Vanderbilt University

10/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2025 16:07

2026 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award

Applications due Oct. 23, 2025

These instructions are for VU investigators. VUMC investigators should visit the OOR funding opportunity site.

Vanderbilt University can select two candidates for the 2026 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award.

Overview

The SebastianStrong Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and accelerating the development of more targeted, less toxic treatments. SebastianStrong funds cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric research projects in early stages.

The Discovery Science Award typically provides up to $500,000 for groundbreaking research that aligns with the Foundation's mission. The research must demonstrate strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial in one to three years. The foundation has historically limited overhead costs to a maximum of 15 percent.

Eligibility and Criteria

  • Proposal must be focused on pediatric cancer.
    • The foundation is particularly interested in pediatric cancers with low survival rates or high relapse rates.
  • Research will lead to less toxic, more targeted treatments.
  • Research pursues underfunded or unconventional approaches that could change the status quo.
  • Proposal is clearly communicated in lay terms and can be understood by the foundation's Board of Directors and donors (e.g. use examples and spell out acronyms).
  • Demonstrates strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial in one to three years.
  • Peer-reviewed new, ongoing, and/or updated research is appropriate.
  • In-progress or ongoing clinical trials are not eligible.

See descriptions of previous award winners here.

Internal Application Process

Interested faculty should visit https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1995772 to submit an application for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is Oct. 23, 2025.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to [email protected].

Vanderbilt University published this content on October 08, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 08, 2025 at 22:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]