The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, aiming to ensure everyone has the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
The ACS Research Priority Areas are focused on funding research that aligns with six key areas: Etiology (causes of cancer), Obesity/Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL), Screening and Diagnosis, Treatment, Survivorship, and Health Equity Across the Cancer Continuum. The Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) specifically support high-risk, high-reward cancer research projects that are exploratory in nature across these priority areas. These grants aim at developing new research methodologies, establishing feasibility studies, or conducting pilot tests with the expectation that the preliminary data generated will secure further grant funding for expansive research. Open to independent investigators at any career stage with a doctorate degree in the United States, the DBGs provide significant support for up to two years to help drive innovative cancer research forward.