Key points
- Breast Cancer Foundation NZ offers several research grants, fellowships, university scholarships and workforce funding.
- Funding is available for researchers, clinicians and breast cancer specialists based in New Zealand.
- BCFNZ holds funding rounds throughout the year. See our available grants below and apply through our online grants portal.
- To enquire about grants or to check their availability, email grants@bcf.org.nz.
Content:
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is New Zealand’s largest non-government funder of breast cancer research. The Foundation offers a number of research and workforce grants or scholarships during specified funding rounds throughout the year.
Research grants
The BCFNZ research grant programme supports the work of some of New Zealand’s best clinicians and researchers to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients, through substantial grants. Applicants and institutions must be based in New Zealand, although grants can be used to support participation in international studies. View the open grants here or through the BCFNZ grants portal.
Fellowships
BCFNZ offers two fellowships to researchers and clinicians: Ronald Kay Science Fellowship and Belinda Scott Clinical Fellowship.
Ronald Kay Science Fellowship: Translational or basic science research, with a focus on mBC epidemiology, prevention of mBC, detection and diagnosis of metastases, new treatments or new treatment combinations, treatment resistance and response.
Proposed studies should have clear and significant potential to prevent metastasis, extend mBC patient survival, improve quality of life, or improve our understanding of mBC epidemiology, inequities or biology.
Applications with clinical potential in the short to medium term will be regarded more favourably than those with only long-term potential.
Applicants can be at any stage of their career. Funding will be for a maximum of $80,000+GST, to be paid over a period of one or two years, allowing flexibility for applicants to conduct the proposed study either full or part time. Applicants may use the funds to employ staff to assist with their work.
Belinda Scott Clinical Fellowship: Studies may comprise of clinical research (including diagnostic or therapeutic interventions, trials and pilots); improving diagnostic or treatment pathways or guidelines and adherence thereto; addressing inequities; taking clinical practice in New Zealand to a new level; or testing / establishing / evaluating quality of life interventions.
Applicants may be at the start of specialisation (e.g. in pathology, radiology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgery, public health or general practice) and seeking to advance their skills in breast cancer with an emphasis on metastatic breast cancer. Alternatively, applicants may be at any stage of their career seeking to train in and introduce or extend clinical practice, or to develop clinical leadership experience.
Funding will be for a maximum of $80,000+GST, to be paid over a period of one or two years, allowing flexibility for applicants to conduct the proposed study full or part time. Applicants may use the funds to employ staff to assist with their work.
Apply for a fellowship on our website or through the grants portal.
Workforce funding
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ welcomes applications for grant funding to foster medical education, training and/or development for New Zealand breast cancer nurse specialists and clinical trial co-ordinators. Applicants must be involved in the prevention, detection, diagnosis or management of breast cancer in New Zealand. Enquire about the availability of this grant or apply through our grants portal.
Scholarships
BCFNZ offers two $3,000 scholarships for students commencing study towards, and attaining, a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences in Mammography at the University of Auckland. To apply, complete this form and email it to grants@bcf.org.nz.
The Foundation has also offered scholarships in the past for students commencing study in the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (Honours) Programme at the University of Otago. To enquire about the availability of this scholarship, email grants@bcf.org.nz.
Assessing applications
Grant applications may be reviewed by BCFNZ’s Medical Advisory Committee, or in partnership with other funders (i.e. Health Research Council), or by an independent review panel. The criteria for evaluating applications include an assessment of scientific merit, feasibility, originality, significance and ability to achieve the project’s objectives.
Retrospective funding will not be considered.
