Bridges Program) provides students attending Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Lake Superior College with a fellowship to a training program in biomedical research

UMN Department / Center / Unit Resources

• Center for American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) - focused on education, research, and outreach (Duluth and Twin Cities offices)

• Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN) - a student support office

• Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies (RIDGS) - "Supporting interdisciplinary, intersectional research regarding questions of race, indigeneity, gender, and sexuality.", College of Liberal Arts

• Indigenous Health is Public Health, 2.58 Video, UMN School of Public Health

• Department of American Indian Studies, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

  • The Ojibwe People's Dictionary (with UMN Libraries)

  • American Indian Summer Institute - for high school students with UMN students, faculty, and staff

  • American Indian and Indigenous Studies Workshop - graduate students and faculty

  • George Morrison Center for Indigenous Arts

• Office of Native American Affairs, University of Minnesota

•  Tribal-University Relations Training

• University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research

AIAN Cancer Organizations & Initiatives

• American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) - "a national non-profit organization that was established to address the tremendous cancer inequities faced by Native communities" based in Saint Paul, Minnesota Resource Library | AICAF on YouTube

• Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native People, Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

• Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures, Northern Arizona University

• Center for American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH), University of Minnesota

• Indigenous Cancer Health Excellence Initiative (I-CHEI), Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Washington

• Indigenous cancer care experiences: Video series, MyHealth.Alberta.ca featuring indigenous cancer patients

• Native American Cancer Initiatives (NACI), Inc., Colorado

• Native American Center of Cancer Health Excellence (NACCHE), Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) - Overview of Native American Initiatives, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences

• Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP), University of Arizona 

• Roswell Park (New York) Department of Indigenous Cancer Health

Professional Development & Career Exploration

• Native American Public Health Modules to introduce Native American middle and high school students to the field of public health (UMN)

Literature & News

• Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing (TRUTH), " Native-organized, Native-led, community-driven research movement that offers multiple recommendations on how the University of Minnesota community can be in better relation with Indigenous peoples" TRUTH Project is "a Native-organized, Native-led, community-driven research movement that offers multiple recommendations on how the University of Minnesota community can be in better relation with Indigenous peoples" Webpage  | Executive Summary | Full report | FAQ | 2022 Presentations (YouTube Videos) | Storymap

• Targeting Cancer in Indigenous Communities October 6, 2023, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) by Eileen Glanton Loftus

Academic Articles & Collections

Owen MJ, Nalin PM, Bouverette CA, Carbone G, Neher C, Pederson E, Golden M. Weaving pathways: talking with our Elders. Rural Remote Health. 2022 Jan;22(1):6845. doi: 10.22605/RRH6845. Epub 2022 Jan 13. PMID: 35026121. 

Angeline Letendre et al. Creating a Canadian Indigenous Research Network Against Cancer to Address Indigenous Cancer Disparities. JCO Glob Oncol 6, 92-98(2020). DOI:10.1200/JGO.19.00049

UMN University Digital Conservancy - "Native American" | "Native Nation" | "American Indian"  | "Alaska Native" | "Pacific Islander" | "Native American" or "American Indian" and cancer

UMN Experts "Native American" | "Native Nation" |"American Indian" | "Alaska Native" | "Pacific Islander" | "Native American" or "American Indian" and cancer

National Institutes of Health NIH Reporter "American Indian or Alaska Native" and Minnesota | "American Indian or Alaska Native"

National Science Foundation (NSF) "American Indian or Alaska Native" | "Native Nation" | "Native American"

Centers for Disease Control CDC Funding Profiles

Native Science Report - articles mentioning cancer

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians - Cancer research collective for American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals, American Cancer Society Journals

Resources when working with Native Communities

UMN Office of Native American Affairs (NAA) - tools and research resources

The Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance (indigenousdatalab.org)| Indigenous Data Sovereignty Networks | recorded Webinars

• The CARE Principles of Indigenous Data Governance (Video)

• Indigenous Data Sovereignty: How Researchers can Empower Data Governance (Video)

• Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance – Stephanie Carroll (Video)

• Indigenous Data Stewards: Bridging from Research to Community – Dr. Domonique M David-Chavez (Video)

• Works in Progress Webinar Operationalizing the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (Video)

Data Sovereignty Video

2021: Indigenous Data Sovereignty: How Researchers can Empower Data Governance Lydia Jennings to the National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis. See description in YouTube of the additional resources and chapters. Dr. Keolu Fox's work was also mentioned (also see - Wayfinding through the Human Genome and Why genetic research must be more diverse)

2021: Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance. A 6:38 minute video by Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll

