The CRI IGNITE Award is a new initiative by the Cancer Research Institute to support exceptional late-stage postdoctoral fellows as they transition to independent faculty positions in cancer immunology. This grant – $1.05 million over 3 years – is meant to “ignite” the careers of young scientists who have demonstrated outstanding talent and creativity . It provides a robust jump-start for newly minted principal investigators to establish their labs and launch novel research programs in cancer immunotherapy. By securing the IGNITE Award, a rising scientist gains critical resources to pursue bold ideas (e.g., exploring uncharted immune mechanisms or developing innovative therapies) at the outset of their independent career.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be senior postdoctoral researchers or clinical fellows at the cusp of starting an independent lab. Typically, candidates are in their final 1–2 years of postdoctoral training and are expected to obtain a tenure-track assistant professor position by the award start.
- Focus on cancer immunology/immunotherapy: Candidates should have strong immuno-oncology backgrounds, evidenced by impactful publications or discoveries during their fellowship. The research proposal must address an important question in tumor immunology or cancer immune therapies.
- No citizenship restrictions – open globally. However, award activation requires the recipient to have secured a faculty post at a nonprofit research institution by the time funding begins. The application should outline the support to be provided by the host institution (startup, lab space) to ensure the candidate’s successful transition.
- Only applicants who do not yet have a funded independent position at the time of application are eligible. (If already in a PI role, they should consider other CRI grants.)
Funding Details:
- Grant amount: $1,050,000 USD over 3 years . This is disbursed as $350,000 per year. It is a largely flexible funding package: can cover the new PI’s salary, key reagents and equipment to set up their lab, and hiring of initial lab staff.
- The award start date is expected mid-2026 and runs for 36 months. Annual progress reports are required. Continuation of funding in years 2 and 3 is contingent on the recipient securing and maintaining a faculty appointment and making research progress.
- No indirect costs are allowed. IGNITE recipients will also receive mentorship and engagement through CRI’s network.
- They may be invited to present at CRI meetings and will join a cohort of other early-career CRI-funded scientists.
- This award is non-renewable. It is intended as a one-time boost to independence, after which recipients are expected to compete for other grants (e.g., federal R01s). If a recipient does not transition to a faculty position in a timely manner, unused funds may be retracted.
Deadline:
- January 9, 2026 – Full application due via the CRI grants portal by this date . (There is no separate LOI; this is a one-step application.) Award notifications will likely be made by spring 2026 so that funding can commence as early as July 2026.
Where to go for further information: