The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has issued a request for applications for its Career Development Awards to Foster Diversity and Inclusion.
This program is intended to encourage and support early-stage scientists engaged in cancer research. Proposed projects may be in basic, translational, or population sciences related research and must have direct applicability and relevance to the understanding, detection, diagnosis, interception, treatment, or prevention of cancer. Clinical research projects will not be funded.
$300,000 will be awarded over a 3-year project period.
At the start of the grant term on September 1, 2026, applicants must:
- Have a doctoral degree in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral or professional degree.
- Have no clinical responsibilities.
- Hold a faculty position with the title of assistant professor, instructor, research assistant professor, or the equivalent.
- Have attained their first independent investigator position no earlier than September 1, 2020 and no later than September 1, 2026.
- Have independent laboratory space.
- Not have been a PI on a substantial independent research award (R01, DP2, DP5, MIRA, or equivalent).
At the time of application, applicants must be AACR members in good standing. Nonmembers can apply for membership online before applying; AACR can help match prospective members with nominating members if needed.
To Apply:
- This is an open RFP (UCSF may submit an unlimited number of applications).
- Follow application instructions in RFP, conferring with your Grants Officer as needed. Please notify your Grants Officer as soon as possible of your intention to apply to ensure that they will have enough time to support your application.
- LOI deadline is January 27, 2026. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, the deadline will be May 19, 2026.
For more information and to review complete application instructions and eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.aacr.org/grants/aacr-career-development-awards-to-foster-diversity-and-inclusion/.