The 2026 LOI submission period is now closed. Approved LOIs will be notified in early December and invited to submit a full application by January 25, 2026.
The OutSmarting Osteosarcoma Hero Award
$100,000 grant over one year to investigators with a compelling study that will Make It Better for osteosarcoma patients.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
To have the most immediate impact on patient care and outcomes, MIB Agents funding priorities are:
● Late-stage translational research - research may lead to clinical benefit or a clinical trial in less than five years.
● Studies with promising preclinical data that have a specific funding need to secure an IND and move forward to a clinical trial.
● Specific funding gaps in clinical research. Examples include correlative studies associated with and/or before an already funded clinical trial.
● Projects that facilitate and enhance collaboration and shared learnings.
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 |
● The principal investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator with experience in translational research.
● Academic ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, and research scientists with M.D., D.O., D.V.M., and/or Ph.D. degrees may apply.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: MIB Agents
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: P.O. Box 858, Barnard, VT 05031 518.524.3890 hello@MIBagents.org
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Jan 25, 2026
Jan 25, 2026
$100,000
Affiliation: MIB Agents
Address: P.O. Box 858, Barnard, VT 05031 518.524.3890 hello@MIBagents.org
Website URL: https://www.mibagents.org/research/outsmarting-osteosarcoma
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.