May 5, 2025, 12:59

AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants for Early-Stage Investigators

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is now accepting Letters of Intent for its 2025 Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants aimed at early-stage investigators. These prestigious grants are designed to empower new faculty to launch independent, innovative cancer research projects with the potential to significantly advance the field.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) and be at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track or equivalent, but not yet tenured). They must have begun their first independent faculty position on or after December 1, 2019, and hold independent lab space. Applicants may not be under consideration for a tenured position at the time of application. Active AACR membership in good standing is required. There are no citizenship restrictions.

Applicants with overlapping grant terms, current NIH R01 funding for the proposed project, or appointments beyond the Assistant Professor level are not eligible. Exceptions to the 6-year eligibility window may be made for parental or medical leave.

Funding at a glance:

Each grant provides 1,000,000 USD over three years for research-related expenses including:

Salary and benefits for the PI and collaborators (max 20%)
Research staff and trainees (postdocs, graduate students, assistants)
Supplies, equipment, and publication fees
Travel costs (up to $2,000) to attend the AACR Annual Meeting’s Grantee Recognition Event

Indirect costs are not permitted.

Key deadlines:

Letter of Intent (LOI): June 12, 2025 (1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time)
LOI Decision Notification: August 2025
Full Application (if invited): September 25, 2025
Award Notification: November 2025
Grant Start Date: December 1, 2025

Where to apply:

Submit all materials through ProposalCentral. First-time users must register and complete their profile before applying.

For more information:

Visit www.aacr.org/funding or email [email protected].

AACR AACR Trailblazer Grants academic research American Association for Cancer Research Assistant professor cancer cancer research funding Early-career researchers Funding opportunity independent investigator junior faculty OncoDaily Oncology proposalCENTRAL translational research

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