2021: The CARE Principles of Indigenous Data Governance, Ontologies in Agriculture. Transforming Big Data for Indigenous Futures - the CARE Principles of Indigenous Data Governance, Dr. Stephanie R. Carroll, DrPh, MPH & Talia Anderson, PhD Student

2020: Works in Progress Webinar Operationalizing the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, 2020 OCLC Research, Meta Data Standards and Notices within repositories and data collections

2020: Indigenous Data Sovereignty: The CARE Principles and the Biocultural Labels Initiative, 2020 Jane Anderson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Science, and Stephanie Russo Carroll, Assistant Professor, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; Associate Director, Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona, Additional information

Data Sovereignty Audio - podcasts, radio

05/31/2024 17:31 minutes Audio: Indigenous Nations Are Fighting To Take Back Their Data, Science Friday, featuring 

• Stephanie Carroll, Director Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance

• Krystal Tsosie, Co-founder of the Native BioData Consortium

Data Sovereignty Written Publications

CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance GIDA, Global Indigenous Data Alliance

02/06/2024 Article: Inside the Fight for Indigenous Data Sovereignty written by Kate Nelson 

2019 Book: Good Data Practices for Indigenous Data Sovereignty Author Stephanie Russo Carroll Jennifer Walker Tahu Kukutai (373 pages) on the Native Nations Institute webpage

2017: Policy Brief: Indigenous Data Sovereignty in the United States by the Native Nations Institute

See Resources on the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance and Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance of the Native Nations Institute

Data Sovereignty Organizations (and their contributors / services)

Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance, Stephanie Carroll, Director

• 08/12/2024 project: $1.5M grant will build global network to prevent exploitation of Indigenous data, University of Arizona News

• 05/23/2023 UArizona researcher at the forefront of Indigenous data sovereignty

Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA)

• CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance - Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics (CARE)

Go FAIR, Go FAIR US

• FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR)

Native BioData Consortium

• Wayfinding through the Human Genome - Dr Keolu Fox

United States Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network (USIDSN)

Local Contexts Traditional Knowledge Labels and Notices - notices can be incorporated into data repositories (Notices: Biocultural, Traditional Knowledge, Attribution Incomplete, Open to Collaborate)

Authorship Guides

• Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors (ICMJE authorship guidelines)

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Integrity - Best Practices for Designating Authorship

• Harvard Medical School Authorship Guidelines

• Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR) Research Toolkit - Best practices for research authorship, data collection, and data sharing in collaborative research

Editorial Guidelines for Authorship roles

Each publication has authorship guidelines as a part of editorial policies. some. Individual and group or consortia authorship are often indicated. Examples:

• AACR Journals -  Editorial Policies

• Nature Cancer - Authorship & Nature Portfolio Authorship

• Council of Science Editors - Authorship and Authorship Responsibilities

• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (CMJE) - Defining the role of Authors and Contributors, 4 criteria for authorship:

1. "Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND

2. Drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; AND

3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND

4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved."

Authorship disputes are not considered research misconduct (video) in the National Institutes of Health - institutions or journals handle it, not the National Institutes of Health. NIH Definition of research misconduct, Research Misconduct & Detrimental Research Practices: Overview & Case Studies (October 14, 2022 NIH 2022 video)

Academic rights - UMN Libraries: Owning and managing academic rights

Academic writing resources

UMD: Writer's Workshop

UMN Twin Cities: Faculty Writing Hunkers

PLOS Writing Center

UMN research resources and policies related to ownership and authorship

Research Ethics

UMN RIO - Research Ethics Week  | Reporting Research Misconduct

UMN Resources & Policies

• Owning and managing academic rights (UMN Libraries Guide)

• Research data services and the NIH data management and sharing policy, Libraries

• Consultations: Data management plans, data sharing, data management for specific projects, Libraries

• Data Repository for U of M (DRUM) focused on being Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR), Libraries

• Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR) Research Toolkit | Data sharing in collaborative research

• Indigenous Research

• Copyright ownership and Open Access to Scholarly Articles

• Research Data Management: Archiving, Ownership, Retention, Security, Storage, and Transfer & Research Data Management FAQs

• Research Misconduct "Research Misconduct: The fabrication or falsification of data, research procedures, or data analysis; destruction of data for fraudulent purposes; plagiarism; abuse of confidentiality; or other fraudulent actions in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting the results of research or other scholarly activity. It is particularly important to distinguish research misconduct from honest error and the ambiguities of interpretation that are inherent in the scientific and scholarly process, but are normally corrected by further research."

