BeWonderNow, Inc. is proud to announce that applications are now open for its Fall 2026 Pilot Grant Program — the second and final brain cancer research funding cycle of the year. Building on a strong Spring 2026 cycle that awarded grants to researchers at Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, and the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, BeWonderNow is ready to fund the next wave of bold, early-phase brain cancer science.
For researchers who missed the Spring window — or whose work is ready for a new submission — this is the last opportunity to apply for a BeWonderNow pilot grant in 2026.
Spring 2026 Grantees:
· Yoav Binenbaum, MD, PhD — Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center / Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard Medical School
· Laurie Delatour, MD, PhD — Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
· Tomas Garon-Mvudi, MD — Emory University School of Medicine
· Anthony Haight, Ph.D. — Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute
Fall 2026 Submission Deadlines:
· Letter of Intent: September 7, 2026
· Full Proposal: October 5, 2026
· Funding Decision Announcement: November 9, 2026
Awards range from $25,000 to $150,000 in direct costs, supporting projects of 12 to 24 months in duration. Indirect costs are allowed up to 10%. The program is open to physician-scientists and researchers affiliated with accredited academic, medical, or research institutions in the United States.
Applications begin with a one-page Letter of Intent. The LOI is designed to be brief and accessible — a straightforward entry point that allows the BeWonderNow Board of Directors to assess mission alignment before inviting a full proposal. Applicants are notified of their invitation status within five business days of LOI submission.
“Every cycle, we are inspired by the quality and ambition of the research ideas that come through this program,” said Sandi Wewerka of BeWonderNow, Inc. “Our Spring 2026 grantees are already advancing work that could reshape how we understand and treat brain cancer. We are eager to fund the next chapter.”
Full proposals, submitted by invitation only following LOI review, must include a five-page proposal with optional appendix, budget and budget justification, NIH biosketches for all key personnel, a cover letter, and an AI use statement. Funding decisions for the Fall cycle will be announced November 9, 2026.
Interested researchers are encouraged to submit their Letter of Intent early. For complete eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and submission instructions, visit bwnfoundation.com/grant-information.
Questions about eligibility or program alignment should be directed to Sandi Wewerka at sandi@bwnfoundation.com or 651-357-3679.
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BeWonderNow, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing seed funding for early-stage brain cancer research through pilot grants that bridge the gap between scientific innovation and large-scale support. BeWonderNow is a recipient of the Innovators in Cancer Research Award. Learn more at bwnfoundation.com.
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