The aim of the AICC 2026 scheme is to support innovative, dynamic and collaborative cross-border cancer research activities focused on ‘Survivorship – Living Well With & Beyond Cancer’ to benefit people living across the island of Ireland and beyond.
An information webinar will take place on 25 February 2026 at 12:00. Registration here.
Scheme View Summary
AICC 2026 will invest to support opportunities advancing all-island collaboration on cancer research, stimulating innovation across the island of Ireland. The AICC 2026 call will target funding to support cancer research that focuses on survivorship, for people living well with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Cancer survivorship research covers the period from diagnosis to treatment outcome and seeks to improve care and outcomes experienced by people living with and past cancer. It will enable support of cross-border cooperation and joint efforts in cancer survivorship research.
The objectives of this scheme are:
- To stimulate, engage, develop, and improve all-island, multi-disciplinary cancer research collaborations, networking, and engagement
- Prime cancer research activity aligned to the Consortium’s priority areas with specific focus for 2026 to support ‘Survivorship-Living Well With & Beyond Cancer’
- Invest in high quality, innovative cancer research pilots, mapping activities, projects and/or education initiatives.
The overall goal of the scheme is to increase the level of collaboration and innovation amongst cancer researchers and experts across the jurisdictions of Ireland and Northern Ireland. As such we expect collaboration across the two jurisdictions to form a key component of the research proposal. All applicants will be required to have cross border collaborators as co-applicants to be deemed eligible to apply e.g., a Lead Applicant from Ireland requires a Co-Applicant from Northern Ireland and vice versa.
Applications can be submitted for pilot projects, mapping activities, standalone research projects, or the establishment of an education or training scheme (focused on survivorship), or similar. For full scope please refer to the AICC 2026 Scheme Guidance Notes.
Applications must also be aligned to the HRB’s strategic remit and one or both jurisdictions’ cancer strategies.
The AICC award is intended as a strategic and focused investment and must demonstrate added-value above and beyond any research activities, collaboration or networking that is currently taking place.
AICC 2026 is a two-tier scheme.
Tier one of the scheme is designed to allow for smaller scale applications which involve pilot projects or mapping activities due to occur over a maximum duration of 2 years to apply for funding, exclusive of overheads, up to a maximum of €100,000.
Tier two is for specific, targeted projects or education/training initiatives (focused on survivorship) which may occur over a maximum duration of 3-years to apply for funding, exclusive of overheads, up to a maximum of €330,000.
The total funding envelope for the AICC scheme including overheads contribution is €2 million, of which €500,000 is ring-fenced to support Tier 1 and €1.5 million for Tier 2 quality dependent.
Details of this scheme
The overall goal of the scheme is to increase the level of collaboration and innovation amongst cancer researchers and experts across the jurisdictions of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
As such we expect collaboration across the two jurisdictions to form a key component of the research proposal, however international collaborators as appropriate to the application are welcome.
All applicants will be required to have cross border co-applicants to be deemed eligible to apply e.g., a Lead Applicant from Ireland requires a Co-Applicant from Northern Ireland and vice versa.
An information webinar will take place on 25 February 2026 at 12:00. Registration here.
Who can apply?
This call is open to HRB recognised Host Institutions from Ireland and Northern Ireland. A list of currently approved Host Institutions can be found here.
Proposals should be made on behalf of a team made up of researchers, knowledge user(s) and PPI contributors.
All applicants will be required to have cross border collaborators as co-applicants to be deemed eligible to apply e.g., a Lead Applicant from Ireland requires a co-applicant from Northern Ireland and vice versa.
The Lead Applicant must:
- Hold a post (permanent or a contract that covers the duration of the grant) in a HRB recognised Host Institution in the island of Ireland (the “Host Institution”) as an independent investigator. For clinicians, an adjunct position in a HRB recognised Host Institution is acceptable.
OR
- Be an individual who will be recognised by the Host Institution upon receipt of a grant as an independent investigator who will have a dedicated office and research space for the duration of grant, for which they will be fully responsible. The Lead Applicant does not necessarily need to be employed by the Host Institution at the time of the proposal submission.
They must show evidence of achievement as an independent researcher in their chosen research field by:
- Demonstrating a record of research output, with at least three publications of original research in peer reviewed journals. Where appropriate, they should also provide evidence of other outputs (e.g., published book chapters, reports to government, research data and datasets, research materials, databases, audio/video products, national and/or international reports, patents, models and protocols, software production, evidence of influence on health policy and practice, outreach and/or knowledge translation activities, media coverage or other relevant activities) and/or any other relevant outputs that have resulted in a significant impact in their field.
- Demonstrating record of independence by showing that they have secured at least one peer-reviewed research grant for a research project/s, as either the Lead Applicant or a Co-Applicant. Funding received for travel to seminars/conferences and/or small personal bursaries will not be considered in this regard.
- Show evidence that they possess the capability and authority to manage and supervise the research team.
Applicants may apply to one, or both tiers, however can only submit a maximum of two proposals to the scheme as Lead Applicant.
How to apply:
Proposals must be completed and submitted through the HRB online Grant E-Management System (GEMS) (https://grants.hrb.ie/).
The AICC 2026 call has been simplified to a one-stage, full proposal, single submission which will then undergo a two-phase review process:
- Phase 1 – International Peer Review, Public Review & Applicant Right to Reply
- Phase 2 – International Panel Review & Funding Recommendations
GEMS will close the application form for this scheme automatically at 13:00 on 29 April 2026.
The application must have been reviewed and approved by the signatory approver at the research office (or equivalent) in the Host Institution before it is submitted to the HRB. Therefore, applicants should ensure that they give the signatory approver sufficient time before the scheme closing date to review the application and approve it on GEMS. Please note that many host institutions specify internal deadlines for this procedure.
Apply for this award
Contact us:
Dr Aisling Rehill -Gilbert
email: arehill@hrb.ie
Mr Gavin Lawler
Email: glawler@hrb.ie
Research and Innovation Infrastructures
Research Strategy and Funding