The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old STAR Program empowers mid-career scientists to pursue high-risk, high-reward research in cancer immunotherapy. Providing long-term, flexible funding, this program supports innovative researchers whose bold ideas have the potential to transform the field.
Eligibility Criteria:
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Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. (or equivalent).
- Candidates must be tenure-track faculty:
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Assistant professors with at least 3 years in the position (appointed on or before July 1, 2023).
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Associate professors with no more than 3 years in the position (appointed on or after July 1, 2023).
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Adjunct or acting faculty positions are not eligible.
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Applicants must commit a minimum of 80% of their time to research.
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No citizenship restrictions. Research may be conducted at medical schools or research centers in the U.S. or abroad.
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CRI does not fund research at for-profit institutions.
Funding Details:
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Total award: USD 1.25 million over 5 years.
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Institutions receive up to 10% indirect costs in addition to the total award amount.
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Funding is flexible and supports innovative, investigator-driven research rather than a specific project.
Deadline:
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Application Deadline: January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time).
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Invitations for virtual interviews will be issued in early March 2026.
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Interviews take place in Spring 2026 (date TBD).
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Earliest award start date: July 1, 2026.
Where to go for further information: