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Improving Patient Access to Cancer Testing (IMPACT) funding opportunity

Illumina believes patient advocacy organizations are powerful catalysts for change that can drive equitable access, build community trust in genomics, and transform cancer care from the ground up

We are proud to support and partner with them to make these goals a reality through a new grant funding initiative called Improving Patient Access to Cancer Testing (IMPACT). The Illumina Corporate Foundation, through this IMPACT Funding Opportunity, will provide support to independent patient advocacy organizations in their mission to improve education, navigation, and support for patients and families affected by cancer.

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The goal of this opportunity

This funding opportunity offers targeted grants to patient advocacy groups to support education, patient navigation, and community-driven programs that help individuals understand cancer diagnosis and treatment pathways, including available diagnostic options. Grants awarded through this fund are intended to help transform insights, energy, and community-driven priorities into actionable programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals affected by cancer.

The Illumina Corporate Foundation is seeking initiatives that:

Raise awareness of the role of genomics in cancer care in innovative ways

Address access barriers to genomic testing and services

Increase agency and empowerment of patients and families through the use of genomic information

Eligibility
IMPACT grant award and funding

This grant program will award up to 8 grants totaling $100,000 USD with an average award of $10,000–$30,000 per project to oncology patient advocacy organizations in the United States.

Prior to funding being issued, all selected projects will undergo review by Illumina compliance and legal teams to ensure alignment with our internal policies and frameworks. Final approval is contingent upon this review and may not be granted if the request does not meet these internal requirements.

Note: Funding for the IMPACT grant is provided by the Illumina Corporate Foundation, and is not intended to induce or reward the purchase, order, or recommendation of any Illumina products. Funded programs must be independent of Illumina commercial activities and may not promote or recommend any specific company, product, or diagnostic test.

Grant application process and timeline

We are now accepting applications for our 2026 grantee cohort.

Application timeline

February 16, 2026

Request for proposals opens.

March 13, 2026

Proposals are due by 11:59 PM (PT).
Late submissions will not be accepted due to our strict review schedule.

April 10, 2026

Selected applicants notified and legal/compliance review begins. Applicants that are not selected will also be notified.

Funding and project timeline

May 1, 2026

Funding distributed to awardees.

May 4, 2026

Project kickoff.

April 30, 2027

Project completion.

Webinars and office hours

Illumina will host two optional informational sessions: February 18, 2026 at 11 AM (PT) and February 23, 2026 at 1 PM (PT). During these sessions, representatives from the Corporate Responsibility and Global Patient Advocacy teams will introduce Illumina and provide an overview of the Request for Proposals and the application process.

Information sessions
February 2026 office hours

Illumina is hosting optional office hours throughout February 2026 for applicants. These 30-minute slots allow applicants to ask the Illumina Global Patient Advocacy team questions about the application process. Interested applicants can sign up for an office hour slot.

Sign up for an office hour session

Application scoring criteria

Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

Impact & Urgency (25%)
  • How effectively will the project improve patient understanding, navigation, or access to cancer-related care and support services?
  • How quickly will the project deliver meaningful benefits to patients or communities?
  • Does the project address an unmet need in the community?
Innovation (20%)
  • Is the approach novel or creative in addressing genomics-related challenges?
  • Does it introduce new models, tools, or outreach strategies? Or does it implement an existing model in new ways or with a different population?
Community Relevance & Equity (20%)
  • Is the project tailored to the intended target population?
  • Does the organization have the needed trust and reach with the intended target population?
  • Does it address disparities in access to genomic services?
Feasibility & Sustainability (15%)
  • Is the project achievable within the proposed timeline and budget?
    • If no, have other funders been secured or identified?
  • Are there plans for sustaining the impact beyond the grant period?
Collaboration (10%)
  • Does the proposal involve partnerships between patient organizations, medical institutions, or other community groups?
  • If your proposal involves data collection, describe how you will facilitate data collaboration, including mechanisms for access, interoperability, and governance.
  • Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
Impact & Evaluation (10%)
  • What does success look like?
  • How will outcomes be measured and reported?
  • What specific data will you use? How will it be collected or monitored?

Guidance on resource creation

While we welcome proposals that include the development of educational or informational resources, proposals focused solely on resource creation will not be competitive.

Supported genomics use cases

The Improving Patient Access to Cancer Testing (IMPACT) funding opportunity supports programs that advance the use of genomics in cancer care. Proposals may incorporate one or more of the following use cases of genomics:

Genetic testing for inherited cancer risk

Expands access to testing that identifies inherited cancer risks, enabling earlier intervention and informed decision-making.

Biomarker testing / comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP)

Expands access to biomarker testing to identify actionable mutations and guide personalized treatment.

Liquid biopsy

Uses non-invasive blood tests to detect genomic alterations, monitor treatment response, or identify recurrence.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) testing

Assesses treatment effectiveness and detects early relapse.

Multi-cancer early detection (MCED)

Promotes awareness and access to technologies that detect multiple cancers at earlier stages.

Whole genome & transcriptome sequencing (WGTS)

Provides a full view of genomic and transcriptomic changes, especially in rare or hard-to-treat cancers.

Awardee requirements

Reports

Awardees must complete a mid-cycle and end-of-cycle grant report.

Participation in grantee cohort learning community

Awardees must participate in two IMPACT grantee cohort calls scheduled for June 17, 2026 and December 8, 2026. These calls will bring together the cohort with the Illumina Global Patient Advocacy team to discuss progress and share best practices.

Project impact presentation

In addition, once the project period is complete, all awardees will deliver a 5–7 minute presentation about their organization, program, and its impact in a webinar that will be available to all Illumina employees.

How to apply

Download this guide to get detailed information on how to apply for the 2026 IMPACT funding opportunity. This guide also includes a link to application portal.

Funding for this IMPACT grant is provided by the Illumina Corporate Foundation, and is not intended to induce or reward the purchase, order, or recommendation of any Illumina products.

Download guide