BCRFA Announces 2025 Funding Opportunities

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) seeks to accelerate breast cancer research in Alabama and generate extramural funding through its annual grant cycle. Any areas of breast cancer research will be available for funding.

The BCRFA is awarding two types of grants: a Two-Year Research Grants and Catalyst Awards. The number of grant awards will be based on the amount of funding that is available. Each Two-Year Research Grant will amount to $100,000, with $50,000 allocated for the first year and an additional $50,000 available for a second year based on the outcomes and reporting from the first year. Additionally, early investigators are eligible to apply for a new single-year, $25,000 Catalyst Award.

The BCRFA is a nonprofit organization raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research in Alabama. Since its founding in 1996, the organization has invested over $16 million in cutting-edge breast cancer research initiatives across the state.

Proposals will be accepted from August 1 – October 1, 2025. Submission instructions are below. A printable copy of the BCRFA’s request for proposals and cover sheet is included here.

2025 BCRFA RFP/Cover sheet

2025 BCRFA RFP and Cover Sheet Download

Award Categories (number of awards will be based on available funding)

BCRFA Two-Year Research Grant: Grants will be $100,000 ($50,000 for one year with an additional $50,000 for a second year based on first-year outcomes and reporting).
BCRFA Catalyst Award: Single-year $25,000 award for early investigators.
Eligible applicants include: research scientists/research assistant professors (less than three years of faculty appointment) and Postdoctoral Fellows (2-5 years of training).
Applicants should write their independent project and outline how they plan to move forward with the research in the year.
An optional preliminary review of the Catalyst Awards is available to applicants who desire it and are submitted according to the timeline below.

Funding Goals

Support new avenues of yet-unfunded cancer research
Catalyze basic research into translational research
Propel early-stage breast cancer research into well-developed investigations able to
attract high-level funding from national research institutes
Save lives by ultimately eliminating breast cancer as a public health threat

Funding Limitations

Use of BCRFA funds is limited to laboratory/research personnel, supplies, and/or services directly required for the project. Funds may not be used for indirect costs, publication costs, travel costs, or investigator salaries (exception made for Catalyst awards which allow up to 1/2 of award funds for Postdoc salary support). The BCRFA will only fund one proposal per investigator at a time. Researchers currently receiving support from the BCRFA are not eligible. Researchers from UAB should apply for BCRFA support only through the O’Neal Invests grant cycles.

Proposal Requirements

Completed BCRFA proposal cover page including:
- Descriptive title of the research project
- Award submission category (Two-Year Research Grant or Single-Year Catalyst Award)
- Applicants should select category: basic science or population science
- Contact information of primary investigators and co-PIs
- Co-Is should be listed as investigators/key personnel, not as co-PIs
- Layman’s Abstract of project, including hypothesis, relevance, significance,
  and innovation
- Impact/Results from past BCRFA support
Project overview, including:
o Specific aims, background, and key data to support your hypothesis
(figures/graphs may be used within page limitations)
o Description of how you will test the hypothesis
o Summary of expected outcomes and how completion of this project could
support a future grant application
Project budget (NIH template or other format accepted) noting specifically how
BCRFA funds will be utilized
Application page limit: 3-page limitation for project overview. Cover page, budget, references, and biographical sketches are not included in the page count.
Submission procedure: Submit proposal as a single PDF to [email protected].

Proposal Submission and Funding Timeline

Proposals will be accepted between August 1, 2025, and October 1, 2025. Proposals submitted after October 1 will not be considered.
Deadline for Pre-Review Option for Catalyst Award Applicants: September 3, 2025
- Mentor pre-review period Sept 5-15
Grant Award Notifications: December 1, 2025
Funds Disbursement: December 15, 2025

Reporting

Grant recipients will be required to submit a progress and funding utilization report within nine months of receipt of funds. All publications and presentations must acknowledge BCRFA funding.