About METAvivor Grants
METAvivor’s research mission is two-fold: to increase awareness about the funding discrepancy that shortchanges metastatic research in the cancer world, and to directly fund the kind of research that is currently lacking. We are the only US nonprofit that awards peer-and-advocate-reviewed research grants exclusively for metastatic breast cancer. Each grant application we consider is reviewed not only by scientists working in the field, but also by people directly impacted by MBC—including people living with MBC or their loved ones—who give of their time to help advance metastatic research.
We focus on awarding grants for research projects that can potentially help shift MBC from a terminal disease to a chronic condition with a decent quality of life. The grants that METAvivor awards allow researchers to obtain initial findings so they can attract larger grants, such as those funded by the Department of Defense’s Breast Cancer Research Program or the National Institute of Health; or to translate existing findings into new or improved treatments and therapies.
Fueled by grassroots donations, since 2009 METAvivor has awarded more than $37 million in cumulative grants. With recently increased award amounts, our grants are now competitive with those awarded by larger, more well-known breast cancer organizations.
Our Grant Process
METAvivor’s grant program is overseen by its Research Committee in partnership with its Scientific Advisory Board, a team of breast cancer experts who have dedicated their careers to metastasis research. Coordinated by a Scientific Resource Officer, both letters of intent and full grant applications are reviewed and scored by several scientific reviewers with expertise in the area of the grant (peers); and by at least one trained patient advocate who is directly impacted by MBC.
The number of grants METAvivor is able to fund in any given fiscal year depends on how much money has been raised. Our grant review process runs from January to December each calendar year, and includes the following steps:
- A call for proposals is sent out.
- Letters of Intent (LOIs) are accepted.
- Letters of Intent are reviewed by peers and patient advocates, and scored based on potential impact to patients.
- The top scoring candidates are invited to submit full grant applications.
- Grant applications are again reviewed and scored by peers and patient advocates.
- Grant applications are reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board, ranked, and submitted to METAvivor’s Board for consideration.
- The Board approves the grants, and they are funded to the extent allowed by current fundraising.
