Cancer Research KI-Mayo Clinic CCC Synergy Grants

Overview

The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) are pleased to announce a new “Synergy Grant” funding mechanism with a Request for Applications (RFA) focusing on Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception (REDI). This REDI theme aims at accelerating the development of targeted early detection and data-driven prevention strategies for clinically significant cancer precursors and early-stage cancers, also being a special research focus at MCCCC (for further details, see Cancer Risk Assessment, Early Detection and Interception Research Program - Mayo Clinic Research. We have identified existing synergistic strengths in REDI at both institutions in the following research areas:

• Solid Tumors,
• Hematological Malignancies, and
• Advanced Emerging Tools and Technologies

These three research areas are uniquely strong at both institutions and additional synergies are likely to arise in collaborative research projects in these areas, having a REDI focus.   Additionally, given the synergistic efforts at both institutions focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS), projects utilizing and/or developing novel algorithms and methodologies in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS) are especially encouraged.

The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) have created a unique track record of collaborative international network focused on innovative science and translation, and since 2020, have funded 18 pilot cancer research grant totaling $1.800.000 and 22.500.000 SEK.

Based on the success of the MCCCC/CRKI collaboration, the two institutions met for a retreat in 2024 and outlined a new collaborative focus in the area of REDI.  Since that retreat, 3 Task Forces were formed to identify areas of synergy that could be leveraged for REDI collaborations in breast, hematologic malignancies and emerging tools and technologies.  These Task Forces met on a regular basis to identify synergistic areas of expertise in the area of REDI as well as the critical technologies that could be implemented to facilitate such collaborations. The recommendations of the Task Forces form the basis for the current RFA.

In follow-up, we have now developed a new “Synergy Grant” funding mechanism.  The focus of this RFA is to bring together teams of physicians and scientists at both institutions to focus on the areas of Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception (REDI), in areas of cancer research where profiles of expertise, infrastructure and methodologies are expected to gain synergistic results, resulting in major advancements of cancer research and cancer care.

For further background information on these new Synergy Grant and examples of potential research topics identified to have synergistic potential in collaborations between MCCCC and CRKI, enabled by Task Forces with experts from each institution, see the following website.

Objective

The objective of this funding is to fund innovative and significant research involving teams of investigators at both the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) that will lead to breakthroughs in Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception.

We seek highly innovative approaches that may involve considerable scientific risk, but which may potentially lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of new techniques, agents, methodologies, models, and applications that could have a major impact on Risk assessment, Early Detection and Interception. It is expected that support via this program will lead to impactful publications, discoveries and targeted submission of subsequent extramural peer-reviewed grants seeking support from other sources. These will be the metrics of success for this grant award program, and regular follow-up with the investigators will be done to ensure progress.

Projects utilizing and/or developing novel algorithms and methodologies in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Driven Life Science (DDLS) are especially encouraged, provided that adherence to current legislation in Sweden and USA as well as protection of patient integrity is fully guaranteed and explained in the RFA.

Funding

Up to three with the minimum of one Synergy Grant project(s) may be awarded for a total of four (2 + 2) years, with the second half of funding contingent on satisfactory progress in the first half of the project period.  Project investigators may request up to $2,000,000 (total cost for four years) composed of a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) component ($250,000/year for up to 4 years) and a Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI) component (2,500,000 SEK/year for up to 4 years) per funded project. Indirect costs are included in the total award. Funding for this RFA is through established philanthropic support at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cancer Research Karolinska Institutet (CRKI).

Key dates

• Application submission deadline Sweden: 23:59 on November 6, 2026
• Application submission deadline Rochester, MN, USA: 5:00 pm (CT) on November 6, 2026
• Award announcements: February 1, 2027
• Award period: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2031 

For more information, please read the full call text below.