For Researchers
The ABTA’s Research Program supports both established and new scientists in discovering more about the causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.
Receive updates on grant opportunities and the ABTA
We fund research across age, tumor types, primary & metastatic, etc.
- The ABTA has invested more than $36 million in research across primary and metastatic brain tumors; funding more than 700 researchers across 800 research projects.
- The ABTA continues to seed and nurture the next generation of researchers through its Alumni Research Network.
- The ABTA helped create and continues to support the first national registry of primary brain tumors—the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS)—the first and only national registry to collect data on the incidence, prevalence and survival rates of brain tumors.
ABTA Grants
Since 1976, the ABTA has awarded more than $36 million in research grants to scientists from around the world. The ABTA’s Research Program supports both established and new scientists in discovering more about the causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.
Discovery Grant
Discovery Grants are one-year, $50,000 grants for high risk, high impact research with the potential to change current diagnostic or treatment models. Grants are intended to provide seed-funding for early-stage faculty-level researchers to develop their new ideas and to get the preliminary data needed to apply for larger grants.
Discovery research projects are pre-screened by Letter of Intent (LOI), typically open in early November with LOIs due in December of every calendar year. Invitations and instructions to submit a full proposal are extended by email in February, with applications due in March.
Letters of Intent for 2025 funding will be accepted through December 11, 2024.
Basic Research Fellowship
Basic Research Fellowships are two-year, $100,000 mentored grants supporting postdoctoral fellows who are conducting laboratory or field-based research projects that focus on brain tumors.
Fellows must have a lead mentor who currently conducts brain tumor research at the same academic institution. The mentor will help with scientific management and other research guidance to foster the applicant’s career advancement.
Projects are pre-screened by Letter of Intent (LOI), typically open in early November with LOIs due in December. Invitations and instructions to submit a complete proposal are extended by email in February, with applications due in March.
Letters of Intent for 2025 funding will be accepted through December 11, 2024.
Medical Student Summer Fellowship
American Brain Tumor Association Jack and Fay Netchin Medical Student Summer Fellowships are $3,000 grants awarded to medical students who intend to spend a summer conducting brain tumor research with esteemed scientist mentors. The program’s intent is to inspire talented medical students to pursue a career in neuro-oncology research.
The RFA for our Medical Student Summer Fellowships will be available in mid-November, with an application due date in mid-January.
Applications for 2024 funding will be accepted through January 15, 2025.
Research Collaboration Grant
Research Collaboration Grants are two-year, $200,000 grants for multi-investigator and multi-institutional brain tumor collaborative research projects. They are intended to promote team science, streamlining and accelerating research progress.
Research projects must be conducted by a team of at least two co-principal investigators (Co-PI’s) from different institutions. The research project should be multidisciplinary, incorporating multiple components such as basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research.
Applications are pre-screened by Letter of Intent, due in December. Invitations and instructions to submit a Full Application are extended by email in February, with an application due date in March.
ABTA is not accepting applications for Research Collaboration Grants for the 2025 grant cycle.
ABTA Grants with Partner Organizations
ABTA Partners with other organizations to offer additional research grant opportunities
CNS Metastasis Research Grant
CNS Metastasis Research Grants are one-year, $50,000 grants for projects that advance the understanding of CNS metastases and lead to novel approaches for improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients diagnosed with a metastatic CNS tumor or leptomeningeal disease.
The Metastatic Brain Tumor Collaborative is accepting Letters of Intent through December 17, 2024. LOIs should be submitted through the American Brain Tumor Association’s grant opportunities in ProposalCentral.
Brain Tumor Funders' Collaborative Research Grant
BTFC Research Grants are two-year, $500,000 multi-institutional grants to support practice changing research to advance liquid biopsy for patients with primary human brain tumors.
The Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative will accept Letters of Intent beginning on November 14, 2024. LOIs will be due January 16, 2025.
Info about AARN
The ABTA Alumni Research Network (AARN) is a network of brain tumor researchers that have been funded by the ABTA. The purpose of the AARN is to support the ABTA’s mission to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors by fostering excellence in brain tumor research through professional development, communications, education, training and collaboration.
ABTA Research News
ABTA Announces $1.3 Million in New Funding to Accelerate Adult and Pediatric Brain Tumor Research
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) today announced the funding of $1.37 million towards 23 new research grants to advance brain tumor science and treatments, across all brain tumor types...
Read MoreHarnessing Hope for Treatment Breakthroughs
Meet two researchers on opposite ends of the globe dedicated to transforming the future of brain tumor treatments.
Read MoreThe Show Must Go On…to Support Brain Tumor Research
Despite a series of mishaps, a benefit concert for the ABTA was fated to go on. Read how organizers pulled off a successful event with brain tumor researchers taking the spotlight.
Read More