Apr 17, 2025, 12:22

Emerging Leader Award – The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

The Emerging Leader Awards support early-career investigators pursuing high-risk, high-impact cancer research that is distinct from their existing research portfolio. This prestigious grant, funded by The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, is designed to empower the next generation of cancer research leaders to take bold scientific risks with transformative potential in laboratory, data-driven, or medical science.

Eligibility Criteria

Must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent
Employed at a U.S. or Canadian non-profit academic institution
3 to 8 years into an independent faculty appointment as of December 31, 2025 (i.e., started between 2017–2022)
Must have multi-year independent funding supporting their lab (e.g., NIH R01, NSF CAREER)
Proposed project must not overlap with existing funded research
Only one submission per applicant permitted
Finalists must be available for virtual interviews during the week of October 13, 2025

Funding Details

Amount: 250,000 USD per year
Duration: 3 years (Total: 750,000 USD)
Indirect Costs: Up to 10% of direct costs (included in total)
Funds support a single PI; collaborators allowed with letters of support
Start Date: January 1, 2026

Submission Process

LOI Due: May 5, 2025, by 5 PM ET
Submit via: The Mark Foundation online portal (registration required)

Key Dates

March 26, 2025: LOI portal opens
May 5, 2025: LOIs due
Week of June 16: Invitations for full applications
July 28, 2025: Full applications due
Week of September 29: Finalists notified
Week of October 13, 2025: Finalist interviews
January 1, 2026: Grant start date

biomedical science cancer Cancer research Cancer Research Grants Early-career researchers Emerging Leader Award high-impact research high-risk research laboratory innovation MD PhD fellowships OncoDaily Oncology research funding The Mark Foundation Translational Oncology

Smoking and Bladder Cancer: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself

Cervical Cancer Screening: Who Needs a Pap Smear or HPV Test and When?

Clinical Trials in Cancer Care: What They Are, How to Join, and What to Expect

Linda Evangelista and Breast Cancer: How She Went Against, How She Survived, and More

Agenus Enters New Era With $141M Zydus Deal Signaling Strategic Transformation in Immuno-Oncology