Partnering for Innovation in Equitable Breast Cancer Care (PIEBC)

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ (BCFNZ) is now accepting applications for the Partnering for Innovation in Equitable Breast Cancer Care (PIEBC) 2026 grant round. This year, BCFNZ will award a single full research grant of up to NZD 600,000, to be delivered over four to five years.

PIEBC 2026 seeks to support an ambitious and innovative research project with clear clinical or system-level potential. The initiative is grounded in BCFNZ’s long-term aspiration of Zero deaths from breast cancer, and aligns with our Strategy 2025–2030, which emphasises earlier diagnosis, optimal treatment, and prevention of distant recurrence. A strong and explicit commitment to equity is essential, particularly in addressing persistent differences in stage at diagnosis, access to treatment, and outcomes for Māori, Pacific, and other under-served groups.

We welcome applications from any area of cancer research or practice across clinical, scientific, technological, community, data, and policy domains. We expect that the successful project will involve an interdisciplinary approach and collaboration with other researchers or institutions; there is also a requirement to have a named clinician on the research team.

Applications should address at least one of the following research challenge areas:

• Earlier diagnosis and faster pathways to treatment: Approaches that reduce barriers, enhance risk-based or personalised detection, or strengthen pathways that shift diagnoses to earlier stages.
• Improving treatment effectiveness and trial participation: Integration or optimisation of technologies, clinical processes, or trial infrastructure to ensure timely, effective, and equitable treatment and to expand participation in clinical research.
• Preventing distant recurrence: Research that improves prediction of recurrence risk and develops effective strategies to prevent recurrence or maintain dormancy.

The PIEBC 2026 round is a two-stage process, comprising a mandatory Registration followed by a Full Proposal invitation for shortlisted teams.

Registrations close at 1.00 pm, Tuesday 24 February 2026.

If you have any questions, please email grants@bcf.org.nz to discuss your project.