Inclusion in Research

• On-Demand Course: Just Ask! Increasing Diversity in Cancer Clinical Research

• Indigenous Research Resources

MCC Community Advocates Program a resource for cancer researchers to: "elevate community voices in cancer research, Train and engage community members interested in increasing access to research and clinical trials, and Create bi-directional community and researcher relationships." If you have a project you want to pursue with, please fill out their interest form. 

MCC: Community Engaged Scholar Group. Connect with Community Engagement and Outreach (COE) | Education & Training for a group of community engaged researcher faculty. Contact Ashley Pohlenz to receive periodic emails.

MCC Partnership resources 

• Community Engagement & Outreach (COE) 

• Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) Partnership with MCC -  resources

• MCC Experts Network Map & Member Directory

• MCC Implementing Partners

UMN

•  Review Committee on Community-Engaged Scholarship, Office of Faculty Affairs

• Office for Public Engagement Engaged Scholars Summer Institute | Partnership Toolbox 

• RIO - Building Successful Industry Partnerships | 

• Global Partnerships, GPS Alliance

• Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR) funding and social responsibility

• Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) News & Events | Rules of Engagement Podcast | Engaged Research Projects

NCI K01 opportunities with community connections 

• NOT-CA-24-022: Notice of Special Interest: National Cancer Institute Supports Applications for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards (K01) Within the Mission of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences.

• NOT-CA-24-023: Notice of Special Interest: National Cancer Institute Supports Applications for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards (K01) Within the Mission of the Division of Cancer Prevention.

• NIH Proposal Preparation Program, P3, Office of Faculty Affairs, UMN

• MN-GEMS: Minnesota Grants Electronic Management System, Research and Innovation Office, UMN (training and purpose)

• Direct & Indirect Costs, Office of Cost Analysis, Research and Innovation Office, UMN

• UMN CTSI Research Toolkit- Prepare Grant Proposal and Submit Application for Funding

• UMN RIO - Limited Submissions

• University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) Classification quiz if a funding opportunity should be administered by the UMF or the Sponsored Projects Administration. 

American Cancer Society - Research Grants with ACS

• Extramural Research and Training Grants Workshop for MCC (Video, 1 hour 21 minutes, March 21, 2021)

  • Presenter: Susanna Greer, PH.D., Scientific Director, Clinical Cancer Research and Immunology

National Science Foundation

• Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS): How does your research benefit society? 

  • Broader Impacts Tool & Wizard

NIH grant guidance

NIH Information for Reviewers, Scoring System and Procedure (2015 pdf) | 

• NOT-OD-24-084 Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

  • five regulatory criteria (Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, Environment)

Early stage & new investigators (ESI)

• Early stage means within 10 years of completing postgraduate clinical training or terminal degree, whichever is later. 

• New investigator means having not previously competed successfully on a substantial research grant (excludes smaller grants listed on this page - these maintain ESI status)

Underrepresented people (NOT-OD-20-031) Removed from the web as of January 2025

• Under-representation includes race / ethnicity, disability status, and various criteria for “disadvantaged background”, which includes first generation graduates, qualifying for various federal benefits during upbringing, and upbringing in a rural area. 

National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Archived Videos

• November 2020 | What you Need to Know to Start, & Complete, an Effective NIH K99/R00 Application Slides: "The NIH K99/R00 grant mechanism offers postdocs a fantastic opportunity for support as they complete their mentored research and training, and transition to independence in a tenure-track faculty position. However, preparing the application is no small task. This presentation helps get you on your way by addressing the following questions: How do I know if the K99/R00 is right for me? Where do I begin, and how should I budget my time? What are the key components of the application and what are reviewers looking for?"

• March 2023 | A Postdoc Guide to Developing Your K99/R00 and CASI Slides: "In this webinar, Dr. Tammy Collins will give an overview of the K99/R00 and CASI programs (this will NOT be a grant writing workshop), and provide some tips for thinking about when to apply, where (which NIH IC) to apply to, broad tips on specific aims & other aspects as well as comparing and contrasting the K99/R00 and the CASI award and showcasing anonymized positive and negative reviewer comments on each."

• October 2024 | NPA SmartSkills: Grant writing (Oct 2024) for NIH Training Grants (F, K): “In this session, attendees will gain insights into successful grantsmanship strategies in the competitive landscape of biomedical research funding. From developing a strong training plan and identifying significant research questions, to lessons learned during the resubmission process, this session will equip postdoctoral researchers with essential strategies to maximize their current and future impact in the grant application process."

