The Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research Grants support promising breast cancer investigators in the early stages of their faculty careers. The program provides protected research time, structured mentorship, and career-development support to help recipients establish independent breast cancer research programs.
Eligible projects must be hypothesis-driven and focused on breast cancer. Research may involve basic, translational, clinical, population, or data sciences and should align with Komen priorities in metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, personalized breast cancer care, health equity, and improved outcomes for everyone affected by the disease.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, DrPH, DO, or equivalent doctoral degree.
- Applicants must not simultaneously hold another Susan G. Komen grant.
- Applicants must not currently be, or previously have been, Principal Investigator on an NIH R01 or equivalent independent research award as of the anticipated award notification date.
- Applicants must conduct the research and career-development activities at the Lead Mentor’s U.S.-based institution.
- Applicants must devote at least 75% of their full-time professional effort to breast cancer research and related activities.
- Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- The Lead Mentor must hold a full-time faculty appointment at the same U.S.-based institution as the applicant.
- The Lead Mentor or at least one Mentor Committee member must have breast cancer research expertise.
Funding Details:
- Applicants may request up to USD 150,000 per year.
- The maximum grant period is three years.
- The maximum total award is USD 450,000, including direct and indirect costs.
- Reasonable compensation and expense reimbursement for Patient Advocates may be included.
- Equipment expenses may not exceed 25% of total direct costs.
- Personnel salaries charged to the project are limited to a base salary of USD 250,000 per year.
Deadline:
- LOI announcement released: May 28, 2026.
- Institutional opt-in deadline: June 10, 2026.
- Letter of Intent deadline: July 29, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- LOI decisions: August 17, 2026.
- Invited full application deadline: October 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Further Information:
- The program follows a two-stage process: institutional nomination and LOI submission, followed by an invitation-only full application.
- The LOI requires a one-page research narrative, NIH-format applicant biosketch, signed Other Support document, institutional support letter, and identification of the Lead Mentor.
- Invited applicants must establish a Mentor Committee, typically comprising three to five members, including a Lead Mentor and Patient Advocate Mentor.
- Full applications include an eight-page research and career-development plan, statistical plan, research timeline, Data Sharing Plan, budget, institutional documents, and letters from mentors and collaborators.
- Official program information and application details: Visit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Funding Opportunities page for the current program status, official announcement, eligibility guidance, application dates, and related documents. (komen.org