SebastianStrong Foundation

Discovery Science Award

SebastianStrong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and accelerating the development of more targeted, less toxic treatments by funding bold, early-stage research. Since 2017, we have awarded over $4 million to cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric cancer research. Through strategic partnerships, matched contributions, and follow-on funding secured by investigators, our overall impact now exceeds $6 million.

We exist because kids deserve better. Too many promising ideas in pediatric cancer research go unfunded due to limited institutional support, lack of commercial incentive, and minimal government investment, especially for rare and relapsed cancers. At SebastianStrong, we focus exclusively on childhood cancers, where small patient populations often mean traditional funders and pharmaceutical companies overlook research.

ABOUT THE DISCOVERY SCIENCE AWARD

The Discovery Science Award typically provides up to $500,000 in funding for groundbreaking research that aligns with our mission. In select cases, proposals demonstrating exceptional potential for impact and scalability may be considered for higher levels of support. The maximum award amount is inclusive of indirect/overhead costs, which may not exceed 15% of the total award.

Our Scientific Advisory Board, composed of leading pediatric oncologists and researchers, conducts a two-stage review process. First, Letters of Intent (LOIs) are evaluated to identify projects that best align with our mission and funding priorities. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal, which is reviewed in detail to determine final award decisions. Funding recommendations are made by the Scientific Advisory Board and approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

To be considered for funding, proposals must meet the following criteria:

1. Are focused on pediatric cancer
2. Will lead to less toxic, more targeted treatments
3. Are clearly communicated in lay terms (accessible to our Board and donor community)
4. Demonstrate strong potential to progress toward a clinical trial in 1-3 years

We welcome new, ongoing, and updated peer-reviewed research. However, we do not accept in-progress or ongoing clinical trials. Any author or researcher conflict of interest must be disclosed at the time of submission. All submissions are treated as CONFIDENTIAL and are accessible only to members of SebastianStrong’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board until the time of award. We are happy to execute NDAs upon request.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

SebastianStrong funds one or more proposals each year that advance meaningful change in pediatric cancer treatment. We are especially interested in research that:

• Focuses on pediatric cancers with low survival rates or high relapse rates
• Has strong translational potential within 36 months
• Pursues underfunded or unconventional approaches that could change the status quo

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A maximum of two (2) LOIs may be submitted from the same institution, organization, or researcher during each award cycle. Applicants must confirm compliance with any applicable internal selection process. Submitting institutions or organizations must be based in the United States.

To be considered, applicants must submit the following via RhythmQ:

• A Letter of Intent (no more than 2 pages) written in language accessible to non-scientific audiences (e.g., spell out acronyms, use examples, minimize technical jargon)
• A CV or bio of the Principal Investigator
• Applicants will be asked to provide the requested funding amount and proposed project period in the online application. The total award is inclusive of indirect/overhead costs, which may not exceed 15%.

Submissions will be evaluated to ensure they align with our mission and funding criteria. 

KEY DATES & HOW TO APPLY

Milestone	Deadline
Letter of Intent Open	October 1st, 2026
Letter of Intent Due	November 30th, 2026
Invitation to Submit Full Proposal Open	February 15th, 2027
Full Proposal Due	March 31st, 2027
Award Recipient Notified	May 15th, 2027

Applicants selected to advance will be notified by February 15th and invited to submit full research proposals for award consideration.

For step-by-step instructions, please click the "How to Apply" link at the top of the page.

Details about past award recipients and our Scientific Advisory Board are available at sebastianstrong.org.

Thank you for considering SebastianStrong Foundation for your research funding. We are honored to support scientists and institutions advancing the next generation of pediatric cancer treatments.