Apply for a
Research Grant
ICRF’s Online Application System will open for the 2027–2028 Funding Year in October 2026.
Eligibility & General Information
Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) supports basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. Research must be conducted in Israel, except in the case of clearly identified international collaborative grants.
To apply for an ICRF grant, investigators must:
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Be an Israeli citizen (proof of citizenship may be requested)
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Hold an eligible academic or research appointment at an Israeli institution
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Conduct all funded research activities in Israel
Please note:
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ICRF funds may not be used for PI or Co-Investigator salaries
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Funds may not support administrative or clerical expenses, institutional overhead, or research performed outside Israel
Important Updates for the 2026–2027 Funding Year
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The Acceleration Grant category has been discontinued
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Research Career Development Awards (RCDAs) and Clinical Research Career Development Awards (CRCDAs) have been merged into a single Career Development Award (CDA) category
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ICRF will continue using the updated application process for Research Professorship Grants described below
Grant Categories
Career Development Awards (CDAs)
Career Development Awards (CDAs) are a mentored award that supports outstanding early-career Israeli scientists who show strong potential to become independent leaders in cancer research.
Applicants must:
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Hold a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD degree
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Have completed at least three years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience
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Hold an independent junior faculty or research position at an Israeli institution
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Be within five years of their initial independent appointment at the start of funding
Awards are provided for three years at up to $45,000 per year. CDAs are not renewable.
Project Grants
Project Grants support research projects of high scientific merit with clear potential to advance the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer.
Applicants must be independent investigators with demonstrated expertise and the ability to lead a research team. Interdisciplinary and multi-investigator collaborations are encouraged, but not required.
Applications should:
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Address questions relevant to human cancer
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Be supported by strong published or preliminary data and provide a solid foundation for future progress
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Demonstrate potential for meaningful scientific or clinical impact within the next 5–10 years
Awards are provided for three years at up to $60,000 per year.
Current Project Grant recipients in the final year of their award are encouraged to reapply for continued funding.
Research Professorship Grants
ICRF Research Professorship grants recognize accomplished investigators whose research has a significant impact on our understanding of cancer, and whose extended commitment to fundamental issues in cancer is an inspiration to others.
Applicants must:
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Hold the rank of full Professor or equivalent
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Have conducted independent research for at least eight years following receipt of a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD degree
Awards are provided for five years at a maximum stipend of $100,000 per year.
Research Professorship Application Process
The process for applying for a Research Professorship has three components:
- Apply for a 3-year Project Grant, using ICRF’s online application form in ProposalCentral.
- Submit a description of your research objectives for Years 4 and 5 of Research Professorship funding.
- Submit a description of your qualifications for an ICRF Research Professorship.
If the Research Professorship application is not selected for funding, but the associated Project Grant application receives a competitive priority score, the Project Grant may be funded instead, subject to the availability of funds.
A Research Professorship grant is ICRF’s highest scientific honor. While these grants are renewable, ICRF is only able to award a limited number of Research Professorships annually in order to ensure our continued ability to support a diverse cancer research portfolio across all career stages. Therefore, past receipt of an ICRF Research Professorship does not guarantee renewed funding at this level.
FAQs for Grant Applicants
Applicants must be Israeli citizens holding a position at a sponsoring Israeli institution that can provide the research space, infrastructure, and administrative oversight necessary to conduct the proposed project. All funded research must be conducted in Israel, except in the case of clearly identified international collaborative grants.
Only one application per Principal Investigator (PI) will be accepted for each submission deadline. An individual may be a PI on only one ICRF grant at a given time. Thus, a PI currently funded by ICRF may apply for another ICRF grant only if the start date is after the current funding period ends.
ICRF supports innovative cancer research across the full spectrum of scientific inquiry, including:
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Basic and foundational research
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Translational research
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Clinical research
Projects must focus on questions relevant to human cancer and demonstrate strong scientific rationale and potential impact.
Applications are reviewed through a rigorous peer review process conducted by ICRF’s Scientific Review Panels (SRPs), composed of leading scientists and physicians. Proposals are evaluated based on factors including:
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Potential to advance the understanding, diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer within the next 5-10 years.
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Scientific merit and innovation.
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Feasibility, availability of key materials and resources, strength of preliminary data, and a realistic timeline.
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Qualifications of the applicant, based on prior training and demonstrated expertise.
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Scientific productivity, as evident in the publication record, especially during any previous ICRF-supported research.
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Facilities, materials, resources and scientific environment available for the duration of the project.
Career Development Award applications are also evaluated on the strength of the mentoring plan and mentor commitment.
Yes. Applications should include strong preliminary or published data supporting the proposed research direction whenever appropriate. Preliminary findings should include statistical analysis where relevant.
ICRF funds may be used only for expenses directly related to the approved research project, including:
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Salaries for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff
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Supplies and consumables
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Analytic services
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Equipment service and maintenance
ICRF funds may not be used for:
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Salary support for the PI or Co-Investigators
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Administrative or clerical expenses
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Institutional overhead or indirect costs
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Research performed outside Israel
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Travel expenses (except limited travel support permitted for Career Development Awards)
Only Career Development Award (CDA) recipients may budget limited travel expenses, up to $1,000 per year.
Each application must be co-signed by the Principal Investigator and an authorized institutional official. By signing, the institution confirms its commitment to provide appropriate research support and oversight and acknowledges agreement with ICRF grant policies.
ICRF grants are multi-year awards. Funds are initially provided for one year, with funding for subsequent years contingent upon satisfactory scientific progress and compliance with reporting requirements. The ICRF funding year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31.
Grantees must submit annual scientific progress reports and institutions must submit annual expenditure reports detailing how funds were used. Failure to submit required reports may result in suspension or termination of funding.
Applications are submitted electronically through ProposalCentral. Information about deadlines, policies, and application instructions are available above and on Proposal Central. Please review the general ICRF grant policies and specific policies and eligibility requirements for each category before applying.
Questions regarding eligibility, application requirements, or technical issues may be directed to grants@icrfonline.org.
