The FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award supports promising researchers and physician-scientists pursuing independent careers in kidney cancer research.
Recipients join the virtual Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators, which provides intensive mentorship, national networking, scientific collaboration, leadership development, and a peer community of early-career kidney cancer researchers. Scholars conduct a four-year research project under the guidance of an established kidney cancer investigator and participate in monthly virtual meetings and required in-person Academy workshops.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be independent early-career researchers or physician-scientists affiliated with an eligible organization.
- Applicants must have approximately 50% institutional protected time for kidney cancer research and Academy activities.
- Applicants recommended for funding cannot hold a concurrent career-development-type award when the Kidney Cancer Research Program award is issued.
- Each applicant may serve as Principal Investigator on only one FY26 Early-Career Scholar Award application.
- Applicants must identify a Designated Mentor who is an independent, established kidney cancer investigator with a strong record of publications, funding, and successful mentorship.
- The institutional mentor must be an independent researcher with relevant expertise and a record of cancer research funding but is not required to specialize in kidney cancer.
- There are no citizenship, nationality, or ethnicity restrictions.
Funding Details:
- The maximum award amount is USD 1.2 million in total costs.
- The maximum project period is four years.
- Approximately USD 2.4 million is expected to support around two Early-Career Scholar Awards.
- Both direct and indirect costs must be included within the USD 1.2 million total-cost limit.
- Funding may support salaries for the Early-Career Scholar, Designated Mentor, institutional mentor, and research staff.
- Tuition and clinical-trial expenses are not eligible.
Deadline:
- Required Letter of Intent deadline: September 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Full application deadline: September 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Application verification period ends: October 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Peer review: December 2026.
- Awards are expected to be issued no later than September 30, 2027.
Further Information:
- Projects may involve basic, translational, or clinical research, but clinical trials are not allowed. Preliminary data demonstrating project feasibility are required, although the data do not need to come from kidney cancer research.
- Applications must address at least one FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program focus area, such as kidney cancer biology, early detection, rare kidney cancers, less toxic treatments, survivorship, health outcomes, or development of the next generation of kidney cancer investigators.
- The application process requires a one-page Letter of Intent through eBRAP followed by a complete full application; the LOI is mandatory but is used for planning rather than competitive screening, and applicants do not need to wait for an invitation.
- The full application requires a Project Narrative, Career Development and Sustainment Plan, technical and lay abstracts, Impact Statement, Statement of Work, mentor letters, Statement of Eligibility, budget, biosketches, and current and pending support.
- Official program information and application details: Visit the CDMRP funding opportunities page and search for Funding Opportunity Number HT942526KCRPAKCIECSA to access the complete announcement, submission portals, application forms, General Application Instructions, and current updates.