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In 2025¨C26, the Convergent Science Cancer Consortium for Immune Cell Engineering, funded by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP), will support up to four seed projects that will contribute to the career development of junior faculty members and postdoctoral trainees at MD Anderson, the University of Houston and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as well as other institutions outside this consortium. The Seed Project Program focuses on identifying, recruiting and mentoring both lab-based scientists and physician-scientists interested in the translational development of novel adoptive cell therapy approaches against hematological malignancies and solid tumors with an unmet clinical need. This goal will be accomplished by a scientific research plan, educational opportunities, and a defined individualized mentoring program that enables awardees to become active members of our Convergent Science Cancer Consortium. 

To be considered for this seed grant funding mechanism, applications must not address research in melanoma, glioblastoma or cancers originating in the breast, pancreas, prostate, ovary, kidney or lung. Research in any of the following FY24 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Topic Areas is acceptable:

• Bladder cancer
• Blood cancers
• Brain cancer (excluding glioblastoma)
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Germ cell cancers
• Liver cancer
• Lymphoma
• Mesothelioma
• Metastatic cancers
• Myeloma
• Neuroblastoma
• Pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancers
• Pediatric brain tumors
• Stomach cancer
• Sarcoma 
• Thyroid cancer

Download the application Face Page

Candidates for this award must:

• have an M.D. and/or a Ph.D. 
• be a junior faculty member at assistant professor or instructor level or a trainee (postdoctoral fellow or clinical fellow) who has a commitment for an institutional faculty position at an assistant professor or instructor level

Candidates who are a postdoctoral fellow at MD Anderson must follow Trainee as Principal Investigator on Grants and PI Eligibility guidelines since the Seed Projects are considered an independent research grant (which are open to both faculty and postdoctoral fellows) and not considered a postdoctoral fellowship award. These guidelines may be found on the MD Anderson Intranet. 

• Postdoctoral fellows should request approval to submit at time of submitting the Seed Project application
• Postdoctoral fellows may only apply to one research grant per fiscal year. For example, a postdoctoral fellow may apply for a DoD Seed Project but would not be allowed to also submit an application for CPRIT MIRA Pilot Project or other research grant during FY26.

The following must be included:

1. Face Page
2. Research Plan (5-page limit) to include: 
   1. Specific Aims (1 page)
   2. Career Development Plan (1 page)
   3. Research Strategy (3 pages) to include:
      1. Significance
      2. Innovation
      3. Relevance to military health
      4. Approach
3. Bibliography and References Cited (no page limit)
4. Protection of Human Subjects (no page limit) following the NIH guidelines regarding Human Subjects
5. Vertebrate Animals (no page limit) following the NIH guidelines regarding Vertebrate Animals
6. Facilities and Other Resources (no page limit)
7. Budget & Budget Justification: The application must include a detailed budget for one year and a budget justification using the . Each award consists of a maximum of $50,000 for one year, with consideration of a second year of funding based on achieving progress toward established milestones.
8. Biographical Sketch (5-page maximum, each) in either DoD- or NIH-specified format for applicant and mentor(s)
9. Letters: One letter of support from each mentor(s)

Submit your application (as a single attachment) by email to Alison Woo, consortium administrator, at AWoo@MDAnderson.org no later than September 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. Central Time. 

Request for Applications Release Date: August 1, 2025
Full Application Due: September 5, 2025, 5 p.m. CT
Anticipated Award Notification: October 3, 2025

Alison Woo, M.S.
Consortium Administrator
MD Anderson Cancer Center
713-563-3432
awoo@mdanderson.org