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SFA Research Grants

Sarcoma Foundation of America

Purpose

The Sarcoma Foundation of America Research Grants support investigators conducting pre-clinical, translational, and clinical research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human sarcomas. This program supports of our overall mission to fund research and increase awareness and advocacy for sarcoma patients and their families. The goal of the SFA grant program is to encourage research that results in improved therapeutic options for sarcoma patients. The SFA encourages applications in ALL areas of sarcoma research.

Funding Availability

The total award amount is $75,000 for one year. The grants are awarded on an annual cycle from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. SFA encourages applications in ALL areas of sarcoma research from U.S. and international applicants. Some grants will be supported with special funding from our donors. For 2026, dedicated funding is available in, but not limited to, the following area: leiomyosarcoma.

For each awarded grant, funding of up to $75,000 in total cost is available to cover equipment, supplies and other expenses in support of research within the period of performance. In addition, the following funding restrictions apply:

No more than 10% of the total cost amount can be applied to indirect cost (e.g., $7,500 indirect cost toward the $75,000 total cost of the grant)
The SFA does not permit funds to be used for Principal Investigator (PI) salaries. However, applicants are permitted to request money for the payment of salaries for non-faculty post-docs, fellows, and technicians, if applicable. No more than 50% of total cost can be used for salaries (e.g., $37,500 for the $75,000 award). Applications requesting more than this amount for salaries will not be accepted.

Key Dates

September 4, 2025	Earliest LOI submission date on proposalCENTRAL
November 6, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET	LOI submission deadline
November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2026 (estimate)	SFA Medical Advisory Board scores and ranks LOIs
Mid-January 2025 (estimate)	Applicants notified of decision status of LOI
March 6, 2026	Full applications due
Mid-May	Notification of Award
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027	Grant Award Period of Performance (start date – end date)
August 31, 2027	Final Research Report and Financial Report due in proposalCENTRAL (within two months of the end date)

Review and Selection

The Competitive Letter of Intent is designed to identify projects with the greatest scientific potential and alignment with the program purpose without requiring applicants to submit a full application at the initial stage. A Letter of Intent is not written as correspondence to the Scientific Review Committee.

The Letter of Intent is limited to one page and must describe the proposed cancer research project, including the Specific Aims; Rationale, Preliminary Data, Methodology, and Approach; and Significance and Statement of Relevance. Relevant references must be attached and are limited to one page.

In addition to the research project description, the Letter of Intent will include:

Lay Abstract, limited to 3,000 characters including spaces, which provides a clear, concise, and comprehensive overview of the proposed research project
Applicant’s Biographical Sketch

Letters of Intent and full applications will be peer-reviewed by the SFA MAB which is comprised of leading researchers and physician-scientists respected for their own accomplishments in sarcoma research. A select number of applicants whose Letters of Intent are deemed most meritorious will be invited to submit full applications.

The following criteria will be considered when reviewing the letters of intent and invited full applications and determining funding decisions:

Innovation and Significance. Is the scientific and technical merit of the proposed project of great significance? Is the proposed project of high quality, and does it provide innovative advances to an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in sarcoma research? How will successful completion of the aims change and/or change the currents concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, or preventative interventions that drive the field of sarcoma research? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to sarcoma research?
Investigator. Is the applicant well-suited to the project? Does the applicant have appropriate experience and training to successfully complete the proposed project?
Approach. Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well‐reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems and alternative strategies discussed? Can the aims be completed within the grant period of performance? Is the budget fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed project? (*The budget will be evaluated only for the invited full applications.)
Institutional Environment. What institutional support, equipment, and resources are available to the applicant and are they adequate to successfully complete the proposed project? (*The institutional environment will be evaluated only for the invited full applications.)

Each LOI will be reviewed independently and confidentially by multiple reviewers. An average of the reviewers’ scores is used to determine the ranking of each proposal. Any reviewer with a conflict of interest is excused from voting on a specific proposal. The highest scoring grant applications are recommended for funding to SFA’s Board of Directors, who approve the final selection of grant awards. Selections for funding are based on scores from scientific reviewers based on the potential for the research effort to result in improved therapeutic options for sarcoma patients and available funding.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Clear and Central Relevance to Sarcoma

This is the #1 gating criterion for SFA funding.

