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Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy

Annual Giving
$1.7M
Grant Range
$250K - $0.5M

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,735,344 (FY 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Multi-stage review process (LOI then full application)
  • Grant Range: $250,000 - $500,000 (typically over 2-3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: United States and Canada
  • Total Assets: $7,929,383 (FY 2023)

Contact Details

Address: 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, CT 06902

Phone: (203) 358-5055

Email: info@acgtfoundation.org

Website: https://acgtfoundation.org/

Program Inquiries: Barbara Lavery, Chief Program Officer - blavery@acgtfoundation.org

Overview

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), founded in 2001 by Barbara and Edward Netter, is the only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to advancing research in cell and gene therapies for treating cancer. With total assets of $7.9 million and annual giving of approximately $1.7 million (FY 2023), ACGT has awarded $34.2 million through 67 grants to 63 innovative researchers across 38 top medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada since inception. The organization's mission is to drive breakthrough cell and gene research to develop living medicines that leverage the body's immune system to defeat cancer. ACGT focuses on translational research with clearly defined paths to clinical trials and patient care, prioritizing projects with robust scientific foundations. The organization has historically emphasized solid tumors including pancreatic, brain, ovarian, prostate, and lung cancers, as well as pediatric sarcomas and cancer metastasis. In 2024, the organization added Dr. Bruce L. Levine, the Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, to its 16-member Board of Directors. ACGT operates on a highly efficient model with only 2 employees, ensuring 100% of public donations directly support frontline scientists.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Investigator Awards in Cell and Gene Therapy: $250,000 - $500,000 over 2-3 years

  • Focused Request for Applications (RFAs) issued for specific cancer types
  • Recent programs include breast cancer (co-funded with Cinelli Family Foundation), gynecological cancers, and pancreatic cancer (Edward Netter Memorial Award)
  • Applications submitted through Altum Proposal Central platform
  • Rolling basis with specific RFA deadlines announced periodically

Collaboration Challenge Awards: $1.5 million - $3 million

  • Multi-institutional collaborative research projects
  • Recent example: $3 million investment in pediatric cancer collaborations (2024)
  • Matching funds often required, effectively doubling total investment

Biotech Funding Program: Variable amounts

  • Supports projects with biotechnology companies in formal relationships with academic investigators
  • Prioritizes "projects with robust scientific foundations and clearly defined paths to the clinic and the patient"

Priority Areas

  • Cell and gene therapy research for cancer treatment, specifically:
    • CAR T-cell therapy development
    • Oncolytic virus therapy
    • Engineered T-cell therapies
    • Cancer immunotherapy approaches
    • Translational research advancing toward human clinical trials
  • Solid tumors (pancreatic, brain, ovarian, prostate, lung cancers)
  • Pediatric cancers (sarcomas, medulloblastoma, ependymoma)
  • Cancer metastasis
  • Current emphasis on gynecological and breast cancers through specific 2025 RFAs

What They Don't Fund

  • Administrative staff salaries unrelated to the specific project
  • Equipment purchases in the final year of a grant period
  • Research conducted outside the United States or Canada
  • Non-cancer-related cell and gene therapy research
  • Basic research without clear translational potential toward clinical trials

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Kevin Honeycutt - President and CEO

  • Elected to the Board of Directors in June 2022

Barbara Lavery - Chief Program Officer

  • Joined ACGT in 2019
  • Responsible for programmatic initiatives, including leadership of the Academic Research Program and Biotechnology Investment Program
  • Works with the Board of Directors and Alliance Partners to identify and fund critical collaborations
  • Previously president of strategic communications consulting firm for healthcare/biotech companies and VP of Strategic Alliances at Global Genes
  • Contact: blavery@acgtfoundation.org

Keri Eisenberg - Chief Philanthropy Officer

  • Joined in early 2023

Board of Directors (16 members)

Barbara Netter - Honorary Chair, Co-Founder

Bruce L. Levine, PhD - Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy, University of Pennsylvania (joined 2024)

Marc Engelsgjerd, MD - Vice President, Search & Evaluation, Royalty Pharma

Dan Englander - Founder and Managing Partner, Ursula Capital Partners

Alexandra N. Landes - Co-Founder and Executive Director, Wendy Walk

Gbola Amusa, MD, MBA, CFA - Partner and Chief Scientific Officer, Chardan

Chen Schor, MBA, CPA - President and CEO, Adicet Bio

The Board comprises scientists, biotech and pharma leaders, venture capitalists, philanthropists, and patient advocates.

Scientific Advisory Council (14 members)

Michael T. Lotze, MD - Council Chair, Professor of Surgery, Immunology and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center

Notable Members Include:

  • Crystal L. Mackall, MD - Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor, Stanford University; Founding Director, Stanford Center for Cancer Cell Therapy
  • Carl June, MD - University of Pennsylvania
  • Katy Rezvani - MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Mitchell H. Finer, PhD - ElevateBio
  • Stephen Russell, MD, PhD - Vyriad
  • George Yancopoulos, MD, PhD - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD - Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Shari Pilon-Thomas, PhD - Moffitt Cancer Center
  • Christine Brown, PhD - City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Council is described as "14 conscientious and committed members who are widely regarded as among the most accomplished thought-leaders in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

  • Submit through Altum Proposal Central (online platform)
  • LOIs assessed by at least two Scientific Advisory Council members or approved reviewers
  • Evaluated for responsiveness to the Request for Applications and alignment with ACGT's mission

