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Breakthrough Seed Funding

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Program Overview

The purpose of the CARE Fund’s Breakthrough Seed Funding grant is to encourage and support life science companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers who seek to explore and develop innovative ideas and strategies to substantially advance cancer research and care from etiology to survivorship. Such projects may be high risk but must have the potential for high impact breakthroughs in cancer research and care that will extend understanding or uncover new pathways beyond the span of the project. The CARE Fund intends to provide seed funding, up to $500,000 per award over two years, to support early-stage research projects that are pursuing promising areas of cancer research.*

* This grant requires one-to-one (1:1) matching funds from a non-state of Washington source.

At the University of Washington, Drs. Christopher Blosser and Shreeram Akilesh are investigating the role of the complement system (specifically C3) in kidney cancer, potentially identifying a new immunological pathway for intervention. Additionally, Dr. Jennifer Nemhauser’s team is developing a synthetic genetic platform targeting Wnt pathway-driven recurrent or refractory cancers, aiming for greater treatment precision.

Women doctors, talking or walking in hospital in teamwork, nurse collaboration or surgery research. Smile, happy or healthcare workers in planning, communication or discussion for medicine treatment

Apply

The RFP and application materials for the grant opportunity are available below.

Organizations that intend to submit a full application must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for each Breakthrough Seed Funding proposal through the CARE Fund online grants system. The Breakthrough Seed Funding LOI can be accessed by clicking on the Apply button below. The LOI must be submitted by Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 5:00 p.m. (PT).

After the LOI is reviewed by the CARE Fund and/or contractors, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application via the CARE Fund grants system. The full Breakthrough Seed Funding grant application will be available to applicants after they are invited. Full applications must be submitted by Wednesday, February 1, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (PT).

It is anticipated that award decisions for this cycle will be made in May 2023. Applicants will be notified via email.

For questions regarding this opportunity or application process, please contact Peter Choi at peter@wacarefund.org.