The FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award supports promising early-career scientists and physician-scientists working to establish independent careers in kidney cancer research.
Recipients join the interactive Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators (AKCI), combining a four-year research project with intensive mentorship, networking, scientific collaboration, leadership development, monthly virtual meetings, and in-person Academy workshops. Each award provides up to $1.2 million in total costs over four years, with approximately two awards expected.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be less than 7 years from their last postdoctoral research position, clinical fellowship, or equivalent by the September 28, 2026 full application deadline.
- Applicants may be either research scientists or physician-scientists.
- The Early-Career Scholar must devote at least 25% effort to the award during the first two years.
- Each investigator may be named PI on only one FY26 AKCI-ECSA application.
- Applicants must identify a Designated Mentor who is an established, independent kidney cancer investigator with a strong record of publications and mentorship.
- If the Designated Mentor is based at another institution, the applicant must also identify an Other Mentor at the Scholar’s institution.
- Eligible applicant organizations include foreign and domestic, nonprofit and for-profit, public and private organizations.
- There are no citizenship, nationality, or ethnicity restrictions for the PI.
Funding Details
- Maximum award: $1.2 million in total costs.
- Maximum duration: 4 years.
- Total program funding: Approximately $2.4 million.
- Expected awards: Approximately 2.
Deadline
- Required Letter of Intent: September 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
- Full application deadline: September 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
- Application verification period ends: October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
- Peer review: December 2026.
- Programmatic review: March 2027.
- Awards are expected to be made no later than September 30, 2027.
Further Information
- The required LOI is limited to one page and must briefly describe the research and identify the applicable KCRP Focus Area(s).
- Pre-applications are submitted through eBRAP; full applications from extramural organizations are submitted through Grants.gov.
- Official program page: View on Simpler.Grants.gov
- Grants.gov: View the official opportunity
- Full program announcement: View the FY26 AKCI-ECSA guidelines