Funding of Research Consortia on Aging and Cancer – National Decade Against Cancer

Funding Initiative "Research Networks on Aging and Cancer" strengthens the interdisciplinary investigation of the interactions between aging processes and cancer within the framework of the National Decade against Cancer. Nationwide, companies, universities, and research institutions can jointly submit applications to establish innovative networks. The goal is to further develop preventive and therapeutic strategies specifically for older adults and to close existing care gaps. Funding is provided for networks that examine the functional molecular relationships between cancer and aging or test new approaches to prevention and therapy. Patient-oriented elements as well as ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) are explicitly encouraged. The funding rate is up to 100% of eligible costs for academic institutions and up to 50% (plus SME bonus) for companies. Eligible costs include personnel and material expenses, equipment, travel costs, and overhead (project lump sum). Selection is based on the degree of innovation, relevance to research and clinical practice, patient involvement measures, and the scientific qualifications of the partners.

The application process is designed in two stages: initially, project outlines must be submitted electronically via easy-Online by 20.02.2026. The documents include the project outline, network description, financing overview, cover letter/front page, as well as the template document “GF/Alter_und_Krebs.docx.” An English-language presentation according to the guidelines ensures comparability and transparency in the review process. Submission is made through the DLR Project Management Agency on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). Innovatively oriented research networks thus have the opportunity to gain new scientific insights into the aging-cancer relationship and to sustainably improve the care of older tumor patients.