  • Google Doc with timestamps and summary information

MN cancer demographics 

• Cancer InFocus Minnesota: An interactive map searchable by county or census tract 

• Catchment Analysis Report: Offers information about cancer in Minnesota

Alphabetical List by Agency

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer - Researchers & Reviewers ALSF Grants Programs

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - Research | Research Funding | current funding opportunities

American Cancer Society (ACS) - Research Grants with ACS

American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) - Cancer Research Program

American Society of Cancer Oncology (ASCO) - Funding Opportunities - Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards 

Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund - Funding

Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) - Areas of Focus

The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation - Areas of Focus | Competitive Research Grants

Cancer Research Institute (CRI) - Apply for Grants - immunotherapies

The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) - Grant Funding

Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CRC) - Research | Apply for a Research Grant

Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences (UMN - Grants and Research)

Doris Duke Foundation - Grants & Resources

Earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test  - Prospective and Current Researchers

Grants.gov - Search all federal government grants (saved search possible with a login)

Grant Station database Chronical of Philanthropy (the UMN has a subscription to the, login possible through your UMN email)

Hope Funds for Cancer Research- Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization - IARC Active Grants

International Myeloma Society (IMF)  - Our Research - IMF Research Awards

Sidney Kimmel Foundation - Cancer Research

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) - Research Grant Programs

Lung Cancer Research Foundation  - Research - Research Funding Opportunities

Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research - LABS | Clinical | Innovation - Collaboration Grants

Lymphoma Research Foundation - For Researchers

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA) - MOCA Funded Research

National Brain Tumor Society - Research

National Cancer Institute (NCI) - Research Funding Opportunities | Division of Cancer Prevention

National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) Sunshine Project - Clinical Trials - Collaborative Research Network

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) - Information for Researchers

Pablove Foundation- fighting childhood cancer with love - Seed Grants for Pediatric Cancer Researchers

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - Research Grants Program

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) Grants

Pfizer - Competitive Grants

Pivot  - a subscription (the UMN has one) research funding opportunity database focused on funding opportunities and collaborator connections, save searches and alerts are possible. 

Prevent Cancer Foundation - Research Grants and Fellowships

Prostate Cancer Foundation - Funding Strategy | Open RFA / RFPs

Elsa U. Pardee Foundation - How to Apply Innovative Cancer Research

Prevent Cancer Foundation - Community Grants | Research Grants & Fellowships

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) - Active Funding Opportunities

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation - Award Programs

scientify Research- Research funding for researchers in the USA

Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund - Beneficiaries

Simpler.Grants.gov (government funding)

St. Baldrick's Foundation - Conquer Kids' Cancer - Research Priorities | Grant Types | Open Opportunities

Stand up to Cancer - Open Applications clinical trials & treatments

Tower Cancer Research Foundation - Scientific Research Grants for  basic scientific research in Southern California, some with national eligibility

V Foundation - Victory Over Cancer - Award Programs - Grant Selection Process

Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Upcoming Deadlines - Career Tools

• Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) Funding Opportunities for MCC Members - NIH | Other Federal Agencies | Other External Funders | UMN Cancer RFAs

• Research and Innovation Office (RIO) 

  • Industry Funding & Partnership Opportunities - with deadlines | ongoing | portals and platforms 

  • Internal Funding Opportunities across the UMN

• Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Research Toolkit - Find Funding Opportunities

• University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) Private Foundation Request for Proposals (RFP) List | DEI | Medical Research - Deadline and Rolling ($50K and above) or the charitable grants resource hub

• University of Minnesota Libraries Guide - Research Funding and Grants 

• Pivot funding database

Native American and Alaska Native (AI/AN) applicants may also want to check out AI/AN resources

Quick Links to Federal Government Funding

• NIH Funding & NIH Activity Codes with links to active opportunities

  • Research Training and Career Development Funding (F, K, T, Institutional)

  • Research and Development

  • Small Business

  • Loan Repayment

  • Challenges

• DoD - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)

• CDC and others - grants.gov

• NSF Funding Search - "cancer"

Below are lists of select recurring awards and grants for faculty, postdocs, graduate students, medical students, and undergraduate students. 

Faculty: Awards and Grants

Faculty research

• NIH Research Career Development Awards (K) Kiosk

• Due to ACS: April 1 and October 15. American Cancer Society Discovery Boost Grants. Individual: support high-risk, high-reward exploratory cancer research. $297,000 for a 2-year project period

• Due to ACS: April 1 and October 15. American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grants. Individual: support for independent, self-directed researchers. Eligibility: Legally in the United States. UMN recipients: James Robinson, PhD, Rachel Vogel, PhD, Taro Hitsugi, PhD, Luke Hoeppner, PhD, Ingunn Stromnes, PhD, Emil Lou, PhD

