+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Verified

Cancer Research Grant Program

Mary Kay Ash Foundation

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation is a non-profit public foundation, which focuses on funding research for innovative grants for translational research of cancers affecting women (ovarian, uterine, breast, endometrial or cervical cancer among others). Translational research is broadly defined as research that will provide a scientific link between laboratory research and the clinic. Ultimately, such research would lead to improvement in diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, or treatment of the cancer. Each year the Foundation extends invitations to NCI designated cancer institutes and accredited medical schools to apply. Only one application is accepted per institution.

Grant proposals are reviewed by a Scientific Research Review Committee comprised of notable members of the American medical and scientific community. Grants are awarded up to $100,000 (combined direct and indirect costs) for a two-year period. The Foundation anticipates funding between 10 and 15 grants annually. Grant submissions are typically open from November through February with a final selection made during the month of June.

In order to receive an invitation, a review by the Research Review Committee Chair and approval by the Foundation Board of Directors will be needed to determine if the inquiring institute is an appropriate fit for the grant program.

Cancer Research Grant Cycle Dates:

November 1 – applications open
February 1 – applications close
August – applicants are notified of the status of their application
September/October – Awards are announced and funds are distributed in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Success in this competitive program usually depends on aligning closely with the Foundation’s mission and scientific expectations. Here are the most important predictors:

⭐ 1. Clear Alignment With Foundation Mission

The core mission is to help find cures and improve care for cancers affecting women.
Strong applications clearly articulate impact on women’s health — such as breast cancer, gynecologic cancers, or other malignancies with high prevalence or mortality in women. Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Success Tip: Explicitly frame your research question in terms of women’s cancer outcomes (e.g., survival, early detection, treatment response).

🔬 2. Translational Science Orientation

The Foundation explicitly funds translational research — meaning work that connects laboratory discoveries to clinical or patient-centered outcomes. Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Success Tip:
✔ Define how your project moves beyond basic mechanistic work to clinical or near-clinical implications, whether through biomarkers, therapeutic approaches, or improved prognostic models.

🧪 3. Scientific Innovation and Rigor

Review committees expect well-justified hypotheses and rigorous study design that can realistically be completed within a two-year period. Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Success Tip:
✔ Include clear objectives, compelling preliminary data when possible, and a logical plan showing feasibility within the funding and timeline.

👩‍⚕️ 4. Investigator Credentials & Environment

Because applications often come from invited top cancer centers, reviewer committees assess whether the PI and team have the right expertise and resources to deliver the project.

Success Tip:
✔ Highlight relevant publications, past impact, clinical collaborations, and institutional support that demonstrate the team’s capability to execute translational research.

📊 5. Potential to Improve Diagnosis, Prognosis or Treatment

Applications that show plausible routes to meaningful change in clinical practice or patient outcomes score well.

Examples include:

Novel biomarkers for early detection

Predictive signatures for treatment response

New therapeutic strategies with preclinical support

Success Tip:
✔ Tie each research aim to a potential measurable clinical benefit.

📅 6. Strategic Institutional Nomination

Since only one application per invited institution is accepted, the internal selection process at your university or cancer center is itself competitive.

Success Tip:
✔ Prepare a compelling internal nomination package (abstract, executive summary, justification) that clearly stands out among institutional priorities.

🛠 Practical Application Tips

Before applying:

Confirm whether your institution is invited or eligible to nominate an application this year (internal offices often coordinate this). Vanderbilt University

Clarify internal deadlines and policies since only one proposal goes forward per institution.

During writing:

Emphasize translational endpoints tied to women’s health.

Use clear language to describe the bridge from bench to bedside.

Include realistic milestones aligned with the award’s two-year funding horizon.

📊 What the Foundation Doesn’t Typically Fund

🚫 Purely basic science without an explicit translational angle.
🚫 Projects outside cancers that predominantly affect women.
🚫 Multiple institutional proposals — only one is accepted per invited center each year. winshipcancer.emory.edu

📌 Summary: Key Success Predictors

Predictor	Why It Matters
Relevance to women’s cancers	Aligns with Mary Kay Ash Foundation’s mission. Mary Kay Ash Foundation
Translational focus	Funders emphasize lab-to-clinic impact. Mary Kay Ash Foundation
Scientific innovation & rigor	Core to competitive funding decisions. Mary Kay Ash Foundation
Investigator and team capability	Suggests feasibility and execution strength.
Potential clinical impact	Enhances patient outcomes relevance.
Strong internal nomination	Institutional selection is competitive.

Specialties

Cancer

Oncology

Gynecology

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: P.O. Box 799044 Dallas, TX 75379-9044

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