CALL 2026-1 / EXPLORATION

CALL 2026-1 Exploration is a grant from KWF Dutch Cancer Society that funds fundamental research into the biological mechanisms underlying cancer onset, growth, and spread, as well as psychosocial mechanisms that shape cancer's impact on patients.

The program supports basic research and credentialing-phase proposals intended to address knowledge gaps, generate scientific insights, and identify new leads for preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive interventions. Eligible applicants include researchers submitting Research Projects, Consortiums, and Unique High-Risk proposals; Young Investigator Grants have a separate application process.

The April 7, 2026 deadline has passed; the next call is expected to open later in 2026.

Exploration Call | Dutch Cancer Society Basic research serves as the wellspring of innovation, driven by undirected curiosity. Our commitment is to empower researchers, providing them with opportunities to uncover new insights. Recognizing that fundamental knowledge is paramount to pioneering breakthroughs in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, we steadfastly invest in the exploration of knowledge and skills.

This dedication ensures continued progress in the fight against cancer. The Exploration Call is dedicated to fundamental research that uncovers the underlying biological mechanisms that drive the onset, growth, and spread of cancer, and the psychosocial mechanisms that shape its impact.

Its aim is to address knowledge gaps, generate new scientific insights, and identify new leads and targets for preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive purposes.

The Exploration Call is intended for project proposals within the Basic research and Credentialing research phases : Basic Research (research phase 1) Basic research encompasses obtaining fundamental insights into the origin and progression of cancer and its psychosocial effects, providing the foundation for advances in prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.

It also includes methodological and technological innovations that enable or strengthen future research and applications. Credentialing (research phase 2) Credentialing (or collecting credentials, evidence, confirmation) encompasses the identification and validation of biological or psychosocial factors, targets, and leads that may influence or improve prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and quality of life.

It may include the discovery of biomarkers, compound or drug screenings, observational and population studies, as well as cross-sectional, retrospective, or prospective cohort studies and case–control studies. Credentialing also covers preliminary testing whether the creation of a modality is possible. Please note : Proposals of the type Young Investigator Grant (YIG) must now be submitted under a separate call: 2026 / YIG .

Proposals of the types Research Project, Consortium , and Unique High-Risk can still be submitted within this call. The KWF Funding Conditions 2025 and the KWF Accountants Protocol 2025 apply (see downloads ).

Please refer to the KWF Guidelines (see downloads ) for further details on the process, characteristics, and eligibility terms applicable to the open Exploration call Projects that are submitted to the Exploration call due to an incorrect research phase selection will not be taken into consideration. It is the project leader's responsibility to ensure that the proposal is submitted under the appropriate call.

Choosing the correct phase ensures that: The appropriate application form is used; this form meets the specific requirements of Exploration proposals. Your proposal is reviewed by the correct committee, this ensures the most accurate review of your proposal. As outlined in the KWF Guidelines, p.

14 (see downloads ): If your proposal spans multiple research phases, please choose the phase that best reflects the central focus and primary objectives of the study. For applications involving an interventive prospective study, the clinical phase should be selected as the research phase.

We strongly emphasize that selecting the appropriate research phase is the applicant’s responsibility and is essential for a smooth and effective review process. The application procedure consists of a pre-proposal phase and a full-proposal phase (see below). Both should be submitted through our Grant Management System (KWF GMS) .

PLEASE NOTE: Participating institutes not yet registered in our Grant Management System must submit a request through KWF-GMS at least 6 weeks prior to the call's closing date. Please refer to the guidelines for further details on the process, characteristics, and eligibility terms applicable to the open Exploration call The KWF Funding Conditions 2025 and the KWF Accountants Protocol 2025 apply (see downloads ).

Pre-proposal & full-proposal An example of the pre-proposal template is available for download below, but please do not use this template to submit. At the opening of the call, you must register and download the most recent version of the pre-proposal template in our Grant Management System (KWF-GMS). EXAMPLE Pre-proposal form Please do not use this template to submit.

At the opening of the call, you must register and download the most recent version of the pre-proposal template in our Grant Management System (KWF-GMS). EXAMPLE Full proposal form Please do not use this template to submit. At the opening of the call, you must register and download the most recent version of the full proposal form in our Grant Management System (KWF-GMS).

11 November 2025 (12. 00 noon) 7 April 2026 (12. 00 noon) 31 March 2026 (12.

00 noon) 1 September 2026 (12. 00 noon) The review process spans around six months and comprises various stages, including internal review by KWF, a board review by our Exploration Committee and external review by (inter)national referees. After reviewing the pre-proposals, applicants will be informed of the results.

Only applicants with a positively evaluated pre-proposal will be invited to submit a full proposal. Please contact our Help Desk. Young Investigator Grant (YIG) Call Funding for Exploration, Development and Implementation