• Eligible for Assistant Professors - ACS Institutional Block Grants -  See MCC Funding Opportunities Institutional block grants, providing seed money for newly independent investigators to initiate cancer research projects. IRGs can fund up to 3 one-year pilot grants at $40,000 each. IRGs may propose to budget the annual costs ($120,000) to less than 3 one-year pilot grants if they choose to do so. MCC American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants: 2020-2024 | 2010-2018 MCC recipient: Irina Stepanov, PhD (2021-24)

Clinical faculty research

• NIH Research Career Development Awards (K) Kiosk

• Due to ACS: April 1 and October 15 to American Cancer Society (ACS) Clinician Scientist Development Grant Individual: Full time faculty clinicians who want to maintain clinical practice and conduct cancer research. Eligibility: Legally in the United States, An active clinical license, and participate in clinical care, not had an R-level grant as PI. Awards may be for 3 to 5 years with $135,000 a year for direct costs, plus 8% allowable indirect costs. 

• Due in September / October to American Society of Cancer Oncology (ASCO) Physician Faculty: Career Development Award Research funding to clinical investigators, who have received their initial faculty appointment, as they work to establish an independent clinical cancer research program . Eligibility: Physician in any country in the first to fourth year of a full-time primary faculty appointment in a clinical department at an academic medical institution

Faculty travel 

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): Minority and Minority-Serving Institution Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research Award to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting Eligibility: Completed doctoral studies or clinical fellowships and hold full-time faculty status. Doctoral degree in fields relevant to cancer research. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada.

Clinical faculty awards

• NIH Research Career Development Awards (K) Kiosk

• Due May (extensive application, start early): Career Development Award (Winn CDA), Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Program two years of salary support ($120K/ year,up to 40% time), mentorship from a clinical investigator at a clinical trial site or mentor’s clinical trial, due in May - proposals take substantive effort, plan to spend at least a couple months on it. People who are underrepresented in medicine are encouraged to apply. All applicants must demonstrate an commitment to diversity in clinical trials. 

  • Clinical Investigator Leadership Awards (Winn-CILA) three-year career and leadership award for graduates of Winn CDA) 

• Nominate by Mid-December: American Society of Cancer Oncology (ASCO) Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Awards | Recipients

Postdocs - awards & grants 

University of Minnesota Postdoctoral Association (PDA)

 Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities in Cancer/Oncology

NIH Pathway to Independence Award K99-R00 

Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry, Re-integration into, and Re-training in Health-Related Research Careers NOT-OD-23-170 and NCI guidance for postdocs, or Early Stage Investigators (ESI)  with a career interruption

Training / Fellowship Grants

• Due to ACS: April 1 and October 15 Postdoctoral Fellowships Award. Individual: Support new investigators in research training programs to to position them for independent careers in cancer research. Awards are for up to 3 years with recently increased progressive stipends of $66,000, $68,000, and $70,000 a year as of 2023, Do not have a faculty appointment, Have had your doctoral degree for LESS than 4 years. Eligibility: Legally in the United States

Travel Grants

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Scholar-in-Training Award to attend the the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting . Eligibility: Associate Member (graduate students, medical students and residents, and clinical and postdoctoral fellows) of the AACR. Merit-based award first author and presenter of an abstract. UMN recipients: 4 in 2024; 1 in 2022

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Women in Cancer Research Scholar Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. Eligibility: First author presenting. Full-time scientists-in-training who are graduate students, medical students, residents, clinical fellows or equivalent, or postdoctoral fellows

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)  annual meeting. Eligibility: People who are full-time graduate students, medical students, residents, or clinical or postdoctoral fellows and are African-American, Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Native American and/or Native Pacific Islander. U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Physician Residents or Fellows - awards & grants 

Mentored Research Grants for Residents / Fellows

• • Due in September / October: American Society of Cancer  Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award ($50K) &The purpose of this grant is to fund physicians during the transition from a fellowship program to a faculty appointment. This is a mentored award, and the research project is conducted under the guidance of a scientific mentor. Applications in all areas of cancer research are accepted from U.S. and international applicants. Eligibility: Physician in any country in the last two years of their final oncology subspecialty training at an academic medical institution and within 10 years of obtaining their medical degree

  • Due in March: American Society of Cancer  Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award Special Competitions 

Graduate Students - awards & grants

Fellowship Opportunities for Current Students, University of Minnesota Graduate School

Individual Grants - Council of Graduate Students, University of Minnesota (Career Development, Conference, Research)

Research Fellowships for Doctoral Graduate Students

• F30 Individual Predoctoral MD/PHD or other dual degree - Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral NRSA for MD/​PhD and other Dual Degree Fellowships

• Due April & August: F31 Individual Research Service Award - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research for doctoral students who are underrepresented. PA-23-271 

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000.