Step 2: Full Application (by invitation only)

  • Invited applicants submit comprehensive proposal including:
    • Biosketch
    • Budget (including maximum 10% indirect costs)
    • Research plan (10-page maximum)
    • Literature citations (up to 4 additional pages)
    • Letter of reference
  • Applications must be signed by institutional representative (Grants and Contacts Department or Legal Department)
  • Applications peer reviewed by 2-3 field experts
  • No revisions permitted after submission deadline
  • Prior to deadline, modifications possible by contacting Altum customer service at 800-875-2562

Step 3: Scientific Advisory Council Review

  • Highest-scoring applications from peer review form finalist pool
  • Council makes final recommendations for approval
  • Grant funds disbursed following execution of grant agreement

Submission Platform: Applications submitted through Altum Proposal Central

Stay Informed: Join mailing list at acgtfoundation.org/who-we-are/contact-us/ for deadline notifications and funding announcements

Decision Timeline

Multi-stage process with variable timelines depending on specific RFA. Typical stages include:

  1. LOI submission and review
  2. Full application invitation (for responsive LOIs)
  3. Peer review by 2-3 experts
  4. Scientific Advisory Council final review and recommendations
  5. Grant agreement execution

Specific timelines vary by funding opportunity and are announced with each RFA.

Success Rates

ACGT reported 6 awards made in FY 2023 from grant funding of $1,735,344. The organization has noted receiving a "record number of scientists applying to ACGT for grant funding in 2022," though specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Since inception in 2001, ACGT has awarded 67 grants to 63 researchers across 38 institutions, totaling $34.2 million.

Reapplication Policy

Applications may be submitted only once per funding cycle with no changes permitted after the deadline. The search results do not explicitly address whether unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent funding cycles. Applicants should contact Barbara Lavery (blavery@acgtfoundation.org) for clarification on reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

ACGT-Specific Priorities:

  1. Translational Focus: ACGT prioritizes "projects with robust scientific foundations and clearly defined paths to the clinic and the patient." The Biotech Funding Program particularly emphasizes this criterion. Applications should clearly articulate how the research will advance toward human clinical trials.

  2. Cell and Gene Therapy Expertise: All funded projects must focus specifically on cell and gene therapy approaches to cancer treatment. Recent examples include:

    • Philip Greenberg, MD (Fred Hutchinson) - engineered CD4 and CD8 T cells for pancreatic cancer
    • Ben Z. Stanger, MD, PhD and Carl June, MD (University of Pennsylvania) - KRAS inhibition with FAP-CAR T cells
    • Stephen Gottschalk, MD - CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric sarcomas
    • Juan Fueyo, MD - oncolytic virus therapy for glioblastoma

  3. Review Criteria: Applications are peer reviewed with "the highest scores determining the pool of finalists from which the ACGT Scientific Advisory Council makes its final recommendations." Strong scientific methodology, innovation, and feasibility are critical.

  4. Institutional Credibility: ACGT has historically funded researchers at "premier academic institutions" and "top medical institutions." Being at a recognized research center with strong infrastructure for gene therapy research strengthens applications.

  5. Budget Discipline: Grants include a maximum of 10% indirect costs, significantly lower than typical NIH grants. Applications should demonstrate efficient use of funds focused directly on research activities rather than administrative overhead.

  6. Equipment Planning: Equipment purchases are not permitted in the final grant year, so applicants should plan equipment acquisition for earlier grant years.

  7. Collaborative Potential: Recent major investments in collaborative research (e.g., $3 million for pediatric cancer collaborations) suggest ACGT values multi-institutional partnerships and cross-disciplinary approaches.

  8. Application Precision: "No revisions are permitted after submission," so applications must be thoroughly vetted and complete before deadline. This underscores the importance of internal institutional review before submission.

Recent Funded Project Examples:

  • CHOP and Hula Therapeutics: "Translating peptide-centric CAR T-cell therapies for childhood cancer" (John Maris, MD and Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD)
  • STAR Collaboration: Synthetic T-cell therapy against recurrent pediatric brain tumors focusing on medulloblastoma and ependymoma (Stephen Gottschalk, MD; Crystal Mackall, MD; Sheila Singh, MD, PhD)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Niche Focus: ACGT is the only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to cancer cell and gene therapy research—applications outside this specific area will not be considered
  • Translational Pathway Required: Applications must demonstrate "clearly defined paths to the clinic and the patient" with realistic progression toward human clinical trials
  • Efficient Model, Direct Impact: With only 2 employees and 100% of public donations supporting research, ACGT operates highly efficiently—budget requests should reflect similar efficiency (10% indirect cost maximum)
  • Two-Stage Process: Strong Letters of Intent are critical to receiving full application invitations—invest time in crafting compelling, concise LOIs that align with the specific RFA
  • No Second Chances: Applications may be submitted only once per cycle with no revisions after deadline—ensure thorough institutional review before submission
  • Stay Connected: Join ACGT's mailing list to receive announcements about new RFAs, as funding opportunities are issued periodically for specific cancer types
  • Leverage Council Expertise: With 14 Scientific Advisory Council members who are leading experts in cancer cell and gene therapy, applications reviewed by this group receive exceptional scientific scrutiny—proposals must meet the highest standards of scientific rigor

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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