A new collaborative grant accelerating the careers of rising cancer researchers. Co-funded by AACR and the Think Forward Foundation, it supports an early-career independent investigator with a transformative project in any area of cancer research. Provides three years of sustained funding to help establish the awardee’s research program.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Junior faculty researcher (MD, PhD, or equivalent) with independent appointment (e.g. Assistant Professor) obtained within the last few years.
- Open to investigators at institutions worldwide (AACR membership required). No citizenship restriction . The research must be cancer-focused (basic, translational, or clinical).
- Must not have already received a comparable young investigator award from AACR. A mentor’s letter or institutional support statement is usually needed.
Funding Details:
- Amount/Duration: $300,000 USD over 3 years (approx. $100k per year).
- Funding Scope: Can be used for personnel (including partial salary of awardee), supplies, equipment, and other research costs. Intended to allow exploration of high-impact ideas and generation of data for larger grants.
- Award Term: Starting July 2026. Progress reports required annually; mentorship and AACR engagement opportunities provided.
Deadline:
- December 18, 2025 – Letter of Intent (LOI) due . Invited full applications will be due April 2026 , with funding decisions by June 2026.
Where to go for further information: