Limited Submission Process Overview

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is pleased to announce this limited submission funding opportunity/award. Limited submission programs restrict the number of applications an institution may submit to the sponsor.

All interested PIs must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) through the UConn Quest Portal by the deadline listed below to be considered.

After the NOI deadline, OVPR will determine whether an internal competition is needed based on the number of NOIs received. If the number of NOIs does not exceed the sponsor’s limit, eligible PIs who submitted an NOI by the deadline are typically approved to move forward without an internal competition. If no NOIs are received, the opportunity may remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until all available slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first (see full process on our website).

Deadline

Date/Time

Notes

Internal NOI Deadline

Tuesday, 10/13/2026 by 12 noon

Required.

Internal Pre-proposal Deadline

Tuesday, 10/20/2026 by 12 noon

Only required if an internal competition is needed.

Sponsor LOI Deadline

11/13/2026, 12 p.m. ET

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline

TBA

Invite only.

Item

Details

Program Link

https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/our-grant-programmes/inspire-research-challenge/ 

Quest Portal Link

https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/inspire_FY27 

Award Details

£75,000

Number of UConn Applicants Allowed

3 Total

Eligibility Requirements

• Individuals who are within 2–7 years full-time equivalent (FTE) working in research since the award date of their PhD or equivalent higher research degree.
• Eligible applicants must be employed on a research contract within a department at a university-affiliated research institution or a medical school conducting research.

Program Description

The aim of the INSPIRE Research Challenge is to fund bold, innovative, and creative proposals with the potential to catalyze rapid and impactful advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. For the 2026–27 grant call, applications must focus on at least one of the six Research Priority Areas:

1. Integrative oncology
2. Lifestyle and weight-loss medications
3. Early-onset cancers
4. Early life exposures
5. Ingested contaminants
6. Ultra-processed foods

Question

Answer

What happens after the NOI deadline?

After the NOI deadline, one of three outcomes typically applies.

1. If the number of NOIs received exceeds the sponsor’s limit, OVPR will conduct an internal competition. 
2. If the number of NOIs does not exceed the sponsor’s limit, eligible PIs who have submitted an NOI by the deadline are typically approved to move forward without an internal competition. If any slots remain available, the opportunity will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. If no NOIs are received by the deadline, the opportunity will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until all available slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first.

Only PIs selected and approved by OVPR are eligible to submit to the sponsor.

What are the pre-proposal requirements?

If an internal competition is necessary, pre-proposals should include:

1. Maximum two-page summary describing the project and demonstrating how it will fulfill the program/solicitation criteria and contribute to meeting the research/education goals of the institution (if applicable).
2. A brief budget overview and justification, 1-2 pages. 
   
   1. Overhead is not covered.
3. Biosketches or CVs for all key personnel.

Please see the sponsor’s guidelines for details about program goals and application components.

What happens after the pre-proposal is submitted? 

1. Pre-proposals are reviewed by an ad hoc faculty committee with expertise in grant submission and relevant research areas. External reviewers may be involved when necessary.
2. After selections are made, all applicants will receive notification of the results (and reviewer feedback, when available) at the conclusion of the review.
3. Selected investigators will be approved to complete and submit full proposals according to the sponsor’s guidelines.

Where can I find more information?

For more information about the limited submission process, please visit our FAQ page.

For additional assistance, please contact us at research@uconn.edu.

How can I stay connected with UConn Research?

Follow UConn Research on Instagram & LinkedIn for all the latest information.