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Cancer Research KI-Mayo Clinic CCC Synergy Grants

Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cancer Research KI are announcing major funding for cancer research collaborations through their Synergistic Grants 2027–2031, with a special focus on REDI (Risk Assessment, Early Detection and Interception), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data‑Driven Life Science (DDLS).

Important information

Application deadline: November 6, 2026
Award announcements: February 1, 2027
Funding period: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2031

Overview

The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) are pleased to announce a new “Synergy Grant” funding mechanism with a Request for Applications (RFA) focusing on Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception (REDI). This REDI theme aims at accelerating the development of targeted early detection and data-driven prevention strategies for clinically significant cancer precursors and early-stage cancers, also being a special research focus at MCCCC (for further details, see Cancer Risk Assessment, Early Detection and Interception Research Program - Mayo Clinic Research. We have identified existing synergistic strengths in REDI at both institutions in the following research areas:

Solid Tumors,
Hematological Malignancies, and
Advanced Emerging Tools and Technologies

These three research areas are uniquely strong at both institutions and additional synergies are likely to arise in collaborative research projects in these areas, having a REDI focus. Additionally, given the synergistic efforts at both institutions focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS), projects utilizing and/or developing novel algorithms and methodologies in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS) are especially encouraged.

The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) have created a unique track record of collaborative international network focused on innovative science and translation, and since 2020, have funded 18 pilot cancer research grant totaling $1.800.000 and 21.250.000 SEK.

Based on the success of the MCCCC/CRKI collaboration, the two institutions met for a retreat in 2024 and outlined a new collaborative focus in the area of REDI. Since that retreat, 3 Task Forces were formed to identify areas of synergy that could be leveraged for REDI collaborations in breast, hematologic malignancies and emerging tools and technologies. These Task Forces met on a regular basis to identify synergistic areas of expertise in the area of REDI as well as the critical technologies that could be implemented to facilitate such collaborations. The recommendations of the Task Forces form the basis for the current RFA.

In follow-up, we have now developed a new “Synergy Grant” funding mechanism. The focus of this RFA is to bring together teams of physicians and scientists at both institutions to focus on the areas of Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception (REDI), in areas of cancer research where profiles of expertise, infrastructure and methodologies are expected to gain synergistic results, resulting in major advancements of cancer research and cancer care.

For further background information on this new Synergy Grant and examples of potential research topics identified to have synergistic potential in collaborations between MCCCC and CRKI, enabled by Task Forces with experts from each institution, see the document below.

Objective

The objective of this funding is to fund innovative and significant research involving teams of investigators at both the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) that will lead to breakthroughs in Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception.

We seek highly innovative approaches that may involve considerable scientific risk, but which may potentially lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of new techniques, agents, methodologies, models, and applications that could have a major impact on Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception. It is expected that support via this program will lead to impactful publications, discoveries and targeted submission of subsequent extramural peer-reviewed grants seeking support from other sources. These will be the metrics of success for this grant award program, and regular follow-up with the investigators will be done to ensure progress.

Projects utilizing and/or developing novel algorithms and methodologies in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS) are especially encouraged, provided that adherence to current legislation in Sweden and USA as well as protection of patient integrity is fully guaranteed and explained in the RFA.

Funding

Up to three with the minimum of one Synergy Grant project(s) may be awarded for a total of four (2 + 2) years, with the second half of funding contingent on satisfactory progress in the first half of the project period. Project investigators may request up to $2,000,000 (total cost for four years) composed of a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) component ($250,000/year for up to 4 years) and a Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) component (2,500,000 SEK/year for up to 4 years) per funded project. Indirect costs are included in the total award. Funding for this RFA is through established philanthropic support at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI).

Key dates

Application submission deadline Sweden: 23:59 on November 6, 2026
Application submission deadline Rochester, MN, USA: 5:00 pm (CT) on November 6, 2026
Award announcements: February 1, 2027
Award period: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2031

AI Based Application Success Predictor

The following ranking synthesizes published Cancer Research KI evaluation criteria and current calls. Individual programs have different eligibility rules and review priorities.

1

★★★★★

Scientific quality and significance — Critical

Address an important cancer research question with a strong rationale, clear objectives and credible potential to advance cancer understanding, prevention, diagnosis or treatment.

Karolinska Institutet

2

★★★★★

Novelty and innovation — Critical

Present an original hypothesis, method, technology or research direction. The Blue Sky program particularly favors exploratory, high-risk/high-reward projects that conventional funding mechanisms may not yet support.

Karolinska Institutet

3

★★★★★

Potential for breakthrough discoveries and patient benefit — Critical

Explain how the work could produce a meaningful advance in cancer biology, early detection, prevention or treatment. For collaborative calls, show why the proposed research could have a greater impact than either institution could achieve alone.

Karolinska Institutet

4

★★★★★

Feasibility and proof of principle — Critical

Define the experiment, model, milestones and evidence needed to establish feasibility. Pilot grants should deliver a clear proof-of-principle result within the funding period; collaborative synergy projects need a credible multiyear work plan.

5

★★★★☆

Potential to attract subsequent funding — Very high

Show how the proposed work will generate important preliminary data, publications or discoveries that support competitive applications for external peer-reviewed grants. This is an explicit criterion for Blue Sky and collaborative cancer funding.

Karolinska Institutet

6

★★★★☆

Applicant merit and career-stage potential — Very high

Demonstrate appropriate scientific expertise, research productivity and the ability to lead the proposed work. The Blue Sky competition assesses applicant merits relative to career stage and accepts eligible postdoctoral researchers.

Karolinska Institutet

7

★★★★☆

Complementary interdisciplinary collaboration — Very high for joint calls

For Translational Seed and Mayo Clinic synergy grants, combine complementary basic, clinical and technical expertise. The collaboration must be genuine, with clearly defined contributions from each partner.

Karolinska Institutet

8

★★★★☆

Translational relevance and clinical integration — High

Explain how discoveries could inform clinical research or future cancer applications. For translational seed grants, demonstrate why both basic and clinically active researchers are necessary to answer the question.

Karolinska Institutet

9

★★★☆☆

Alignment with priority topics and research infrastructure — High

Match the call's scientific theme and demonstrate access to appropriate technologies, clinical cohorts, data and facilities. The 2027–2031 Synergy Grant particularly emphasizes risk assessment, early detection and interception (REDI), with additional encouragement for AI and data-driven life science.

Karolinska Institutet

10

★★★★☆

Eligibility, budget and application compliance — Essential gate

Confirm the applicant's Karolinska Institutet affiliation where required, the eligibility window, project location, allowable expenses and submission format. Joint grants require the designated institutional partners and compliance with the call's specific terms.

Karolinska Institutet

Ranked summary table

Rank	Predictor	Importance
1	Scientific quality and significance	Critical
2	Novelty and innovation	Critical
3	Breakthrough potential and patient impact	Critical
4	Feasibility and proof of principle	Critical
5	Future external funding potential	Very high
6	Applicant merit and career-stage fit	Very high
7	Complementary collaboration	Very high for joint calls
8	Translational relevance	High
9	Priority-topic and infrastructure fit	High
10	Eligibility and compliance	Essential gate

Specialties

Cancer

Oncology

Eligibility Requirements

Mayo applicants must hold a faculty* position at any of the three Mayo Clinic sites. At CRKI, all faculty with a PhD and working at any Karolinska Institutet Department having at least 50% time for research are eligible to apply for funding. Each collaborative application must include one lead investigator from Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, and one lead investigator from Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI), with the possibility of including up three (3) additional co-PIs from each institution.

Eligible Countries:

Sweden

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Visionsgatan 56b, 169 70 Solna

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