Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
amfAR is inviting proposals for mechanistic, preclinical, and translational research focused on restoring, redirecting, or amplifying anti-tumor immunity in cancer. The funding opportunity supports immune reprogramming strategies that target dysfunctional, suppressive, senescent, or otherwise ineffective immune states.
Successful applicants may request up to USD 480,000, including up to 20 percent indirect costs, for projects running from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2028. Eligible applicants include biomedical researchers with a research or clinical doctoral degree who are affiliated with nonprofit research institutions anywhere in the world.
What is this amfAR Funding Opportunity?
This amfAR funding opportunity supports cancer immunology research focused on immune reprogramming.
The call is designed for researchers investigating how ineffective immune states in cancer can be restored, redirected, or amplified to improve anti-tumor immunity.
It supports mechanistic, preclinical, and translational projects with strong relevance to future therapeutic development.
Main Purpose of the Grant
The main purpose of the grant is to advance research that helps the immune system respond more effectively to cancer.
The funding supports studies that examine dysfunctional, suppressive, senescent, or otherwise ineffective immune states and test strategies to reverse or modify them.
The goal is to generate knowledge, models, biomarkers, targets, and translational approaches that can support future cancer immunotherapy development.
Focus Areas and Priorities
The call focuses on immune reprogramming and anti-tumor immunity.
Key focus areas include:
- Cancer immunology
- Immune reprogramming
- Anti-tumor immunity
- Dysfunctional immune cells
- Suppressive tumor environments
- Senescent immune states
- RNA-based therapeutic approaches
- Targeted delivery systems
- Cytokine modulation
- Chemokine modulation
- Epigenetic interventions
- Transcriptional interventions
- Engineered immune-cell strategies
- Antibody-directed immune modulation
- Ligand-directed immune modulation
- Organoid-based models
- Explant-based perturbation systems
- Computational target discovery
- Combination immunotherapies
- Biomarker discovery
- Translational human models
Key Concepts Explained
Immune Reprogramming
Immune reprogramming refers to strategies that change the behaviour, function, or state of immune cells.
In cancer, immune reprogramming may aim to restore exhausted immune cells, reduce immune suppression, activate anti-tumor responses, or redirect immune activity toward cancer cells.
Anti-Tumor Immunity
Anti-tumor immunity is the immune system’s ability to recognise and attack cancer cells.
This funding opportunity supports research that strengthens or restores immune responses against tumors.
Dysfunctional Immune States
Dysfunctional immune states occur when immune cells are present but unable to respond effectively.
This may happen because of chronic antigen exposure, immune exhaustion, suppressive tumor microenvironments, inflammation, senescence, or other biological mechanisms.
Suppressive Tumor Environment
A suppressive tumor environment is a cancer-related microenvironment that prevents immune cells from attacking tumor cells effectively.
Research may focus on how to reverse this suppression or make the tumor environment more responsive to immunotherapy.
Translational Research
Translational research connects laboratory discoveries with future clinical applications.
In this call, translational research may involve human-relevant models, disease-relevant tissues, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and preclinical strategies that can inform future cancer treatment approaches.
Supported Research Approaches
Applicants may investigate a wide range of immune-reprogramming strategies.
Supported approaches may include:
- RNA-based technologies
- Targeted immune delivery systems
- Cytokine modulation
- Chemokine modulation
- Epigenetic interventions
- Transcriptional interventions
- Engineered immune-cell strategies
- Antibody-directed immune modulation
- Ligand-directed immune modulation
- Organoid perturbation systems
- Explant-based perturbation systems
- Computational target discovery
- Combination immunotherapy evaluation
Projects should clearly explain how the proposed approach targets immune dysfunction or enhances anti-tumor immunity.
Eligible Cancer Focus Areas
Projects may focus on cancers where immune dysfunction or immunogenic biology provides a strong rationale for immune reprogramming.
Relevant cancers may include:
- HPV-associated cancers
- EBV-associated malignancies
- KSHV or HHV-8-associated cancers
- HBV-associated liver cancer
- HCV-associated liver cancer
- HTLV-1-associated malignancies
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Immunogenic hematologic malignancies
- Myeloma
These examples are not exhaustive. Applicants may propose other cancer types if they provide a strong scientific rationale.
Expected Project Outputs
Supported projects should generate meaningful scientific and translational outputs.
Expected outputs may include:
- Biomarkers predictive of immune response
- Datasets defining immune cell-state trajectories
- Computational methods for interpreting dynamic immune states
- Identification of biological targets linked to immune dysfunction
- Identification of targets linked to immune rescue
- Human-relevant translational models
- Evidence supporting immune reprogramming strategies
- Data supporting future combination immunotherapies
Applicants should clearly define the outputs expected from their proposed work.
Funding Amount
Successful applicants may request up to USD 480,000.
This amount includes up to 20 percent indirect costs.
Applicants should prepare a budget that is realistic, justified, and aligned with the proposed research activities.
Project Period
Supported projects will run from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2028.
Applicants should design a work plan that can be completed within this project period.
Who is Eligible?
Any biomedical researcher holding a research or clinical doctoral degree may apply.
Applicants must be affiliated with a nonprofit research institution.
Eligible applicants may be based anywhere in the world.
The opportunity is open internationally, provided that the applicant and institution meet the eligibility requirements.
Research Model Requirements
The proposed research must be conducted or validated using disease-relevant models.
