MIB Agents is a leading pediatric osteosarcoma nonprofit dedicated to making it better for our community of patients, families, medical professionals, researchers, and industry partners through programs, education, and research.
ABOUT FACTOR 2026 Started in 2017, the annual MIB Agents FACTOR conference brings together key stakeholders in the osteosarcoma community, including clinicians, researchers, industry, patients, families, patient advocates, and funders, to Make It Better for those battling this disease. FACTOR stands for Funding, Awareness, Collaboration, Trials, Osteosarcoma, and Research. In bringing the osteosarcoma community together, the goal is to drive collaboration on advancing treatments and improving outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma.
● Foster Collaboration: Facilitate connections among researchers, clinicians, surgeons, and patient families to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration in osteosarcoma research and treatment.
● Improve Patient Outcomes: Focus on strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce side effects, and improve the quality of life for patients living with osteosarcoma.
● Promote Research: Highlight cutting-edge research in osteosarcoma, with a focus on developing novel therapies, understanding disease mechanisms, and improving patient outcomes.
● Educate and Inform: Share the latest advances in osteosarcoma treatment and research with medical professionals, patients, and advocates to keep the community informed and engaged.
● Expand Clinical Trials: Encourage participation in and development of clinical trials to explore new treatments, improve existing therapies, and gather critical data for future innovations.
● Drive Funding and Awareness: Raise awareness about osteosarcoma and emphasize the need for increased funding to support ongoing research and clinical trials.
● Strengthen the Community: Build a stronger support network for patient families and survivors by providing a platform for sharing experiences, challenges, and successes.
SUBMISSION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Authors may submit abstracts for presentation at FACTOR 2026 on Proposal Central, beginning October 6, 2025. The abstract submission deadline is January 9, 2026. Abstracts will be considered for oral presentation or poster presentation at FACTOR 2026.
MIB Agents exclusively funds projects that directly improve outcomes for osteosarcoma patients.
High-priority topics include:
New therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma
Drug repurposing or combination strategies
Mechanisms of metastasis (especially lung metastasis)
Chemoresistance biology
Immunotherapy for osteosarcoma
Biomarkers or liquid biopsy
Better preclinical models (PDX, organoids, canine OS)
Novel radiology/imaging approaches
Survivorship, quality of life, and late toxicity in OS
❗ Generic sarcoma or bone cancer projects are not competitive unless they clearly center on osteosarcoma.
MIB Agents has several funding mechanisms with different expectations:
🔹 OutSmarting Osteosarcoma Grant (Flagship Award)
Early/mid-career investigators
Strong scientific rigor + translational potential
Must meaningfully address OS treatment, biology, or detection
High innovation strongly preferred
🔹 FACTORY Grants (Fast-Track, High-Impact)
Rapid, short-term projects
Emphasis on feasibility + clear deliverables
Often used for validating targets or methods quickly
🔹 Junior Investigator or Fellow Awards
Early-career focus
Strong mentorship required
🔹 Clinical/Translational Grants
Access to patients, tissue, trial infrastructure
Must have near-term clinical applicability
Predictor: Align your career stage, scope, and deliverables to the exact MIB mechanism.
MIB Agents emphasizes applied research that will make a near-term difference.
Competitive proposals typically show:
Direct therapeutic development
Mechanistic discovery that leads to testable intervention
Biomarkers that can move into clinical settings
Strategies to reduce toxicity or improve quality of life
Work that accelerates drug development pipelines
Predictor: Proposals must clearly articulate how the project will improve survival or care for osteosarcoma patients.
Even small or pilot grants usually require evidence of feasibility:
Early mechanistic data
Drug-response assays
Pilot biomarker results
Feasibility of obtaining samples
Early animal or in vitro model proof-of-concept
Predictor: Preliminary data is one of the strongest determinants of success.
Highly successful proposals use validated osteosarcoma systems:
Patient-derived xenografts (PDX)
OS organoids or 3D culture
CRISPR or engineered OS cell line models
Canine osteosarcoma models (strongly valued due to translational relevance)
Lung metastasis models
Longitudinal imaging or ctDNA assays
Predictor: The use of state-of-the-art OS models greatly increases translational usefulness.
MIB Agents strongly values collaborative science:
Multi-PI approaches
Clinician + basic scientist teams
Data sharing among OS groups
Partnerships with Children’s Oncology Group (COG), NCI, or other sarcoma consortia
Cross-institutional resource sharing
Predictor: Collaborative, synergistic proposals score significantly higher.
MIB Agents is a patient-driven organization, so proposals are strengthened by:
Clear relevance to patient outcomes (survival, QoL, toxicity reduction)
Inclusion of patient advocates where possible
Real-world justification for the proposed approach
Predictor: Projects that directly reflect patient needs have an advantage.
Reviewers look for:
Evidence of commitment to osteosarcoma research
Relevant publications in OS or bone/solid tumor models
Grantsmanship potential and clear research trajectory
Technical capability to carry out the project
Predictor: Investigator expertise in OS (or a compelling mentorship structure) increases reviewer confidence.
Successful proposals have:
2–3 well-defined aims
Measurable milestones
Realistic timelines
Clear go/no-go points
Strong contingency plans
Predictor: MIB Agents prioritizes feasibility + fast impact, so well-structured aims perform well.
Top-scoring grants are:
Exceptionally clear
Logically structured
Supported by strong visual preliminary data
Easy for both scientists and clinicians to understand
Predictor: High-quality communication significantly increases competitiveness.
| Predictor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Osteosarcoma-specific focus | Core requirement |
| Mechanism fit | Ensures proper expectations |
| Translational potential | MIB is impact-driven |
| Preliminary data | Demonstrates feasibility |
| Relevant OS models | Strengthens translational value |
| Collaboration | High priority for OS research |
| Patient-centered impact | Aligns with MIB’s mission |
| PI track record | Supports likelihood of success |
| Focused, feasible aims | Required for short-term grants |
| Strong writing & visuals | Improves reviewer enthusiasm |
● Individuals may submit up to 2 abstracts as the first author.
● Presenting authors must be registered FACTOR 2026 participants. Submitting an abstract for presentation at FACTOR 2026 does not constitute registration for the meeting.
● If selected for oral presentation at FACTOR 2026, authors will receive a promotional code to use during conference registration. This promotional code will cover conference registration fees.
● If their institutions will not cover accommodation costs, oral and poster presenters may apply for a Family Fund FACTOR Travel Award.
● An abstract can be submitted if it was/will be presented at a scientific meeting in the past year. If it was presented prior to 2025, then it cannot be submitted unless there is significant new data.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: MIB Agents
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: P.O. Box 858, Barnard, VT
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Jan 09, 2026
Jan 09, 2026
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Affiliation: MIB Agents
Address: P.O. Box 858, Barnard, VT
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