Sarcoma Foundation awards eight 2026 research grants

The Sarcoma Foundation of America has awarded eight grants totaling almost $600,000 to researchers studying sarcoma, a group of rare cancers in soft tissue and bone. The funding supports work on new treatments and disease biology as the foundation continues its role as the largest private funder of sarcoma research.

Why it matters: - The Sarcoma Foundation of America is directing nearly $600,000 into eight new studies aimed at improving understanding of sarcoma and advancing treatment options for rare cancers. - Sarcoma affects soft tissue and bone, and the grant program is designed to support work with potential to move the field closer to a cure. - The foundation has now invested more than $27 million in sarcoma research through grants and collaborative initiatives.

What happened: - The Sarcoma Foundation of America announced the recipients of its 2026 Research Grant Program on Oct. 14, 2026. - Eight researchers received awards of up to $75,000 each. - The awards support projects at universities and cancer centers in the U.S. and abroad.

The details: - Padmini Bisoyi, PhD, MSc, of the Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, received a grant for "WEE1/PKMYT1 Dual Targeting in CIC::DUX4 Sarcoma." - Ignazio Caruana, PhD, of University Hospital of Würzburg (Universitätsklinikum Würzburg), received funding for "Translation of Autophagy-Reprogrammed B7-H3 CAR T." - Ping Chi, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, received support for "Understanding and targeting MYC in angiosarcoma." - Yuan Gao, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, received funding for "Lipid-Sensing ETV6 Vulnerability in Ewing Sarcoma." - David Kirsch, MD, PhD, of University Health Network, received support for "Optimizing CDK4/6 blockade in epithelioid sarcoma." - Shannon Oda, PhD, of Seattle Children’s Hospital, received funding for "Developing multipronged cell therapy for RMS." - Ian Roundtree, MD, PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, received support for "An Implantable Microdevice in Soft Tissue Sarcoma." - Haoqiang Ying, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, received funding for "Targeting ATRX mutation in UPS." - All proposals were peer reviewed by members of SFA’s Medical Advisory Board, which selected the projects with the strongest promise for progress toward a cure. - More information on SFA’s research efforts is available at the foundation’s research grants policy.

Between the lines: - The grant list shows SFA spreading support across different sarcoma subtypes and research approaches, including cell therapy, targeted treatment, and implantable testing tools. - SFA’s funding approach combines disease-specific philanthropy with peer review, which is meant to push money toward projects judged most likely to advance the science. - The foundation’s scale matters because sarcoma is rare, with relatively few patients compared with more common cancers, making dedicated research funding harder to secure.

What's next: - The funded teams are expected to use the grants to advance preclinical and translational research over the next phase of their projects. - SFA said it will continue its research, education, and advocacy work on behalf of sarcoma patients. - The foundation also points readers to additional information about its broader mission and social channels at curesarcoma.org.

The bottom line: - SFA is using its 2026 grant cycle to back early-stage research that could shape future sarcoma treatments, while reinforcing its role as the largest private funder in the space.