Grants Program Overview

The mission of the Breast Cancer Alliance, (BCA) is to fund innovative breast cancer research and to promote breast health through education and outreach. To that end, three types of grants are offered annually: Exceptional Project Grants, Young Investigator Grants and Education and Outreach Grants. We invite clinical doctors and research scientists whose primary focus is breast cancer research to apply for either the Exceptional Project or Young Investigator Grant. We invite Directors of programs that are directly related to breast cancer services to apply for the Education and Outreach Grant. One of the distinguishing features of the Breast Cancer Alliance is the commitment of its members to conduct site visits to grant recipients during the grant period.

How to Apply

Exceptional Project Grants: The Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists at any stage of their careers whose primary focus is breast cancer to apply for an Exceptional Project Grant. This award recognizes creative, unique and innovative research and is open to applicants at institutions within a 200 mile radius of Greenwich, Connecticut (an area that includes cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, and Albany). This is a one year grant.

Prior to submission of a formal grant proposal, the BCA requires a one-page Letter of Intent (LOI) and a separate CV. For 2013 grants, those letters will be due on March 30, 2012. The LOI must include the applicant's name, job title and institution at the top of the page, and the applicant's contact information. The document should state the project title and hypothesis, outline the research aim(s) and methods, and include a brief discussion of the project's potential impact. The CV can be in the NIH biosketch format. Applicants will be informed by May 4, 2012 whether to proceed with a formal application. Researchers should coordinate with their institutions, as the BCA will accept a maximum of three LOIs per institution.

Grant applications will be available on the website May 4, 2012 and are due on or before July 31, 2012. An Independent External Review Committee reviews and evaluates the applications. Based on their results and subsequent review by the Grants Committee, recommendations are made to the BCA Board for final approval. Applicants are notified in mid-December of the decision regarding their proposals.
Young Investigator Grants: To encourage a commitment to breast cancer research, the Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists whose primary focus is breast cancer who have been appointed to a position equivalent to Assistant Professor within three years following the appointment, to apply for funding for the Young Investigator Grant. This grant is open to applicants at institutions within a 200 miles radius of Greenwich, Connecticut (an area that includes cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, and Albany). This is a two year grant.

Applicants for 2013 grants must have been appointed to a position equivalent to Assistant Professor anytime after January 1, 2010. Grant applications will be available on the website May 4, 2012 and are due on or before July 31, 2012. An Independent External Review Committee reviews and evaluates the applications. Based on their results and subsequent review by the Grants Committee, recommendations are made to the BCA Board for final approval. Applicants are notified in mid-December of the decision regarding their proposals.

Education and Outreach Grants: The Breast Cancer Alliance offers grants to support programs directly related to outreach and case managerial breast cancer services, including education, counseling and mammograms for the uninsured/underserved. The programs must be located in mid to southern Connecticut and/or Westchester County, New York. This is a one year grant.

For 2013 grants, applications will be available on the website May 4, 2012 and are due on or before July 31, 2012. The Grants Committee of the Breast Cancer Alliance reviews and evaluates each grant proposal. The results of the Grants Committee's evaluations and subsequent recommendations are presented to the BCA Board for approval. Applicants are notified in mid-December of the decision regarding their proposals.

Site Visits

The goal of the BCA is to meet every individual, institution and/or organization that receives BCA funding. The primary purpose of the BCA site visit is to meet the grant recipient and learn about the progress of the research project or education and outreach program. A tour of the program facility or research lab should be included. Site visit presentations are to be given in layman terms and should not exceed two hours. Site visits are scheduled approximately midway through the grant period.