A collaborative career development award for junior faculty focusing on pancreatic cancer, co-funded by the Lustgarten Foundation and AACR. This grant honors the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by supporting an early-career investigator’s research that can improve understanding or treatment of pancreatic cancer – one of the deadliest malignancies. Projects may range from basic science to translational or clinical research, with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold a tenure-track faculty appointment at the level of assistant professor (or equivalent) and be within the first 5 years of starting that position (early independent career)keck.usc.edukeck.usc.edu.
- Research proposal must specifically address pancreatic cancer – this can include novel therapeutic strategies, biomarkers for early detection, molecular pathways driving pancreatic tumorigenesis, immunotherapy approaches, etc.
- Candidates should have demonstrated commitment to pancreatic cancer research (relevant publications or prior work in the field).
- Must be AACR members in good standing. Individuals with substantial independent funding (e.g. NIH R01 or large foundation grants) are generally not eligible, as this award is meant to bridge young investigators to larger grantskeck.usc.edu.
Funding Details:
- Award Amount: USD 300,000 over 3 years ($100K per year).
- Usage: Supports the awardee’s salary, research staff, supplies, and other research expenses directly related to the project.
- No indirect costs are allowed by AACR for these awards, ensuring full funds go to research.
- Awardees will receive mentorship opportunities through AACR and may be invited to present at AACR or Lustgarten Foundation events to showcase progress.
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: January 6, 2026. (No LOI; this is the full application due date.)
- Anticipated grant start: July 1, 2026. The award will be formally presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, acknowledging the RBG memorial honor.
Where to go for further information: