First Grant Organized by Multi-Disciplinary Research Committee Ensures Continuity for Disrupted Projects
SEYMOUR, Conn. – Project Purple, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering the fight against pancreatic cancer, is proud to announce the launch of its Pancreatic Cancer Research Recovery Support Grant. This initiative provides up to two years of bridge or rescue funding for promising pancreatic cancer research projects that were disrupted due to administrative funding policy changes at major federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), or National Science Foundation (NSF).
The Recovery Support Grant provides critical funding to ensure continuity for pancreatic cancer researchers, with a particular focus on Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) and those within ten years of their first faculty appointment. These awards are designed to help emerging investigators sustain momentum as they establish independent research programs, preventing disruptions that could slow progress in pancreatic cancer research.
This funding opportunity is designed to maintain momentum in critical pancreatic cancer research, supporting projects across the full spectrum of investigation, including basic science, translational studies, clinical research, and population science.
By providing financial support, Project Purple helps ensure that valuable work in early detection, novel therapeutics, and other high-impact areas continues without interruption, even when administrative or policy changes threaten progress.
A Smarter Model: Reviewed by Project Purple’s New Multi-Disciplinary Research Committee
Applications for the Recovery Support Grant will be reviewed by Project Purple’s newly established Multi-Disciplinary Research Committee. This group, formed in July 2025, represents a significant evolution in Project Purple’s approach to research funding. Made up of leading experts from various fields, including surgical oncology, radiation oncology, gastrointestinal medicine, and clinical trials, the committee serves as the scientific backbone of Project Purple’s research strategy.
This grant marks the committee’s inaugural funding opportunity, setting a new standard for how Project Purple evaluates and supports research. By drawing on perspectives from across the cancer care continuum, this group of specialists will assess applications not only for scientific merit, but also for their real-world potential to improve outcomes for patients and families. This approach ensures that donor dollars are directed toward projects with the highest likelihood of meaningful impact.
Grant Requirements and Application Process
Project Purple encourages eligible researchers to apply for the Recovery Support Grant to ensure continuity of critical pancreatic cancer studies. Applicants should carefully review the requirements and follow the application instructions to be considered for funding.
Eligibility Needs:
- Provide official documentation of a NIH, DOD, or NSF Notice of Award (NOA).
- Provide documentation showing the award was rescinded, frozen, or withdrawn.
- Submit a Specific Aims page describing the research purpose.
- Include a detailed budget outlining the amount needed to continue the project.
Funding Scope:
- Open to projects and applications spanning all areas of pancreatic cancer investigation.
- Proposed projects must align with or logically extend from the originally funded aims.
- Awards will support up to two years of research, with continuation into Year 2 contingent on achieving defined milestones and deliverables.
- This will not include indirect costs.
To apply, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/grants/. Applications must include all required documentation and be submitted through the website to be considered by the committee for funding.
For questions, contact Project Purple through the website’s contact page.
Broader Implications: Why This Grant Matters
The Recovery Support Grant addresses a critical gap in research funding. While most grants support new proposals, few exist to save projects already deemed promising by peer review but then disrupted. By offering bridge or rescue funding, Project Purple:
- Protects continuity for vital research in early detection, therapeutics, and population science.
- Supports the careers of emerging researchers who are potentially driving the next major breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer detection, treatment, and care.
- Ensures that donor contributions fund research with both strong scientific foundations and urgent potential for patient impact.
This initiative reinforces Project Purple’s commitment to smarter, more strategic funding that prioritizes both innovation and measurable outcomes in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
About Project Purple
Founded in 2010, Project Purple is committed to creating a world without pancreatic cancer while improving care and outcomes for patients and their families. Since its inception, the organization has funded over $4 million in research, with a strong emphasis on early detection initiatives such as PRECEDE, the world’s largest high-risk consortium for genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer.
Project Purple’s research support also includes foundational funding for Hartford HealthCare’s High Risk Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program, multiple studies at Duke University School of Medicine, and numerous other groundbreaking projects.
In addition to research, Project Purple has awarded more than $1.4 million in patient aid, assisting over 1,500 families to focus on treatment and care rather than financial stress.
For more information, visit www.projectpurple.org.
Media Contact:
Sam DaCosta
Info@projectpurple.org
(203) 714-6052
