+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Basic Research Fellowships

American Brain Tumor Association

Basic Research Fellowships are two-year, $100,000 mentored grants supporting postdoctoral fellows who are conducting laboratory or field-based research projects that focus on brain tumors.

Fellows must have a lead mentor who currently conducts brain tumor research at the same academic institution. The mentor will help with scientific management and other research guidance to foster the applicant’s career advancement.

The ABTA is accepting Letters of Intent through December 10, 2025.

Funding Opportunity Description

The American Brain Tumor Association seeks applications from postdoctoral fellows embarking on careers dedicated to brain tumor research.

• ABTA Basic Research Fellowships provide up to $100,000 in support over a two-year period (see Section III for more information on the grant award and term).

• Grants support basic and translational research projects that have significant potential to advance our understanding of the causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.

• Grants are appropriate for both basic and clinical fellows conducting laboratory, computational, or field-based research projects.

• Applicants should be on-track to pursue a career in brain tumor research with a mentor who has a demonstrated history of brain tumor research and mentorship in the field.

• The goal of the program is to encourage talented, early-career scientists to enter, or remain in, the field of brain tumor research. The ABTA aims to ensure a continuum of dedicated, well-trained brain tumor researchers that will emerge as the next generation of leaders in the field.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Alignment with Brain Tumor Research Focus

Projects must directly target brain tumors (primary or metastatic) — including biology, genetics/epigenetics, novel therapeutics, imaging/diagnostics, biomarkers of risk or treatment response. American Brain Tumor Association+3UNC Lineberger+3American Brain Tumor Association+3

If a project does not clearly address brain tumors, it risks administrative withdrawal. UNC Lineberger+1

Both adult and pediatric brain tumors are eligible, so long as the relevance is clear. American Brain Tumor Association

2. Appropriate Grant Mechanism & Career Stage

ABTA offers different grants for various career levels:

Discovery Grants (~US $50,000 for 1 year) for bold, early‐stage ideas. American Brain Tumor Association+1

Basic Research Fellowships (~US $100,000 over two years) for postdoctoral fellows under mentorship. UNC Lineberger+1

Research Collaboration Grants (~US $200,000 over two years) for multi‐investigator, multi‐institutional projects. American Brain Tumor Association

Medical Student Summer Fellowships (~US $3,000) to engage students in brain‐tumor research. American Brain Tumor Association+1

Matching your stage and experience to the correct award type is critical.

3. Innovation + High Potential Impact

Discovery Grants are explicitly for “high‐risk, high‐impact” work that could transform current diagnostic or treatment models. American Brain Tumor Association+1

Projects that pause conventional thinking or propose novel therapeutic strategies, new imaging/diagnostic tools, or biomarker discovery tend to be more competitive.

4. Feasibility & Clear Execution Plan

Even for seed/early‐stage awards, applications must show a reasonable plan, with realistic aims and timelines.

For fellowship-level awards: mentorship, institutional backing, and a credible environment matter. For example, the fellowship requires the applicant to work under a lead mentor who has substantial brain‐tumor research credentials. UNC Lineberger+1

5. Strong Mentorship & Institutional Support

For the Basic Research Fellowship: the postdoctoral candidate must commit at least 75% effort to the project; institutional and mentor support must be evident. Funds for NGOs+1

For multi‐institutional grants: having co‐PIs across institutions and multidisciplinary collaboration increases strength. American Brain Tumor Association

6. Early‐Career Pipeline/Commitment to Brain Tumor Field

The ABTA emphasizes cultivating new brain‐tumor researchers (“the next generation of leaders”). A demonstrated commitment to a career in brain‐tumor research helps. UNC Lineberger+1

For student fellowships, the goal is to stimulate interest in neuro‐oncology research careers. American Brain Tumor Association

7. Correct Use of Data, Repositories, and Community Resources

ABTA funds seed and translational research; proposals that leverage or propose to integrate resources such as the brain‐tumor registry, collaborative networks, or patient biospecimens may be seen as more strategic (though this is less explicit in the public criteria).

The ABTA’s research program page notes support of the Research Registry of primary brain tumors. American Brain Tumor Association

8. Clear & Focused Writing, Strong Rationale

Proposals with a clear hypothesis, a concise “Specific Aims” style layout, and a strong rationale gain reviewer confidence.

Projects should answer the question: What gap in brain tumor research will this fill, and how will the outcomes advance the field?

9. Budget & Duration Fit to the Grant Scope

For example, Discovery Grants are 1 year and ~$50k; Basic Fellowships are 2 years and ~$100k. Aligning your budget and timeline to match the grant’s expectations is essential. American Brain Tumor Association+1

Avoid over‐ambitious scopes given the budget/time.

10. Deadline Compliance & LOI Process

Many ABTA grant programs use a Letter of Intent (LOI) stage followed by full application invitation. For example, the Discovery Grant process is LOI → full application. Funds for NGOs

Being ready early, submitting by deadlines, and following guidelines increases competitiveness.

📋 Summary Table

Success Predictor	Why It Matters for ABTA Grants
Brain‐tumor–specific focus	Aligns directly with ABTA mission
Matching grant type to applicant stage	Ensures reviewer expectations align
Innovation + high‐impact potential	Drives transformation in field
Feasibility + clear plan	Shows you can deliver within budget/time
Strong mentorship & environment	Supports applicant readiness and project execution
Commitment to brain tumor research	Demonstrates long-term value to ABTA
Leveraging brain-tumor resources	Adds strategic value and network effect
Clear, persuasive writing	Increases reviewer engagement and clarity
Appropriate budget & timeline	Fits grant scope and avoids mismatch
LOI adherence & deadline compliance	Facilitates entry into competitive pool

Specialties

Cancer

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants/Principal Investigators (PIs), Mentors, and Institutions must conform to the eligibility criteria below to apply for an ABTA Basic Research Fellowship.

Grants will be awarded to a postdoctoral fellow (designated as the Principal Investigator or PI on the application) and a single Lead Mentor. Applicants may choose to have a single Co-Mentor (optional). Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) are not allowed for this mechanism.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Brain Tumor Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste 550 Chicago, IL 60631

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity