2027 Innovation Grant Program (US, Canada)

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is inviting established researchers at nonprofit institutions in the United States and Canada to apply for the 2027 Innovation Grant. The program provides seed funding for novel, innovative, and clinically impactful research focused on childhood cancers. The Innovation Grant Program is designed to help established pediatric oncology researchers explore new research directions that could significantly advance the understanding or treatment of childhood cancers. Eligible projects can receive up to $250,000 USD in direct costs over two years, with a maximum of $125,000 per year. Indirect costs are not allowed.

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was founded in honor of Alexandra “Alex” Scott, whose determination to raise money for childhood cancer research developed into a major movement supporting pediatric oncology research and families affected by childhood cancer in the United States and Canada. The foundation supports research intended to improve understanding, treatment, and outcomes for children with cancer. The 2027 Innovation Grant builds on this mission by providing seed funding for established researchers pursuing innovative research directions in pediatric oncology.

About the 2027 Innovation Grant

The Innovation Grant Program is intended to provide critical seed funding for established researchers proposing novel research directions in pediatric oncology. The program emphasizes projects that have the potential for significant: - Scientific impact. - Clinical impact. - Advances in understanding childhood cancers. - Advances in childhood cancer treatment. - Clinical translation. The grant is particularly suited to researchers who have a strong established research record but are proposing an innovative direction that requires seed funding to develop further. Research Requirements

Proposed research must be:

- Hypothesis-driven. - Mechanistic. - Clearly innovative. - Focused on childhood cancers. - Designed to advance understanding or treatment. - Developed with clinical translation in view. Applicants should clearly establish the scientific hypothesis, underlying mechanisms being investigated, and innovative nature of the proposed approach. Focus on Pediatric Oncology The Innovation Grant specifically supports research focused on childhood cancers involving patients 19 years of age or younger. The proposed work should have a clear connection to pediatric oncology and should aim to advance knowledge or treatment of childhood cancers. Projects focused solely on older patients are not eligible. Clinical Translation A key feature of the program is its emphasis on research that can ultimately have clinical relevance. Applicants should demonstrate how their research could advance understanding or treatment of childhood cancer while keeping potential clinical translation in view. The program therefore supports research that connects innovative scientific investigation with potential improvements in pediatric cancer care. Funding Available

The 2027 Innovation Grant provides:

- Maximum award: $250,000 USD.

- Award period: Two years.

- Maximum annual funding: $125,000 per year.

- Funding type: Direct costs.

- Indirect costs: Not allowed.

The proposed budget must be proportional to the scope of the project. Applicants should ensure that their requested funding is appropriate for the activities and research proposed. Who Can Apply? The grant is intended for established researchers who meet specific career and institutional requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

- Be a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator. - Hold an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent. - Be appointed as faculty at an academic institution in the United States or Canada. - Have a demonstrated track record of research productivity. - Have received at least one NIH R01-equivalent award. - Have at least one publication as Senior Corresponding Author. These requirements are intended to ensure that applicants have an established record of independent research productivity. Institutional Eligibility Applications must be submitted by nonprofit institutions or organizations based in the United States or Canada. The individual investigator must also hold a faculty appointment at an academic institution in the United States or Canada. Researchers should therefore confirm both their personal eligibility and their institution’s eligibility before preparing an application. Who Is Not Eligible? Several types of research are specifically excluded.

Projects are not eligible if they:

- Focus solely on patients older than 19 years. - Utilize human embryonic stem cells. - Utilize human fetal stem cells. - Utilize non-human primates. Applicants should ensure that their proposed research does not fall within these exclusions. What Makes a Strong Innovation Grant Proposal? A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate why the research represents a genuinely innovative direction in pediatric oncology.

Applicants should explain:

- The central research hypothesis. - The mechanism being investigated. - What makes the proposed research novel. - The childhood cancer problem being addressed. - The potential scientific significance. - The potential clinical impact. - How the research could advance understanding or treatment. - The potential pathway toward clinical translation. - Why seed funding is important for advancing the proposed direction. - Why the proposed budget is proportional to the project scope. The proposal should establish a strong connection between scientific innovation and potential impact on childhood cancer. Research Productivity Requirement Applicants must demonstrate an established track record of research productivity.

This includes:

- At least one NIH R01-equivalent award. - At least one publication as Senior Corresponding Author. These requirements distinguish the Innovation Grant from programs intended primarily for early