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Terry Fox New Investigator Awards

Supporting the next generation of cancer researchers

The Terry Fox New Investigator Awards provide research operating grants to support future leaders as they develop their independent careers in cancer research. The award provides a single research grant of up to $525,000 for three years to investigators within the first five years of a first faculty-level appointment in Canada.

2027 Terry Fox New Investigator Awards Competition 

Terry Fox New Investigator Awards Webinar

We will hold an informational webinar on May 5 (1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET) outlining the application process for the 2027 Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grants competition and responding to your questions.

Register Now

Purpose

To support outstanding new researchers as they develop their careers as independent research scientists or clinician scientists. These awards enable recipients to undertake high-quality cancer research with mentorship from two senior investigators.  

Scope of the program

Support under this Request for Applications (RFA) is targeted at high-quality biomedical, clinical and/or translational research, providing information that may form the basis of innovative cancer prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment. TFRI is looking for outstanding investigators to be mentored by two senior investigators. 

Support offered

Awards of up to $175,000 per annum are tenable for three years and provide:

  • Research expenses, including research staff, consumables and equipment
  • Travel and accommodation for scientifically justified visits

Investigators holding an MOHCCN Clinician-Scientist award are eligible as New Investigator applicants, but for a maximum budget of $87,500 per year for three years.

Key deadlines and dates

Stage Dates
Registration of Intent Friday, May 22, 2026 (5:00 p.m. Pacific Time)
Invitation for Full Application Week of June 22, 2026
Submission of a Full Application Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (5:00 p.m. Pacific Time)
Peer Review Committee Meeting October/November 2026
Funding Announcement
Mid December 2026
Funding Starts
January 1, 2027

Please note: All Terry Fox New Investigator Awards applications will be made using TerryFoxTrack, our new online grant management system. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last minute to submit your Registration of Intent and Full Application, in case you encounter any unexpected technical issues. 

Our Program Manager Russell Watkins is available to support you. If you experience any difficulties, please reach out as soon as possible to rwatkins@tfri.ca.

Guidance provided 

Please refer to the 2027 TFRI New Investigator Awards RFA, the 2027 List of TFRI Funded Programs* and the 2027 Terry Fox New Investigator Awards Application Guide for competition details.

*Mentorship by a TFRI-funded research project is not a requirement. Applicants may propose mentors who are not part of this list. 

 

Templates

Please apply to the 2027 Terry Fox New Investigator Awards through TerryFoxTrack, our new grant management system. 

For details on how to register and navigate the system, please refer to the instructions provided in the Application Guide. 

 
 
TFRI is committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity and strives to promote inclusive excellence in its research programs. We welcome eligible applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for our funding opportunities.
 
Although this award is limited to researchers within five years of their first faculty-level appointment, interruptions in work such as parental leave, medical leave, bereavement leave and/or COVID-19 related research delays will be taken into account when determining program eligibility. Please refer to the Request for Applications and Application Guide for more information.  

Contact

Russell F. Watkins, PhD
Senior Programs Manager
Terry Fox Research Institute
675 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3 Canada
Telephone: 778-888-9150
mail: rwatkins@tfri.ca