Apply Now: Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program Grant

Deadline: 01-Dec-2026

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP) Grant supports faculty-level investigators conducting translational cancer immunology research that connects laboratory discoveries with clinical applications. The programme provides $300,000 for two years, with the possibility of a second $300,000 award for projects demonstrating exceptional progress, to advance new cancer immunotherapies, biomarkers, treatment strategies, and understanding of treatment resistance. What Is the CRI CLIP Grant? The Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP) is designed to accelerate the translation of discoveries in immunology into improved cancer treatments. The programme supports research at the intersection of: The central objective is to create a bidirectional connection between laboratory research and clinical care. This means laboratory discoveries can inform patient treatment, while observations from patients can generate new questions for basic immunology research. Why Does the CLIP Program Matter? Many promising discoveries in cancer immunology do not immediately become effective treatments for patients. CLIP addresses this gap by supporting research that moves discoveries from the laboratory toward clinical application.

The programme can help researchers:

Translate preclinical discoveries into therapeutic strategies. Improve cancer immunotherapy. Understand why patients respond differently to treatment. Identify predictive biomarkers. Investigate mechanisms of treatment resistance. Develop better models for testing immunotherapies. Use clinical observations to generate new basic research questions. Improve the delivery and effectiveness of cancer treatments. What Research Does CLIP Support? CLIP supports projects with a strong translational cancer immunology focus. Eligible research can involve several directions. Translating Laboratory Discoveries Researchers can use basic immunological discoveries to address important clinical problems. For example, laboratory findings may be developed into new approaches for treating cancer or improving existing immunotherapies. Using Clinical Findings to Advance Immunology Research can also work in the opposite direction. Observations from cancer patients may reveal unexpected immune responses or treatment outcomes that lead to new fundamental research questions. Developing New Therapeutic Strategies CLIP can support research aimed at designing or improving cancer immunotherapies. Projects should demonstrate a credible pathway from the research findings toward eventual clinical benefit. Biomarker Discovery Researchers may investigate biomarkers that help predict: Which patients are likely to respond. Which patients may experience resistance. How tumors respond to immunotherapy. Which treatment strategies may be most effective. Understanding Treatment Resistance Resistance is a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. CLIP supports research designed to understand the biological mechanisms that cause patients or tumors to stop responding to treatment. Improving Immunotherapy Models The programme can also support models that improve the testing, development, or delivery of cancer immunotherapies. What Is the CLIP Grant Amount?

Qualified investigators receive:

$300,000 over two years Potential second award of $300,000 over an additional two years Up to $600,000 in direct grant funding if the project qualifies for renewed support Up to 10% indirect costs for eligible institutions, provided in addition to the direct award The second round of funding is not automatic. It is intended for projects that demonstrate exceptional progress. What Is the Chordoma Research Opportunity? CRI has partnered with the Chordoma Foundation to support CLIP proposals focused on chordoma. Chordoma is a rare cancer affecting the bones of the skull base and spine. Through this partnership, qualifying chordoma projects may receive: Clearly describe how successful research could improve cancer care.

Potential benefits may include:

Better treatment selection. Improved immunotherapy response. New therapeutic approaches. Earlier identification of resistance. More accurate biomarkers. Better treatment strategies.

Step 5: Demonstrate Integration Between Laboratory and Clinical Research

CLIP is specifically designed to bridge laboratory and clinical research. Applicants should explain how the project creates meaningful interaction between these two areas rather than treating them as separate activities.

Step 6: Establish Achievable Milestones

Develop measurable research objectives for the two-year grant period. The application should demonstrate that the proposed work can generate meaningful progress and potentially justify a second funding period. What Makes a Strong CLIP Proposal? A competitive proposal should demonstrate: Strong scientific rationale. Clear clinical relevance. High-quality cancer immunology research. A defined translational pathway. Potential for patient benefit. Innovative research questions. Appropriate laboratory and clinical expertise. Feasible research methods. Meaningful biomarkers or mechanistic investigations where appropriate. Potential to generate findings that can advance cancer immunotherapy. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing basic research with no clear clinical relevance. Failing to explain the connection between laboratory findings and patient benefit. Describing clinical relevance only in general terms. Providing an unclear translational pathway. Ignoring mechanisms of treatment response or resistance where relevant. Proposing objectives that cannot realistically be achieved within two years. Failing to demonstrate appropriate institutional support. Applying through a for-profit institution. Assuming that the second $300,000 award is guaranteed. Tips for Applicants The proposal should make the clinical importance of the research immediately clear. Applicants should explicitl