Active Research Funding Opportunities
ASTRO funds research for junior faculty, residents, fellows and postdoctoral fellows in support of radiation oncology researchers’ careers. We recommend frequently checking this page for updates on open opportunities. To apply and view the detailed Program Announcements, visit ProposalCentral unless stated otherwise. For questions please contact the Department of Scientific Affairs.
Seed Grants
The Seed Grants provide up to $25,000 over one year. They are designed to foster the research careers of residents and fellows interested in radiation oncology related basic, translational and/or clinical research. Applicants must be enrolled in a U.S. residency or fellowship at the time of application.
ASTRO-LUNGevity Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant
Application Deadline: March 24, 2023; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
This is a joint effort with the LUNGevity Foundation (LUNGevity) to foster the career advancement of residents or fellows conducting radiation oncology related research for the benefit of patients with lung cancer. For more information and to apply, please visit the LUNGevity Foundation website.
Career Development Awards
ASTRO-ACS Clinician Scientist Development Grant
Application Deadline: April 1, 2023; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
This is a joint effort with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to co-fund one Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG). The goal of the ASTRO-ACS CSDG is to foster the research career of a clinician scientist in radiation oncology. At a minimum, to be eligible an applicant must have a clinical doctoral degree with an active license to provide clinical care, or be a medical physicist with a clinical license at the time of the application. The award may be for three to five years with $135,000 a year for direct costs, plus 8% allowable indirect costs. Applications are to be submitted via the ACS portal. To apply and view further eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit the ACS CSDG website. Questions for this opportunity can be directed to the ASTRO Department of Scientific Affairs and ACS.
ASTRO-BCRF Emerging Investigator Award to Build a Diverse Scientific Workforce
Application Deadline: April 24, 2023; 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
View the Program Announcement
Eligible Individuals (Principal Investigators (PIs))
Any applicant who self-identifies as a member of any of the “Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise” as listed in the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031). Multiple PIs are not allowed.
This is a joint effort with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to support one Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) to Build a Diverse Scientific Workforce. The goal of the ASTRO-BCRF EIA is to foster and develop talented early-career breast radiation oncology researchers who are members of the populations that are currently underrepresented in biomedical research. Among other requirements as listed in the Program Announcement, any Eligible Individual (Principal Investigators (PI)) must be able to self-identify as a member of any of the “Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise” as listed in the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031). The award may be for one year with $100,000 total for direct costs (no indirect cost is allowed). To apply, visit the ASTRO ProposalCentral portal.
* From Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity; Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-031
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html)
Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise
NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences, such as:
- Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
- Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. See NSF data at, https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/static/data/tab7-5.pdf.
- Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
- Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Definition: https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento/);
- Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families (Definition: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/foster-care);
- Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines);
- Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018009.pdf);
- Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants (Definition: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html);
- Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Ch Insert/Edit widgetildren (WIC) as a parent or child (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements).
- Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health), or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zipcodes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in #7 can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.
Past Funding Opportunities (No longer accepting applications)
Seed Grants
ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant and ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Biology Seed Grant
Application Deadline: February 10, 2023; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
These grants will support trainees developing any area of research that has the potential to advance the radiation oncology field. The biology-focused seed grant supports trainees advancing biological research in radiation oncology and/or cancer focused sciences.
ASTRO-AAPM Physics Residents/Postdoctoral Fellows Seed Grant
Application Deadline: February 15, 2023; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
This is a joint effort with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) to support the research of medical physics residents and postdoctoral fellows, and advance their careers. The proposed project must be focused on physics-related research in radiation oncology. Applicants (PhD or equivalent) must be a postdoctoral fellow or medical physics resident, and be a member of ASTRO and AAPM or have applied for the respective memberships at the time of application. Up to two awards are anticipated. To apply and view the detailed eligibility criteria, visit the AAPM website.
ASTRO-Industry Research Training Fellowships
Application Deadline: January 6, 2023; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
ASTRO-AstraZeneca Radiation Oncology Research Training Fellowships
Two fellowships are designed to provide U.S.-based residents or other trainees with real-world training experience in the development, administration and application of sponsored clinical research and real-world studies from a pharmaceutical company perspective. Opportunities within AstraZeneca programs focused on immuno-oncology and targeted therapies as treatment strategies for non-small cell and small cell lung cancer are included.
ASTRO-Nanobiotix Radiation Oncology Research Training Fellowship
This fellowship is designed for U.S.-based residents or postdoctoral fellows interested in gaining experience across the life cycle of pharmaceutical product development from Phase I through IV. Based on the principles of radiation using nanophysics, the fellow will gain experience in using the principles of radiation to understand combination therapy from translational to clinical research. The fellow will also gain experience in medical affairs and will work with scientific experts globally in radiation, and medical oncology.
ASTRO-Novocure Radiation Oncology Research Training Fellowship
Providing an opportunity to spend a year in Israel, this fellowship is designed to provide training and in-depth understanding on Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) dosimetry and treatment planning through active participation in R&D projects. Targeted candidates are medical physicists or clinicians with backgrounds in engineering or the exact sciences (physics, math, computer sciences).
ASTRO-Varian Radiation Oncology Research Training Fellowship
This fellowship is designed for U.S.-based residents and other trainees to receive radiation oncology related training in an industry setting. The fellow can expect to work with Varian in the research and development area(s) of: radiobiology, immunotherapy, applications of artificial intelligence in radiation oncology, information systems, treatment planning, imaging and image-guidance, new hardware for treatment delivery systems and quality assurance.
ASTRO-RTOG NRG Oncology Fellowship in Health Equity
Application Deadline: October 21, 2022
ASTRO plans to co-sponsor one fellow this cycle for the NRG Health Equity Fellowship with an emphasis on radiation oncology. This Fellowship Program trains selected early-stage investigators in the NRG Oncology system by means of a structured mentorship experience, with particular emphasis given to the recruitment of researchers from underrepresented groups. The fellowship award is for $50,000 ($25,000/year for two years. Year two award is contingent on satisfactory progress in year one). Please submit the application and all relevant materials to Fellowships@NRGOncology.org.
ASTRO-MRA Young Investigator Award in Radiation Oncology
Eligibility Checklist Due: October 19, 2022
Application Deadline: November 2, 2022; 11:59 p.m. Eastern time
This is a joint special opportunity Young Investigator Award with the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) to support research in radiation oncology to improve treatment options for melanoma patients. Early career radiation oncologists, radiation or cancer biologists, or physicists are encouraged to submit radiation oncology research proposals that include at least 50% effort on melanoma. The award will provide up to $85,000 per year for three years (up to $255,000 total). Applications are to be submitted via the MRA portal. To apply and view the eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit CureMelanoma.org/RFP. Questions for this opportunity can be directed to the ASTRO Department of Scientific Affairs and MRA's Senior Scientific Program & Registry Manager. The Eligibility Checklist must be submitted by October 19, 2022.