Strong proposals focus on:

High-grade soft tissue sarcomas

Bone sarcomas (osteosarcoma, Ewing, chondrosarcoma)

Rare sarcoma subtypes (leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma, UPS, MPNST)

Pediatric and AYA sarcomas

Priority research themes:

Novel therapeutic targets

Mechanisms of metastasis and resistance

Precision oncology for sarcoma subtypes

Immunotherapy strategies in sarcoma

Biomarkers (response, prognosis, minimal residual disease)

Improved drug delivery & radiosensitization

Patient-focused outcomes (especially for ultra-rare subtypes)

❗ Generic solid tumor biology must show strong subtype-specific justification.

2. Strong Preliminary Data

Even as a pilot grant, successful SFA proposals typically include:

Proof-of-concept data in sarcoma models

Target validation/expression evidence

Feasibility for recruitment or sample access

Early efficacy signals for therapeutics

Predictor: Preliminary data may be the single biggest determinant of success.

3. Subtype-Specific Mechanistic and Translational Focus

SFA values projects that move toward clinical and high-impact goals:

Targeted small molecules / gene therapies

Rational IO combinations

Biomarker development tied to trials

Optimal use of available drugs or repurposing

Sarcoma organoids, xenografts, immune models

Predictor: A clear path from mechanism → therapy gains high reviewer enthusiasm.

4. Use of Highly Relevant Sarcoma Models

Funded proposals use the right tools:

Patient-derived xenografts (PDX)

Sarcoma organoids or 3D culture models

Genetically engineered mouse models

Immune-competent models (for IO studies)

Fresh patient tumor samples

Sarcoma-specific multi-omics datasets

Predictor: Proper models are crucial for disease relevance.

5. Investigator Track Record in Sarcoma Research

Reviewers assess:

Publications in sarcoma or related oncology

Sarcoma-center affiliation / collaboration

Grantsmanship potential and field commitment

Career trajectory for junior faculty

Predictor: Strong track record drives confidence in execution.

6. Clear, Feasible Aims and Timeline

Since funding is modest and 1-year:

2–3 focused, hypothesis-driven aims

Rapid milestones and measurable outputs

Risk mitigation strategies

Realistic Sample sizes, power, PK/PD endpoints

Tangible deliverables (data enabling NIH/DOD proposals)

Predictor: Feasibility = high scoring.

7. Collaboration With Sarcoma Clinical Centers

Huge competitive advantage:

Access to biobanks & clinical trials

Multi-PI translational teams

Pathologists and imaging experts on the team

Ability to stratify by sarcoma subtype

Predictor: Clinical integration strengthens impact.

8. High Innovation Level

SFA invests in:

New mechanisms and therapeutic angles

First-in-field biomarker approaches

Immunological and metabolic vulnerabilities

Technologies enabling better clinical decisions

Predictor: Innovation must be clear and exciting.

9. Patient Impact and Rationale for Unmet Need

Best-scoring proposals show:

How the research will help patients with limited options

Impact on survival, metastasis prevention, or toxicity reduction

Benefits for rare subtypes often overlooked by NIH

Disparities in access and outcomes (bonus points)

Predictor: Strong patient justification increases significance scoring.

10. Clean, Compelling Writing

Essential:

Strong rationale supported by preliminary figures

Clear methods and statistical rigor

Formatting and compliance with application rules

Easy readability for multidisciplinary panel

Predictor: Well-presented science wins tie-breakers.

🏆 Summary — SFA Success Predictors

Predictor	Why It Matters
Sarcoma-specific impact	Core mission requirement
Preliminary data strength	Demonstrates feasibility
Translational focus	Path toward therapy
Valid sarcoma models	Enhances disease relevance
Investigator track record	Execution confidence
Feasible, focused aims	Fit the budget/timeline
Collaboration with sarcoma centers	Patient access & precision
Innovation	Drives scientific significance
Patient-need alignment	Reviewer enthusiasm
Strong writing	Improves scoring

Specialties

Molecular Biology

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be an MD, DO, PhD, or international equivalent, inside or outside the U.S., with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed sarcoma research;
Each proposal must identify only one lead PI. The PI is responsible for the overall grant management, coordination and research oversight to include the deliverables;
Applications from researchers outside of the U.S. must be able to provide a budget and accept funds in U.S. dollars;
Returning SFA PIs and organizational grantees must be in compliance with any/all previous SFA grant deliverables

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Sarcoma Foundation of America

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 9899 Main St Ste 204 Damascus, MD 20872

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