Research We Fund: Extramural Discovery Science

Mission Boost Grants (MBG)

Grant Overview

Mission Boost Grants (MBG) are designed to support select current and past ACS grantees specifically for the translation of their research to human testing. MBGs are opportunities for American Cancer Society (ACS) grantees to seek additional, or “boost,” resources for innovative, high-risk/high-reward projects.

MBGs offer 2 stages of funding:

  • Stage I requires the investigator to develop outcome-specific, unequivocal milestones that reduce the risks of studying a new drug, device, or procedure in patients.  
  • Stage II supports testing in cancer patients.

Eligibility

Stage I Mission Boost

You ARE eligible to submit a proposal if you:

  • Work at a US academic institution or eligible non-profit 
  • Have an independent, full-time faculty appointment
  • Have held or currently hold one of these ACS grants (or previous versions of such awards) for a minimum of 1 year:
    • Research Scholar Grant (RSG)
    • Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG)
    • Mentored Research Scholar Grant (MRSG)
    • Cancer Control Career Development Award (CCCDA) 
    • Pilot and Exploratory Projects in Palliative Care (PEP) Award
    • ACS Postdoctoral Fellowship (previous fellows only)
    • Discovery Boost Grant (DBG)

Stage II Mission Boost

You ARE eligible to submit a proposal if you:

  • Work at a US academic institution or eligible non-profit 
  • Have an independent, full-time faculty appointment
  • Previously held or currently hold a Stage I Mission Boost Grant for a minimum of 18 months AND have completed Stage I milestones


Grant Term and Budget

Stage I Mission Boost 

Stage I will be for a term of up to two years in duration with an allowable budget of $135,000 per year direct costs plus 10% allowable indirect costs ($297,000 allowable total costs).

Stage II Mission Boost

Stage II will be for a term of up to 18 months with an allowable budget up to $545,000 direct costs plus 10% allowable indirect costs.

Want to see some recently published studies from grantees?

Go to Research Highlights.