Applications open for CRI Technology Impact Award Grant

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Technology Impact Award supports early-stage, high-risk technological innovations with the potential to transform cancer immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes. The award provides up to $600,000 over two to four years for bold, pre-development concepts that have not yet been built or tested.

About the CRI Technology Impact Award

The CRI Technology Impact Award is designed to support high-risk, high-reward technology development in cancer immunotherapy. The programme targets ideas at the earliest stage of development. Rather than funding the routine application of existing technologies, it seeks innovative concepts that could create entirely new technological capabilities for cancer research and treatment. The award aims to bridge the gap between: - New technological concepts - Experimental development - Cancer immunology research - Clinical applications - Improved patient outcomes The programme particularly encourages collaboration between technology developers and clinical cancer immunologists so that new technologies are developed with meaningful applications in cancer immunotherapy. Grant Amount

Selected projects can receive:

- Up to $600,000 - Funding period of 2–4 years - Up to 10% additional indirect costs for eligible institutions The funding is intended as seed support to help researchers move disruptive technological concepts toward development and proof of potential. What Does the Award Support? The programme supports early-stage technological innovation that could significantly advance cancer immunotherapy.

Potential areas include:

- Computational systems biology - Advanced profiling technologies - Real-time visualization technologies - Complex multicellular culture systems - Novel therapeutic platforms - Emerging technologies for studying immune responses - Technologies that improve understanding of tumour–immune interactions - Tools capable of improving cancer treatment development The central requirement is that the proposed technology should represent a substantial technological advance, rather than simply a new application of an established tool. Why It Matters Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of some cancers, but many patients still do not respond to available therapies, while others develop resistance.

New technologies could help researchers:

- Understand tumour–immune interactions - Identify mechanisms of treatment response and resistance - Develop better therapeutic approaches - Profile complex biological systems - Visualize immune responses in real time - Improve preclinical testing - Discover new targets and biomarkers - Develop more effective cancer immunotherapies The Technology Impact Award addresses the early innovation gap by providing resources for ideas that may be too preliminary or unconventional for conventional research funding. What Makes a Proposal Responsive? A strong proposal should present a technology that is: - Novel — introduces a substantially new technological concept. - High-risk — involves meaningful technical uncertainty. - High-reward — could produce major advances if successful. - Early-stage — is still at the conceptual or pre-development stage. - Relevant to cancer immunotherapy — has a clear potential connection to cancer immune research or treatment. - Transformative — could create capabilities that are not currently available. - Developable — provides a credible pathway for converting the concept into a functional technology. Applicants should clearly explain why existing technologies cannot adequately address the problem and why the proposed innovation could make a significant difference. What Is Not Supported? The award is not intended for projects that merely apply existing technologies to a new cancer research question. Projects may be considered non-responsive if they: - Use established technology without substantial technological development. - Focus primarily on routine experimentation. - Lack a meaningful technology-development component. - Do not have a clear connection to cancer immunotherapy. - Represent incremental improvements rather than disruptive innovation. - Are already sufficiently developed or tested to fall outside the intended early-stage scope. The key distinction is technology creation versus technology application. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must hold a tenure-track position at a not-for-profit research centre or institution. The programme encourages interdisciplinary teams, particularly collaborations involving: - Technology developers - Cancer immunologists - Clinical cancer researchers - Biomedical scientists - Computational researchers - Engineering or technology experts Co-principal investigators are eligible to apply, making the programme suitable for collaborative technology-development projects. How the Technology Impact Award Works Identify a Major Cancer Immunotherapy Challenge Applicants should begin by identifying an important limitation in cancer immunotherapy research, treatment development, patient monitoring, or biological understanding. Develop a New Technology Concept The proposed solution should involve a genuinely new technological approach rather than simply applying an existing technology. Establish the Potential Impact Applicants should explain how the technology could eventually contribute to: - Better cancer therapies - Improved patient outcomes - Faster therapeutic development - Better biological understanding - More accurate treatment prediction - New immunotherapy strategies Build the Right Collaboration Where appropriate, technology developers should collaborate with cancer immunologists or clinical researchers who can help define real-world applications and future translational pathways. Request Seed Funding Applicants can request up to $600,000 for two to four years, with eligible institutions able to receive up to an additional 10% in indirect costs. Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal Applicants sh