The Advancing Genomic Competence and Patient Centered Care in Metastatic Breast Cancer grant supports independent medical education initiatives that strengthen healthcare professional genomic competence and enhance patient-centred communication in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) care. This competitive grant programme, administered through Pfizer's internal review process, invites organisations to submit integrated educational proposals addressing both clinical and communication dimensions of genomically informed mBC management.

Overview

Genomic testing has become essential in modern mBC management, informing treatment selection, sequencing, and clinical trial participation. Across international markets, significant variability persists in how genomic testing is selected, interpreted, communicated, and applied in routine clinical practice. Many clinicians report limited training in translating complex genomic results into clear, patient-centred discussions. This grant opportunity seeks integrated educational programmes that simultaneously strengthen healthcare professional genomic competence and enhance patient-centred communication and shared decision-making in genomically informed mBC care.

Funding and Benefits

• Multicountry individual projects requesting up to $100,000.00 will be considered; smaller requests around $35,000.00 are also encouraged.
• Funding will support up to ten selected projects, whether national or multi-country.
• Award amounts include direct costs, institutional overhead costs (capped at 28% per Pfizer policy), and indirect costs.
• Maximum project length is 18 months.
• Anticipated project start date is November 2026, with an anticipated project end date of May 2028.

Eligibility

Geographic Scope: Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria:

• The following may apply: medical, nursing, allied health, and/or pharmacy professional schools; healthcare institutions (both large and small); professional organisations or medical societies; medical education companies; and other entities with a mission related to healthcare professional education and/or healthcare improvement.
• Only organisations are eligible to receive grants, not individuals or medical practice groups.
• If the project involves multiple departments within an institution or between different institutions, all must have a relevant role and the requesting organisation must have a key role.
• The applicant must be the project or programme lead or an authorised designee of such individual.
• The project or programme lead must be an employee or contractor of the requesting organisation.
• The requesting organisation must be legally able to receive award funding directly from Pfizer LLC.
• For projects offering continuing education credit, the requesting organisation must be accredited.
• For Indian institutions, a valid and active FCRA (for the entire duration of the grant) is mandatory.
• For Italy only, Educazione Continua in Medicina (ECM) events will not be supported; only non-ECM initiatives will be evaluated.

Research Areas and Activities

Proposals must address both pillars of genomic competence and patient-centred communication. Eligible educational activities may focus on one or more of the following objectives:

• Increasing understanding of fundamental genomic biology relevant to mBC subtypes and the selection and timing of genomic testing (e.g., tissue vs liquid, broad vs targeted panels).
• Improving healthcare professional knowledge and confidence in interpreting complex molecular reports, including actionable alterations, resistance mechanisms, and variants of uncertain significance.
• Building competence in applying genomic information to evidence-based treatment decision-making, including navigating evolving guidelines and regional access variability.
• Strengthening communication skills to explain genomic results in plain language, discuss uncertainty, and manage patient expectations.
• Enhancing capability to support shared decision-making that incorporates patient values, preferences, and quality-of-life considerations.
• Exploring the responsible use of AI-enabled learning tools (e.g., interactive case simulations, practice dialogues, personalised learning pathways) to reinforce genomic education and communication skills.

Educational formats may include: case-based workshops or masterclasses, modular virtual learning curricula, educational simulations of molecular case discussions, blended learning programmes, faculty-led or train-the-trainer models, expert interviews, conference coverage reviews, on-agenda sessions at live congresses, online articles, webinars, podcasts, videos, infographics, and animations.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the online portal at www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/IndependentMedEd. First-time users should create a password prior to the submission deadline. Applicants must complete all required sections of the online application and upload the project proposal in the General RFP Submission field. In the application, select "Yes" for the Competitive Grant question, select Oncology – Breast – IME as the Primary Area of Interest, and select 2026 INT Breast Cancer IME as the Competitive Grant Program Name.

Project proposals should be single-spaced using Calibri 12-point font with 1-inch margins and must not exceed 15 pages (exclusive of references). Proposals must address: goals and objectives, assessment of need, target audience, project design and methods, innovation, evaluation and outcomes, dissemination plan, anticipated timeline, additional information, organisation details, and budget narrative.

Deadline and Timeline

• RFP Release Date: 19 May 2026
• Submission Deadline: 20 July 2026 (23:59 Eastern Standard Time)
• Anticipated Grant Award Notification: September 2026
• Anticipated Project Start Date: November 2026
• Anticipated Project End Date: May 2028

Applications submitted after the due date will not be reviewed. For selected projects, Pfizer will support only those for which an executed grant agreement, protocol, and documentation of IRB/IEC approval, regulatory approval, exemption, or waiver are received by 15 November 2026.

Contact Information

For questions regarding this RFP, direct inquiries in writing to the Grant Officer, Nicola Fenderico, at nicola.fenderico@pfizer.com with the subject line "Advancing Genomic Competence and Patient Centred Care in Metastatic Breast Cancer". For technical difficulties with the submission website, refer to the "Technical Questions" link on the Cybergrants site.

All applicants will be notified via email by the dates noted above. Applicants may be asked for additional clarification during the review period.