Award Programs
Apply for Funding
Funding opportunities are announced through formal Requests for Applications (RFAs).
The U Foundation is self-funded for the initial phases of projects and
poised to make an immediate and impactful difference in cancer research.
Please see below for the list of current and past RFAs.
Current RFAs
2026 U-Scholar Award - Clinical Track
RFA Status: Open
Description: Supports senior clinical fellows as they transition from mentored research training to independent physician-scientist careers. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited clinical fellowship program in oncology or a cancer-relevant specialty affiliated with an NCI-designated cancer center in Texas.
Award: Up to $100,000 over 1 year
RFA Release: June 17th, 2026
Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: July 17th, 2026
Applications Due: September 4th, 2026 – 11:59 PM CT
Decisions Announced: November 13th, 2026
Award Start: July 2027
Important Links:
RFA Announcement with Application Instructions
LOI Template
Mentor Statement Template
Updated 06/05/2026
Previous RFAs
2025 U-Pilot Award
RFA Status: Closed – Awarded
Description: Supports innovative, high-risk, high-reward cancer research projects in their early stages. Open to investigators in Houston, TX.
Award: Up to $50,000 over 1 year
RFA Release: January 11th, 2025
Application Receipt: January 11th, 2025 – March 14th, 2025
Application Review: March 14th, 2025 – June, 2025
Award Notification: Late June, 2025