Travel Grants

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Scholar-in-Training Award to attend the the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting . Eligibility: Associate Member (graduate students, medical students and residents, and clinical and postdoctoral fellows) of the AACR. Merit-based award first author and presenter of an abstract. UMN recipients: 4 in 2024; 1 in 2022

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Women in Cancer Research Scholar Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. Eligibility: First author presenting. Full-time scientists-in-training who are graduate students, medical students, residents, clinical fellows or equivalent, or postdoctoral fellows

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)  annual meeting. Eligibility: People who are full-time graduate students, medical students, residents, or clinical or postdoctoral fellows and are African-American, Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Native American and/or Native Pacific Islander. U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Medical Students - awards & grants for cancer researchers

Rotations / Internship / Externship

• Apply November 4, 2024 -  January 8, 2025 (Externship: June 9 - July 20, 2025): Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) for " community-oriented clinical trialists of diverse backgrounds who are committed to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity in the conduct of clinical and translational research" $7,500 stipend for 6-week externship June 9 - July 20, 2025 in Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Richmond, VA; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; or Tucson, AZ

• Due in January: Medical Student American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Rotation for Underrepresented Populations U.S. medical students from populations underrepresented in medicine (UIM) who are interested in oncology as a career to experience a minimum 4-week clinical or clinical research rotation. Citizen-LRP-NCN only

Travel Grants

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Scholar-in-Training Award to attend the the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting . Eligibility: Associate Member (graduate students, medical students and residents, and clinical and postdoctoral fellows) of the AACR. Merit-based award first author and presenter of an abstract. UMN recipients: 4 in 2024; 1 in 2022

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Women in Cancer Research Scholar Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. Eligibility: First author presenting. Full-time scientists-in-training who are graduate students, medical students, residents, clinical fellows or equivalent, or postdoctoral fellows

• Apply: September - November (meeting in April): AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards to attend the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)  annual meeting. Eligibility: People who are full-time graduate students, medical students, residents, or clinical or postdoctoral fellows and are African-American, Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Native American and/or Native Pacific Islander. U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Undergraduate Students - awards & grants

Scholarships for Undergraduate Students

• • Applications open January - March: The NIH UGSP offers competitive scholarships to students that are citizens and permanent residents from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The NIH UGSP will pay up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded for 1 year and can be renewed up to 4 years. For each full or partial scholarship year, you are committed to two NIH service obligations. The obligations are benefits of the UGSP, providing you with invaluable research training and experience at the NIH.

Unlocking Opportunities with Industry Partners

Building Successful Industry Partnerships (20 minute video)
March 7, 2025 Webinar 1/3 slides 

Description: Being proactive is key to finding the right industry research partner. Start by identifying companies whose goals align with your research interests and exploring their current projects, challenges, and innovation needs. Leveraging university resources, such as the Corporate Engagement Center and their connections, could provide access to companies that you do not currently have. Reaching out directly to industry professionals with what makes your research unique, or enticing can also open doors. By taking initiative and actively seeking alignment between your academic research and industry needs, you can establish meaningful collaborations that drive innovation forward.

In part one of this mini webinar, you will learn about strategies for building successful industry partnerships, while also having the opportunity to ask your questions. Topics covered will include:

• Benefits of industry partnerships

• How to be a good partner

• Types of partnership opportunities

• Using an “Innovation Blueprint” to align on goals and outcomes

Proactive Strategies for Academic Researchers (19 minute video)
March 20, 2025 - Webinar 2/3 slides

Being proactive is key to finding the right industry research partner. Start by identifying companies whose goals align with your research interests and exploring their current projects, challenges, and innovation needs. Leveraging university resources, such as the Corporate Engagement Center and their connections, could provide access to companies that you do not currently have. Reaching out directly to industry professionals with what makes your research unique, or enticing can also open doors. By taking initiative and actively seeking alignment between your academic research and industry needs, you can establish meaningful collaborations that drive innovation forward.

In part two of this mini webinar, you will learn about strategies for finding the right industry partner, while also having the opportunity to ask your questions. Topics covered will include:

• How to establish and grow industry partnerships

• Identify prospective partners

• Create an industry bio to help pitch your expertise

• Adapting and assessing mutual needs and fit

Resources and Tools to Find Industry Sponsored Research Opportunities (23 minute video)
April 2, 2025 Webinar 3/3 (slides)

Finding industry sponsored research opportunities is made easier with the right resources and tools. The Corporate Engagement Center team offers a rolling list of industry funding opportunities through a Google Doc and can help connect researchers with potential partners. Additionally, research collaboration portals like HALO and IN-PART provide valuable opportunities. By utilizing these resources, researchers can identify funding, build connections, and establish successful industry partnerships. In part three of this mini webinar, you will learn about strategies for finding the right industry partner, while also having the opportunity to ask your questions. Topics covered will include:

• How the Corporate Engagement Center can help

• What HALO and IN-PART are and how to use them to your benefit

• Establish your brand

You can also find more information on the Corporations & Industry webpage. 

MCC membership information, member directory, events, seminar series, news, in the media, and Experts@Minnesota

• MCC Research Program Areas and Translational Working Groups (TWGs)

• MCC Cancer Research Translational Initiative (CRTI)

American Association for Cancer Education (AACE)

• European Association for Cancer Education (EACE)

• Journal of Cancer Education (JCE)

• International Cancer Education Conference

Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI)

• AACI CCAF Annual Meeting

• AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Meeting

  • Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Plan, goals, Projects

• CAR T Initiative chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) 

• Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative (PCLI)

American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) | Membership, Meetings 

• Blog: Cancer Research Catalyst 

• Podcast: Believe in Progress

• AACR Meeting and Workshop Calendar

• AACR Scientific Working Groups

• Medical Students, Residents, Clinicians, and Physician Scientists: AACR opportunities AACR 

  • Cancer Immunology Working Group (CIMM) 

  • Pediatric Cancer Working Group (PCWG) 

  • Radiation Science and Medicine Working Group (RSM)

American Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC)

• ACCC Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit 

• ACCC National Oncology Conference (AAAC NOC) 

• Learn - Cancer Types, Community Oncology Research, Comprehensive Cancer Care Services, Financial Advocacy, Health Equity, Management and Operations, Precision Medicine

• Cancer Buzz Podcast

American Cancer Society (ACS) 

• ACS Minnesota Local Resources: Transportation, Advocacy, Cancer Information, Lodging

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

• Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology (MSCO)

• Journal of Cancer Education (JCE)

• Conference - International Cancer Education Conference (AACE, CPEN, EACE)

Cancer Patient Education Network (CPEN)

Career development - National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Videos

• August 2021 Assessing Individual Development Plans Use and Impact "The goal of the NSF-funded Impact Indicators and Instruments for Individual Development Plans (I3IDP) project is to develop instruments to measure the impact of IDPs on trainee development. In this webinar, they presented the core components of the IDP process as determined from stakeholder (i.e., career counselors, trainees that use IDPs, mentors that use IDPs to facilitate IDP processes etc.) interviews and literature review, give participants a preview of the survey instruments, and discuss how IDP intervention can be used to provide more equitable training and career planning to graduate students and postdocs."

• Accelerate: Professional Development with an Advanced Degree Specialization on Coursera, UMN Graduate School Academic and Professional Development - "Learn strategic planning, networking, communication, and more" (free for UMN registrants)

• Beyond the Professoriate (free for the UMN) - "Beyond the Professoriate is the only online professional development training platform for graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and PhDs that helps them successfully transition into academic or nonacademic careers."

Interpersonal skills and resillience

Arguing isn’t the answer: Navigating conflict with style, University of Minnesota Extension (self or group study)

NIH: Becoming a Resilient Scientist (BRS) series "These videos were recorded during the Fall 2024 Becoming a Resilient Scientist (BRS) Seminar Series, put on annually by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE)." To learn more about this course  or view the full playlist.

• NIH Series | Becoming a Resilient Scientist Series

  • Topics include:

    • Intro to Resilience and Well-Being

    • Exploring Self-Talk: Imposter Fears and Other Cognitive Distortions

    • Self-Advocacy and Assertiveness

    • Developing Feedback Resilience

    • Managing Up to Maximize Mentoring Relationships

• NIH Series | Mental Health and Wellbeing of Biomedical Researchers

  • Topics include:

    • Burnout in Biomedical Researchers

    • Healthy Rest as a Steppingstone to Productivity and Well-being

    • The Epidemic of Loneliness

    • Supporting Each Other in Being Well

• NCI Talk | Breaking Bias: Women in Healthcare & Science Leadership

Guidelines for Research in Challenging Circumstances

• The emergency public relations protocol: How to work effectively on controversial projects in an academic health setting (2013) by B. R.Simon Rosser, Gunna Kilian, William G. West

National Postdoc Association Archived Videos related to Resilience

• February 2022 | Fostering Resilience During Times of Chronic Stress: "In this webinar, typical reactions to crises such as COVID-19 will be discussed and the human ability to be resilient and protect ourselves against long term ill effects will be emphasized. Effective strategies for coping adaptively will be taught, including ways to tolerate and manage distress, access and maximize supports, and process feelings and thoughts in a helpful way. Also discussed are ways that you can use these strategies to support and bolster the people around you. Information on additional resources for those seeking more intensive help will also be provided."