Eligible research models include:
- In vivo studies using humans
- In vivo studies using disease-relevant animal models
- Ex vivo studies using disease-relevant animal cells
- Ex vivo studies using disease-relevant human cells
- Ex vivo studies using disease-relevant animal tissues
- Ex vivo studies using disease-relevant human tissues
Studies must be relevant to disease biology and immune dysfunction in cancer.
Ineligible Research Models
Studies conducted exclusively in cell lines are not eligible.
Studies conducted exclusively in healthy primary cells are also not eligible.
Applicants should ensure that their research includes appropriate disease-relevant in vivo or ex vivo validation.
How the Grant Works
amfAR provides funding for research projects that investigate how immune states in cancer can be modified to improve anti-tumor responses.
Applicants submit proposals describing the scientific rationale, immune-reprogramming strategy, cancer focus, research models, expected outputs, and translational relevance.
Projects should be mechanistic, preclinical, or translational and should use disease-relevant systems to generate meaningful evidence.
How to Apply
Applicants should first confirm that they hold a research or clinical doctoral degree and are affiliated with an eligible nonprofit research institution.
They should then prepare a proposal focused on immune reprogramming in cancer.
The proposal should clearly explain the immune dysfunction being targeted, the cancer context, the research approach, the model system, expected outputs, and translational value.
Applicants should also ensure that the proposed work is not limited only to cell lines or healthy primary cells.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant holds a research or clinical doctoral degree.
- Confirm affiliation with a nonprofit research institution.
- Define the cancer type or cancer biology context.
- Identify the dysfunctional, suppressive, senescent, or ineffective immune state being studied.
- Select an immune-reprogramming strategy.
- Explain the mechanistic, preclinical, or translational rationale.
- Choose appropriate disease-relevant in vivo or ex vivo models.
- Define expected outputs such as biomarkers, datasets, targets, or translational models.
- Explain how the project may support future immunotherapy development.
- Prepare a budget of up to USD 480,000, including allowable indirect costs.
- Ensure the project timeline fits the November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2028 period.
- Submit the proposal through the official amfAR process.
Why It Matters
Cancer can weaken or suppress immune responses, making it harder for the body to recognise and attack tumor cells.
Immune reprogramming research may help identify ways to restore immune function and improve responses to cancer immunotherapy.
This funding opportunity matters because it supports research that can reveal new biological targets, predictive biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies.
By focusing on human-relevant and disease-relevant models, the call encourages projects with strong translational potential.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid proposing studies that are limited exclusively to cell lines or healthy primary cells.
Projects should not lack a clear connection to immune dysfunction, suppression, senescence, or ineffective anti-tumor immunity.
Applicants should avoid vague claims about translational relevance without explaining the cancer context, model system, and expected outputs.
Proposals should not focus only on broad immunology without a clear cancer-related immune-reprogramming strategy.
Applicants should also avoid budgets that exceed USD 480,000 or fail to account for the indirect cost limit.
Tips for Strong Proposals
A strong proposal should clearly define the immune state being targeted and explain why it matters in cancer.
Applicants should provide a compelling rationale for the selected cancer type, especially where immune dysfunction, chronic antigen exposure, viral antigen expression, inflammation, or immunogenic tumor biology is relevant.
The research model should be disease-relevant and capable of supporting meaningful translational conclusions.
Projects using computational methods should connect analysis to biological interpretation, target discovery, or immune-state dynamics.
Applicants should clearly describe expected outputs such as biomarkers, targets, datasets, models, or evidence supporting combination immunotherapies.
The strongest proposals will combine strong mechanistic insight, disease-relevant validation, and clear translational potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of this amfAR funding opportunity?
The funding supports mechanistic, preclinical, and translational research aimed at restoring, redirecting, or amplifying anti-tumor immunity by targeting dysfunctional or ineffective immune states in cancer.
2. How much funding is available per project?
Successful applicants may request up to USD 480,000, including up to 20 percent indirect costs.
3. What is the project period?
Projects will be conducted from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2028.
4. Who can apply?
Any biomedical researcher with a research or clinical doctoral degree and affiliation with a nonprofit research institution anywhere in the world may apply.
5. What types of research approaches are supported?
Supported approaches include RNA-based technologies, targeted delivery systems, cytokine or chemokine modulation, epigenetic and transcriptional interventions, engineered immune-cell strategies, antibody- or ligand-directed immune modulation, organoid or explant-based systems, and computationally guided target discovery.
6. What cancer types may be studied?
Projects may focus on cancers where immune dysfunction or immunogenic biology supports a rationale for immune reprogramming, including HPV-, EBV-, KSHV/HHV-8-, HBV-, HCV-, and HTLV-1-associated cancers, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and immunogenic hematologic malignancies such as myeloma.
7. Are cell-line-only studies eligible?
No. Studies conducted exclusively in cell lines or healthy primary cells are not eligible. Research must be conducted or validated using disease-relevant in vivo or ex vivo models.
Conclusion
The amfAR immune reprogramming funding opportunity supports high-impact cancer research focused on restoring or enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
With awards of up to USD 480,000 for projects running from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2028, the call is open to eligible biomedical researchers affiliated with nonprofit research institutions worldwide.
Applicants should present scientifically strong, disease-relevant, and translational proposals that target immune dysfunction in cancer and generate outputs such as biomarkers, targets, datasets, computational methods, or human-relevant models.
For more information, visit amfAR.
