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DISCOVERY SCIENCE AWARD

SebastianStrong Foundation

SebastianStrong Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and accelerating the development of more targeted, less toxic treatments by funding bold, early-stage research. Since 2017, we have awarded over $4 million to cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric cancer research. Through strategic partnerships, matched contributions, and follow-on funding secured by investigators, our overall impact now exceeds $6 million.

We exist because kids deserve better. Too many promising ideas in pediatric cancer research go unfunded due to limited institutional support, lack of commercial incentive, and minimal government investment, especially for rare and relapsed cancers. At SebastianStrong, we focus exclusively on childhood cancers, where small patient populations often mean traditional funders and pharmaceutical companies overlook research.

ABOUT THE DISCOVERY SCIENCE AWARD

The Discovery Science Award typically provides up to $500,000 in funding for groundbreaking research that aligns with our mission. In select cases, proposals demonstrating exceptional potential for impact and scalability may be considered for higher levels of support.

Our Scientific Advisory Board, composed of leading pediatric oncologists and researchers, conducts a two-stage review process. First, Letters of Intent (LOIs) are evaluated to identify projects that best align with our mission and funding priorities. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal, which is reviewed in detail to determine final award decisions. Funding recommendations are made by the Scientific Advisory Board and approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered, applicants must submit the following via RhythmQ:

• A Letter of Intent (no more than 2-3 pages) written in language accessible to non-scientific audiences (e.g., spell out acronyms, use examples, minimize technical jargon)

• A CV or bio of the Principal Investigator

Submissions will be evaluated to ensure they align with our mission and funding criteria. A limit of two proposals may be submitted from the same institution, researcher, or foundation.

Applicants with approved LOIs will be notified by February 15th and asked to submit full research proposals for award consideration.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct focus on pediatric cancer (highest predictor / essential)

This is the first and most important requirement. To be considered, the proposal must be focused on childhood cancer. The strongest projects address:

Pediatric brain tumors
Sarcomas
Neuroblastoma
Pediatric leukemia
Rare childhood cancers
Relapsed or refractory cancers
Other pediatric cancers with poor outcomes

The Foundation is especially interested in childhood cancers with low survival rates or high relapse rates, where research is often overlooked because of small patient populations and limited commercial incentive.

2. Potential to produce less toxic, more targeted treatments (very high predictor)

This is an explicit funding criterion and a defining part of the Foundation's mission.

Competitive projects should show how the research could lead to treatments that are:

Less toxic than conventional chemotherapy
More precisely targeted to tumor biology
More effective against resistant disease
Less damaging to developing children
Capable of reducing long-term treatment effects

A general pediatric cancer project is less well aligned if it does not clearly contribute to better, less toxic, or more targeted treatment.

3. Strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial within 1–3 years (very high predictor)

This is one of the clearest and most distinctive SebastianStrong criteria.

The Foundation requires projects to demonstrate strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial within one to three years. Therefore, competitive proposals often have:

Strong preclinical evidence
A validated therapeutic target
A promising drug or treatment strategy
Relevant disease models
A clear translational development plan
Defined milestones toward clinical testing

Projects that are scientifically interesting but remain many years from patient testing may be less competitive.

4. Bold, underfunded, or unconventional approach (very high predictor)

The Foundation specifically seeks research that traditional funding systems may overlook.

Strong proposals often pursue:

High-risk/high-reward concepts
Unconventional therapeutic strategies
Rare pediatric cancer indications
Repurposed drugs
Novel immunotherapies
New metabolic vulnerabilities
Emerging computational approaches
Ideas lacking pharmaceutical industry incentives

The Foundation explicitly highlights underfunded or unconventional approaches that could change the status quo.

5. Strong scientific merit and peer-reviewed credibility (very high predictor)

The Foundation funds cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric cancer research, and its Scientific Advisory Board includes pediatric oncology and research experts.

Competitive proposals should therefore demonstrate:

Strong biological rationale
Clear objectives
Rigorous methodology
Appropriate experimental models
Convincing preliminary evidence
Realistic milestones
Scientific credibility

The Foundation accepts new, ongoing, and updated peer-reviewed research, but it does not accept in-progress or ongoing clinical trials.

6. Clear and compelling communication in lay language (very high and actionable predictor)

This is an explicit selection criterion.

The proposal must be understandable to the Foundation's Board of Directors and donor community, not only scientific reviewers. The strongest applicants:

Avoid unnecessary technical jargon
Spell out acronyms
Use understandable examples
Clearly explain why the cancer is difficult to treat
Show what would change if the project succeeds
Make the potential benefit to children easy to understand

The full proposal guidelines require a non-scientific summary explaining the project's purpose, importance, and potential impact.

7. Focus on cancers with low survival or high relapse rates (high predictor)

The Foundation explicitly states special interest in pediatric cancers with:

Low survival rates
High relapse rates
Few treatment options
Limited research funding
Weak commercial incentives

Its historical portfolio supports this pattern, including work in pediatric brain tumors, DIPG/diffuse midline glioma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, high-risk neuroblastoma, refractory AML, and pediatric solid tumors.

8. Strong translational feasibility and readiness (high predictor)

Because the Foundation wants movement toward clinical trials within 36 months, reviewers are likely to favor projects with critical enabling elements already in place.

Strong indicators include:

Existing preclinical data
Access to relevant models
Available therapeutic agents
Regulatory planning
Clinical collaborators
Appropriate patient populations
A realistic development pathway

A previously funded project, for example, combined SebastianStrong support with additional funding and consortium planning to advance a pediatric sarcoma treatment strategy toward clinical testing.

9. Potential for leverage, follow-on funding, and scalability (high predictor)

The Foundation reports that its research impact has been expanded through:

Strategic partnerships
Matched contributions
Follow-on funding secured by investigators

It also states that proposals showing exceptional impact and scalability may be considered for funding above the typical award level. Therefore, strong projects explain how SebastianStrong support could unlock:

Additional foundation funding
Institutional investment
Federal funding
Multicenter collaboration
Larger translational programs
Broader application across pediatric cancers

10. Strong LOI performance and precise mission fit (high and actionable predictor)

The Foundation uses a two-stage review process. The Scientific Advisory Board first reviews LOIs to identify projects that best match the Foundation's mission and priorities. Only selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals.

Therefore, the LOI should make four points immediately clear:

Which pediatric cancer problem is being addressed?
How could the research produce a less toxic, more targeted treatment?
Why is the approach bold, underfunded, or capable of changing current treatment?
How could it move toward a clinical trial within 1–3 years?

Specialties

Cancer

Pediatrics

Oncology

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for funding, proposals must meet the following criteria:

1. Are focused on pediatric cancer

2. Will lead to less toxic, more targeted treatments

3. Are clearly communicated in lay terms (accessible to our Board and donor community)

4. Demonstrate strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial in 1-3 years

We welcome new, ongoing, and updated peer-reviewed research. However, we do not accept inprogress or ongoing clinical trials. Any author or researcher conflict of interest must be disclosed at the time of submission. All submissions are treated as CONFIDENTIAL and are accessible only to members of SebastianStrong’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board until the time of award. We are happy to execute NDAs upon request.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

SebastianStrong funds one or more proposals each year that advance meaningful change in pediatric cancer treatment. We are especially interested in research that:

• Focuses on pediatric cancers with low survival rates or high relapse rates

• Has transitional potential within 36 months

• Pursues underfunded or unconventional approaches that could change the status quo

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: SebastianStrong Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: PO Box 661156 Miami Springs, FL 33266

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