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The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund Portal is currently accepting applications.
Grant Award Period: 07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026
Application Webinar: 10/01/2025 The recorded webinar is available on the Department's Funding Opportunity Announcements page.
Question and Answer Period: 09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025 | Questions will be posted online on: 10/03/2025
Application Window Period: 09/29/2025 - 01/09/2026
  • There will be three grant award periods.
    • Period 1 Applications due by: 10/27/2025
    • Period 2 Applications due by: 11/25/2025
    • Period 3 Applications due by: 01/09/2026
  • Applications received during application period 1 and 2 will also be considered against other applications received during application period 3 if not funded in the previous application period that they were submitted under.
About the FY 2025-2026 Florida Cancer Innovation Fund
The Florida Department of Health (Department) is accepting applications for Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (FCIF) innovative cancer research and treatment models. The purpose of this effort is to energize collaborations between oncologists, cutting-edge researchers, and cancer facilities and to provide a plausible route for expedited funding to bolster competitiveness for extramural cancer research funding. This funding aims to provide opportunities to break down longstanding silos between researchers, cancer facilities, and medical providers to improve cancer research and treatment through rapid innovative approaches to cancer research.
During FY 2025-26, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund will concentrate on one-year, high-impact initiatives with a focus on foundational discoveries, early-stage diagnostics, or scalable technologies that can rapidly influence clinical practice. Funded projects will be agile, interdisciplinary, and outcome driven, prioritizing translational potential.
By emphasizing short-cycle innovation and strategic funding, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund will accelerate progress toward more personalized, accessible, and cost-effective care, while delivering strong economic and societal value.
  • Applications must include specific, quantifiable deliverables and success metrics that demonstrate high return on Florida's investment, including but not limited to, publications, follow-on funding secured, clinical implementations, patient outcomes improved, or technologies advanced toward commercialization.
  • Each applicant may submit only one application per grant category during this funding cycle. An application may not be submitted in more than one grant category.
  • A total of approximately $60 million is available for all research grants in FY 2025-26.
  • Funding is for Florida-based institutions only.
  • Please see the FY 2025-26 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund web page for more details.
Core Principles
  • Projects must show clear pathways to immediate clinical, research, or policy impact.
  • Results must be scalable and applicable beyond single institutions to benefit Florida statewide.
  • Projects should focus on breakthrough approaches rather than incremental improvements.
  • Project should translate and emphasize on moving discoveries from bench to bedside within the grant period.
  • If applicable, projects should have a prevention-first approach, with priority for projects addressing root causes of cancer through nutrition, lifestyle, and accessible treatment options.
  • Projects should also place an emphasis on solutions that improve treatment access and affordability.
  • Projects should have all regulatory approvals in place before commencement.
Purpose
  • This year's funding opportunity represents an expanded commitment to comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment innovation, including dedicated support for clinical trials, nutrition-based prevention research, and generic drug repurposing initiatives.
  • Supports one-year projects only that deliver immediate, measurable impact on cancer research, treatment, or patient care in Florida.
  • Projects must demonstrate clear pathways to rapid clinical translation, commercialization, or implementation and must represent significant innovation beyond incremental advances.
  • Priority will be given to breakthrough approaches, novel technologies, or transformative treatment models with immediate applicability especially in prioritized research areas.
  • Includes dedicated funding categories for nutrition-based cancer prevention research and generic drug repurposing research (e.g., Ivermectin), reflecting Florida's leadership in comprehensive cancer prevention and accessible treatment innovation.
Eligibility
To be eligible for grant funding under the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, a licensed or certified health care provider, facility, or entity must meet at least one of the following criteria as specified in section 381.915(9)(b), Florida Statutes:
  1. Operates as a licensed hospital that has a minimum of 30 percent of its current cancer patients residing in rural or underserved areas.
  2. Operates as a licensed health care clinic or facility that employs or contracts with at least one physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who is board certified in oncology and that administers chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
  3. Operates as a licensed facility that employs or contracts with at least one physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who is board certified in oncology and that administers radiation therapy treatments for cancer.
  4. Operates as a licensed health care clinic or facility that provides cancer screening services at no cost or a minimal cost to patients.
  5. Operates as a rural hospital as defined in s. 395.602(2)(b).
  6. Operates as a critical access hospital as defined in s. 408.07(14).
  7. Operates as a specialty hospital as defined in s. 395.002(28)(a) which provides cancer treatment for patients from birth to 18 years of age.
  8. Operates as a licensed hospital that is accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program or Integrated Network Cancer Program.
  9. Engages in biomedical research intended to develop therapies, medical pharmaceuticals, treatment protocols, or medical procedures intended to cure cancer or improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
  10. Educates or trains students, postdoctoral fellows, or licensed or certified health care practitioners in the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer.
Contacts
Programmatic Questions
Please direct all programmatic questions to:
Phone: (850) 245-4585
Email: FloridaCancerInnovationFund@flhealth.gov
Address: Florida Department of Health
Address:
Florida Department of Health
Public Health Research Unit
Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin A-05
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1720
Technical Questions
Direct all questions about the online application process and related issues (e.g., username and password problems) by calling call 850-245-4744, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), or via email at flcancerinnovationfundsupport@flhealth.gov .