• December 2021 | Supporting the Mental Health and Well-being of Postdocs, Slides: "Postdoctoral trainees and scholars often slip through the cracks of institutional support systems. A lack of tailored supports, combined with intense professional pressures, has led to significant mental health challenges for the postdoc community. This webinar  provides insight into the challenges faced by postdoctoral scholars and offer strategies and resources that institutions can use to address them. Postdoctoral scholars, directors of postdoc offices, graduate deans, and other administrators with oversight for postdoc offices, will find the information useful."

• June 2021 | ROAR: How to thrive in disruptive times: "During this webinar, Sandy Asch, principal at the Alliance for Organizational Excellence, will share her insights on resiliency as it relates to organizations and individuals; particularly, she will equate the effects of environment and culture to the resiliency of postdocs, and how PDOs can most effectively respond. Her bestseller book is Roar: How to Build a Resilient Organization."

Faculty Success

• Faculty and Academic Affairs - New Faculty Orientation | New Faculty Program | Promotion and Tenure Workshops | Review Committee on Community-Engaged Scholarship

• Faculty Success Program, National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) 

  • UMN has an institutional membership, so individuals can receive training and workshops for free or reduced cost. 

• Center for Women in Medicine & Science (CWIMS) has a series of events and supportive resources (CWIMS newsletter)

Teaching

• International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Program, Center for Educational Innovation

• Preparing Future Faculty, Center for Educational Innovation (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows)

• Teaching Assistant and Postdoc Professional Development Program, Center for Educational Innovation

• Early Career Teaching and Learning Program, Center for Educational Innovation (first five years as an instructor or faculty member)

• Designing and Delivering Online Learning, Center for Educational Innovation (instructor or faculty member)

• Teaching with Access and Inclusion Program, Center for Educational Innovation (on demand)

• Teaching for Student Well-Being Program, Center for Educational Innovation

Mentoring

• CTSI Online mentor training for people affiliated with the UMN

• Medical School - Mentoring for faculty | Faculty Mentorship Program

• UMN Graduate School  - Advising and Mentoring | The benefits of multiple mentors (video)

Writing

• Writing hunkers a writing retreat for faculty and P&A staff

Accessibility

• 7 Core Accessibility Skills, Office for Digital Accessibility (ODA)

• Accessibility Ambassadors & the Accessibility Ambassadors MediaSpace channel 

Human Resources, Intercultural Competence & Inclusion

• Office for Equity & Diversity Education Program, Office for Equity & Diversity, University of Minnesota

  • Equity Certificate Hosted Online (ECHO) 

  • Workshops

• Mental Health Training / Health Advocate (UMN employees who are student facing), Boynton Health 

  • a free professional development opportunity designed for University of Minnesota employees

• Supervisory Development Program, Talent Strategy, Human Resources University of Minnesota

General

• Coursera courses are free for UMN

UMN Graduate School  - Advising and Mentoring | The benefits of multiple mentors (video)

For Mentors

• CTSI Online mentor training 

• Medical School - Mentoring for faculty | Faculty Mentorship Program

• Empowering Postdocs: Essential Practices for Mentors to Create a Lasting Impact
  By Divya Patel, Ph.D. July 10, 2025, National Postdoctoral Association
  Discussing Career Interests and Skill Set
  Clarifying Expectations and Communication
  Building a Professional Network
  Practicing Appreciation and Empathy
  Encouraging Research Independence

Working With Cancer: the Impacts of Accessibility & Inclusion, October 27th, 2023 (51 minute video) Drawing on her personal experience with a stage IV cancer diagnosis in 2022, Phoebe Johnson discussed the impacts an inclusive, equitable, and accessible work environment has had on her health and treatment journey.

Redesigning for Cognitive Ease January 30th, 2024 (53 minute video) Alyssa’s presentation will cover her personal story and how it influences her approach to website creation. She will cover questions such as: After all the WCAG standards are met, how accessible is your site for users with cognitive disabilities? How can you tell? What does that mean? And where would you start?

7 Core Skills of Digital Accessibility September 29th, 2025 (1 hour video) & webpage

Clinical Trials

• Just Ask! Increasing Diversity in Cancer Clinical Research. Contact Heidi if you take this course and want to be involved in a group debriefing session to plan next steps.

• Clinical Trials Learning Modules from the National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research

Innovation, Commercialization, & Technology

• Min-CORPS. "MIN-Corps empowers you to take your academic research beyond the lab and into the market" See: Seminars and Workshops, such as Effective Networking, Tech Transfer, Post-Graduation Career Plans.