The LUNGevity Foundation Career Development Award (CDA) is the flagship early-career funding program of the nation’s leading lung cancer nonprofit, providing $300,000 over three years to outstanding junior faculty committed to advancing lung cancer early detection and treatment. This is a mentored award, emphasizing rigorous science in targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or early detection, with the dual goal of supporting groundbreaking projects and retaining talented investigators in the lung cancer field. LOIs were due February 17, 2026 and invited applicants are now in the full application phase. Awardees also receive access to LUNGevity’s Fall Science Meeting — an exclusive, invitation-only annual event connecting them with field luminaries and fellow researchers. The award is open to US-based investigators only.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent)
- Must be within the first 5 years of their first faculty appointment at a US academic or research institution at the time of application
- Must have completed a postdoctoral training fellowship prior to the faculty appointment
- This is a mentored award; a formal mentoring plan is required
- Only one CDA per institution per cycle (check institutional eligibility before applying)
- LOI stage is closed (LOI deadline was February 17, 2026); only applicants invited following LOI review may submit full applications
- US-based institutions only; applicants need not be US citizens or permanent residents
Funding Details:
- Up to $300,000 total over 3 years ($100,000/year)
- Funds cover direct research costs: salaries, supplies, equipment, and relevant travel
- Annual milestones must be met for continued funding in Year 2 and Year 3
- No indirect costs
Deadline:
- Full application deadline: approximately April–May 2026 (exact date communicated to invited LOI applicants; award recipients expected to be announced by late summer 2026)
- Full application submitted via ProposalCentral
Where to Go for Further Information: