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CCF Research Fellowship Program

Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation

CCF chooses grant recipients carefully to ensure they build collaborations between researchers, institutions, and industry and share information, samples, and expertise with others in the field. Prior experience in the field of cholangiocarcinoma is not required. Learn more about the program’s research philosophy

Research Focus:

Basic Science: Research using laboratory-based models without clinical data from patients
Translational Science: Research studying human samples or data obtained from human samples, annotated with clinical outcome data
Clinical Science: Studies of outcomes in human patients; including population and epidemiology research

Degree

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Pharmacy
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Academic Level

Postdoctoral Fellows and Clinical Fellows

Institutional Requirements

Academic or medical, or research institutions based anywhere worldwide
Sponsoring institutions must assign a mentor in the proposed research field who assumes responsibility and provides guidance for the research

Funding

One year of grant support up to $75,000
Funding for expenses related to the research project, which may include the salary and benefits of the grant recipient, may be used
CCF will not fund indirect costs or institutional overhead

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to cholangiocarcinoma ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the single clearest predictor of fit.

The project should directly address CCA, including:

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Distal cholangiocarcinoma
CCA molecular biology
CCA immunology
CCA diagnosis
CCA treatment
CCA drug resistance
CCA biomarkers
CCA prevention
CCA epidemiology

CCF's Research Fellowship Program accepts basic, translational and clinical science, including population and epidemiological research.

2. Potential to improve patient outcomes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF explicitly prioritizes research that can impact cholangiocarcinoma patient outcomes.

A strong application should make the patient benefit clear:

Research discovery → validated finding → clinical application → better CCA outcome

Potential outcomes include:

Earlier diagnosis
Improved survival
Better treatment response
Overcoming drug resistance
Reduced treatment toxicity
More accurate prognosis
Better patient selection for therapy
Improved quality of life

3. Innovation and high-impact potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF's philosophy strongly favors novel research that may not be readily funded through traditional mechanisms.

Recent funded projects illustrate this emphasis, including:

Overcoming resistance to mutant IDH1 inhibition
Targeting cytokine-response and epigenetic pathways
Tumor/immune microenvironment mapping
Spatial multiomics
Blood-based biomarker discovery
Cancer-cell senescence and immunosuppression
Microbiome-based precision immunotherapy
Mitochondrial metabolism and chemoresistance

This suggests that novel mechanisms, biomarkers, therapeutic targets and treatment-resistance strategies are especially well aligned.

4. Hypothesis-driven specific aims ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF specifically requests:

Hypothesis-driven specific aims
Well-designed analyses
Scientific rationale
Scientific approach
Significance
Innovation

A strong application should therefore avoid being merely descriptive.

Strong structure

Unmet CCA problem → knowledge gap → hypothesis → specific aims → experiments/analysis → expected result → patient impact

5. Scientific and statistical rigor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF explicitly lists statistical rigor among its research priorities.

Competitive proposals should clearly explain:

Study design
Appropriate controls
Sample size
Statistical methods
Validation strategy
Clinical variables
Potential confounders
Alternative approaches
Interpretation of negative results

For translational and clinical studies, appropriate analysis of human samples and clinically annotated data is particularly valuable.

6. Feasibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF requires a project that can realistically be completed during the grant period.

The application should demonstrate access to:

CCA samples
Patient data
Appropriate experimental models
Sequencing/multiomics facilities
Clinical collaborators
Statistical expertise
Relevant technologies

A smaller, highly achievable project is preferable to an excessively ambitious project that cannot be completed within one year.

7. Translational potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CCF supports research across the continuum:

Basic science → Translational science → Clinical science.

Particularly strong projects can connect laboratory findings with actual CCA patient biology.

Examples:

Tumor mechanism → target → drug → validation

Biomarker → early detection → clinical validation

Resistance mechanism → combination therapy → clinical trial strategy

8. Early detection and prevention ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a particularly strong current priority.

CCF's 2027 Innovation Award is specifically focused on biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma and provides $750,000 over three years.

CCF's research priorities have also included early detection/prevention involving:

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Hepatitis-associated CCA
Radiomics
Radiogenomics

Therefore, early diagnosis and biomarker development are particularly strong areas of alignment.

9. Drug resistance and immunotherapy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another highly competitive area is understanding and overcoming treatment resistance.

Recent CCF-funded projects have examined:

IDH1 inhibitor resistance
Chemoresistance
FGFR2-targeted therapy
Tumor immunosuppression
Immunotherapy
Tumor immune microenvironment
Mitochondrial metabolism

Thus, projects addressing:

Why does CCA become resistant? → How can resistance be reversed?

are highly compatible with CCF's research philosophy.

10. Strong mentor and career-development potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For the Research Fellowship, the applicant must have a mentor at the sponsoring institution who can support the research aims and the applicant.

CCF is explicitly interested in developing the next generation of CCA researchers.

Its larger Career Development Award provides $300,000 over three years to support mid-career investigators establishing independent CCA research programs.

Therefore, applications are strengthened by:

Strong mentor
Clear career plan
Increasing independence
Research ownership
Future funding strategy
Development of a sustainable CCA research program

Specialties

Others

Eligibility Requirements

Prior award recipients are eligible to apply
Prior experience in the field of CCA is not required
There are no restrictions for applicants regarding age, gender, race, disability, or national origin/residence

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 5526 West 13400 South, #510 Herriman, Utah 84096

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