Cancer Research Society 2026 Operating Grant

Eligibility

Applicants and co-applicants must hold an academic appointment at a Canadian university or accredited institution to be eligible to apply for a CRS Operating Grant. Applicants must have their own laboratory and the possibility of hiring students and postdoctoral fellows.
 

Postdoctoral fellows, research associates, staff and research scientists without an academic appointment are not eligible to apply

Summary

Founded in 1945, the Cancer Research Society (CRS) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to fund research on all types of cancer to help prevent, detect, and treat this disease.

The Operating Grants competition is the principal means by which CRS fulfills its mission to support fundamental and early translational research on all types of cancer.

The competition is held every year and is open to researchers across Canada. Both new and established researchers are encouraged to apply. All valid proposals undergo a diligent peer-review process and are scored based on scientific merit and originality.

Operating grants are usually awarded for a period of two years for a maximum amount of $70,000per year.

CRS Operating Grants are intended to support Canadian researchers in their pursuit to advance scientific knowledge in the following five (5) areas:
1) Fundamental/basic cancer research;
2) Prevention: Research to advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying cancer risk and development, with the aim of identifying new targets and approaches for cancer prevention and risk reduction.
3) Early translational cancer research, including preclinical research, cellular or animal models, biomarkers for diagnostics and prognosis, imaging and treatment;
4) Research studying the environmental causes of cancer including viruses, pollutants, work environment, lifestyle and diet;
5) In collaboration with CIHR, ‘Cancer Survivorship Research’. Research to advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the risks and development of toxicities and complications that arise after completion of cancer treatment, with the aim of identifying more effective strategies to prevent or mitigate these adverse effects.

Full guidelines and call available here

Submission Instructions

LOI Submission Instructions:

1. Complete LOI application on the Proposal Central System.
2. In RMS, start a new pre-award/Letter of Intent record. Complete the form and upload a copy of your final and complete LOI application to the RMS Application record, and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, December 5, 2025.
3. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided. No signatures are required at this stage. You may now submit on or before December 10, 2025 at 9:59PM Mountain time.

Full Application Submission Instructions:

1. Complete Full Application on the Proposal Central system and download a preview copy as pdf
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/additional-resources/resea...), attach the pdf preview of your completed Application, and submit for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). *Important: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of 12:00pm on February 6, 2026.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the Application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and will provide the institutional approval. RSO will provide institutional signature in Proposal Central when ready.
5. Full Applications, including any supplementary documentation, should be submitted to the agency via the portal on February 11, 2026 by 9:59PM Mountain Time

Overhead

Not applicable

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application