The Lustgarten Foundation–AACR Career Development Award in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers USD 300,000 over 3 years to support an outstanding junior faculty member focused on pancreatic cancer research. This grant honors the legacy of Justice Ginsburg by advancing innovative pancreatic cancer studies and promoting gender equity in science – applicants are required to engage with AACR’s Women in Cancer Research (WICR) constituency. The funding empowers an early-career investigator to launch or expand an independent project, with the ultimate goal of improving understanding and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) and not be training for another degree. They must also be AACR Active members in good standing and belong to the Women in Cancer Research (WICR) group prior to the application deadline. (WICR membership is open to all AACR members who support the advancement of women in oncology research.)
- At the start of the grant term (July 1, 2026), the applicant must hold a tenure-track faculty appointment at the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent independent position) and have been in that role for no more than 3 years. Those who have already advanced to Associate Professor or have over 3 years in an assistant professor position are not eligible.
- The applicant must have independent laboratory space and the ability to directly oversee research and funding at their institution. The institution may be located in any country (no citizenship restrictions), provided visa/permit status allows completion of the project.
- The research proposal must be relevant to pancreatic cancer. All areas of pancreatic cancer research (basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological) are welcomed. The candidate’s prior work and publications should demonstrate a commitment to this field or a compelling new approach to a pancreatic cancer problem.
Funding Details:
- Award: USD 300,000 total for 3 years (disbursed at USD 100,000 per year).
- Funds may be used for the Principal Investigator’s salary/fringe, salaries for lab personnel, laboratory supplies, equipment, and other research expenses directly related to the project. The grant does not cover institutional overhead.
- This Career Development Award is intended to secure protected time and resources for the investigator to make significant advances in pancreatic cancer research, helping them generate data that can lead to larger grants (e.g., R01-level funding).
- The Lustgarten Foundation (the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research) sponsors this award in partnership with AACR. As part of the award, the grantee might be invited to participate in Lustgarten/AACR events or conferences to present their findings. Mentorship and networking opportunities are provided through AACR’s WICR and other professional development programs.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM (ET).
- Grant recipients will be notified by March 2026. Funding commences July 1, 2026, and is contingent on maintaining AACR membership and WICR affiliation during the grant term.
Where to go for further information: