# ChadTough Defeat DIPG Game Changer Grant

**Funder:** ChadTough DIPG Foundation
**Budget:** Up to $600k over 3 years
**Duration:** 3 years
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: LOI → Full Application
**Frequency:** Annual
**Official call:** https://chadtough.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026GameChangerApplication.pdf
**Last verified:** 21 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds hypothesis-driven, innovative research projects addressing major challenges in DIPG/DMG with potential for groundbreaking discoveries. Max $200k/year. Applications submitted via Proposal Central. Focused exclusively on DIPG/DMG research.

## Summary

The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Game Changer Grant funds up to $600,000 over three years for hypothesis-driven research addressing major challenges in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG). Eligible researchers pursue innovative, groundbreaking discoveries with potential to transform outcomes in these pediatric brain tumours. The call runs annually with a two-stage review process.

## Who should apply

- Researchers (any career stage) with expertise in DIPG or diffuse midline glioma biology or treatment
- Applicants at academic medical centres, research institutes, or universities with laboratory or clinical infrastructure
- Projects combining fundamental mechanisms with translational or clinical relevance to DIPG/DMG
- Hypothesis-driven proposals addressing specific bottlenecks in the field (e.g. tumour heterogeneity, treatment resistance, biomarkers)

## Key dates

- Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline: January 12 (annual)
- Invited full applications due: April 10 (approximately 12 weeks after LOI decision)
- Award announcement June, project start August 1 of same year
- Three-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- The LOI stage is a hard filter; use the page limit to signal a clear, focused hypothesis and preliminary data rather than a broad overview.
- DIPG/DMG specificity matters, panels reject proposals that could apply to other brain tumours; ground your innovation in mechanisms or vulnerabilities unique to midline gliomas.
- Highlight the potential for real-world impact on paediatric patients; ChadTough reviewers weight clinical translatability and feasibility alongside novelty.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I request in a ChadTough DIPG Game Changer Grant?

Up to $600,000 over three years, with a maximum of $200,000 per year.

### What research does the ChadTough DIPG Game Changer Grant fund?

Hypothesis-driven, innovative projects targeting major scientific or clinical challenges specific to DIPG or diffuse midline glioma.

### Is there a career stage restriction for the ChadTough DIPG Game Changer Grant?

No explicit career-stage restriction appears in the eligibility criteria; researchers at any stage working on DIPG/DMG may apply.

### How long does the ChadTough DIPG Game Changer Grant process take?

The LOI stage typically concludes by late February, with invited full applications due in April and awards announced in June.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/chadtough-dipg-foundation-chadtough-defeat-dipg-game-changer-grant-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.