Funding innovative approaches in cancer research
External calls for proposals
Here you will find current external calls for proposals for funding programs in oncology
Do you need the knowledge of patient experts?
Are you involved in research in Bavaria or do you manage a project and need a suitable patient expert?
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Please fill out the service request and send it to geschaeftsstelle@bzkf.de.
Please also note the checklist for working with patient experts.
External tenders
Guideline for the funding of research networks on the topic of age and cancer - National Decade Against Cancer, Federal Gazette of 05.12.2025
The aim of the funding measure is to develop innovative approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of age-related cancers as well as for the social management of cancer in old age.
Application deadline: 20.02.2026
Information on the call for proposals
Gilead funding program: Science
In 2026, Gilead will fund research projects in the following areas
- Virology
- Breast cancer
- Bronchial carcinoma
Application deadline: 31.03.2026
Information on the call for applications
Vision Zero Inno Award
Vision Zero is sustainably committed to reducing the number of avoidable cancer-related deaths to zero - with a clear focus on the needs of patients.
Application deadline: 28.02.2026
Information on the call for applications
37th German Cancer Congress
Submission of late-breaking abstracts
The Congress Presidium calls for the submission of late-breaking abstracts and case reports (casuistry). The submission phase begins on 17.11. and ends on 17.12.2025. In addition to the previous submissions, all accepted abstracts and case reports (casuistics) of this 2nd submission phase will be added to the congress program as a best-of lecture or e-poster and published in the digital abstract volume.
Young professionals in oncology have the opportunity to receive a junior research grant by submitting an abstract or a case report.
Guideline for the funding of data utilization projects in the field of eHealth
With this funding guideline, the BMFTR supports data usage projects for research into health-related issues using high-quality and multi-center data sets from existing national GFDI. These pilot projects are intended to promote the future "transfer to clinical application and public health research, including in the area of prediction, more precise diagnosis and treatment of diseases, stratification of patients and prediction of disease progression" and to exploit the potential of the established GFDI for clinical-epidemiological and biomedical research.
Application deadline: 27.02.2026
Information on the call for proposals
BMBF call for proposals - Guideline for the funding of projects on the topic of reducing the gender data gap in clinical research
Application deadline: 10.03.2026
Information on the call for proposals
Current calls for proposals of the German Cancer Aid
Funding priority "Translational oncology" for the further funding of cooperative, translational cancer research projects at Interdisciplinary Oncology Centers of Excellence and Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Mildred Scheel Postdoctoral Program for projects in the field of prevention, diagnosis or therapy of cancer.
Mildred Scheel Doctoral Program for carrying out excellent scientific doctoral theses in cancer research in a designated research laboratory.
Max Eder Junior Research Group Program for the promotion of young scientists in the field of clinical/clinical oncology.
Milred Scheel Professorship: Promotion of young scientists for basic clinical oncology research/clinical cancer research.
Short Term Fellowship for short-term national and international research stays.
Call for proposals Emmy Noether Groups "Methods of Artificial Intelligence"
Information on the call for proposals
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation
The CNV Foundation supports outstanding female scientists in the fields of the experimental natural sciences and basic medical research who are also raising children.
Apply until November 30th each year
Information on the call for applications
Branco Weiss Fellowship
to design a surprisingly novel and scientifically rigorous research project
Apply until January 15, 2026, 5 p.m. CET.
Information on the call for applications
Research Prize of the Walter Schulz Foundation
Award for young scientists in tumor research who are not older than 40 years for their publications that were not published before January 1 of the application year. The prize is endowed with €15,000.
Application deadline: December 31, 2025
Information on the call for applications
DKK scholarship for young researchers
The Junior Fellowship of the German Cancer Congress opens doors to a unique junior program, direct exchange with experts, workshops and the opportunity to help shape the future of oncology.
Application deadline: February 21, 2026
Information on the call for applications
Fellowships and Grants by Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds
Programs for junior scientists: Travel Grants, PhD and MD fellowships
Information on the call for applications
