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For Institutions: AACR CARES High School Scholars Program Grant

Overview

The AACR invites cancer research institutions to apply for funding to host the Summer Research Experience component of the AACR Cancer Research Education for Success (CARES) High School Scholars Program. This initiative is designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of cancer researchers by providing high school students, including those from under-resourced schools, with immersive, hands-on exposure to cancer research.

Through this grant opportunity, selected institutions will receive funding to host five to six high school students for a mentored summer research experience. Institutions are encouraged to design a program that reflects their unique strengths and signature areas of excellence while aligning with the AACR’s framework.

In addition to the summer experience hosted by institutions, the AACR will lead a Continuing Mentorship component that provides students with sustained career development support for one year following the program. This includes structured mentoring, academic guidance, and opportunities for engagement before, during, and after the summer experience to foster long-term interest in STEM and cancer research.

We welcome applications from institutions committed to advancing STEM education and fostering early engagement in cancer research. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of cancer science by offering meaningful research experiences to promising young scholars.

  • Grant Amount: $27,500-$39,000
  • Grant Term: 4 months
  • Start of Grant Term: May 1, 2026
  • Application Deadline: February 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. (ET)
  • Decision Date: late-March 2026
  • Additional Information: Additional details regarding this grant can be found in the Program Guidelines and Application Instructions. Final determinations of eligibility will not be completed until the AACR is in receipt of the submitted application.

Description

The AACR CARES High School Scholars Program is intended to support institutions to develop and implement high school summer research programs and provide five to six students, including those from under-resourced high schools, with a dynamic and innovative experience in cancer research to motivate and equip the next generation of cancer researchers.

Each institution will be responsible for overseeing the recruitment and selection of students and providing a mentored experience in cancer research. The proposed program must be at least 6 weeks in duration and incorporate lectures, enrichment activities, a research practicum, and a cumulative project/final deliverable. Students are expected to participate in activities for at least 25 hours per week.

This grant provides $20,000-$24,000 for student stipends, with each student receiving $4,000.

This grant also provides $7,500 to support implementation of the onsite summer program. Smaller host institutions, defined as those without National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation but with strong high school outreach and cancer research capacity, may receive an additional $7,500, for a total of up to $15,000 in program support. Funds may also be designated for personnel or non-personnel expenses, that pertain directly to the summer program. Funds may also be used for indirect costs.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all eligibility criteria and instructions carefully before submitting your application.

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions

Summer Program Required Elements

The proposed program must include a structured curriculum that introduces students to cancer research and provides meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. The curriculum must meet the following required elements:

Onsite Program Administrator

Each proposed program must designate an Onsite Program Administrator, who will serve as the primary point of contact with the AACR. This individual will be responsible for overseeing the logistics and day-to-day implementation of the summer program.

The Onsite Program Administrator does not need to be an AACR member and may be someone other than the PD/PI listed on the grant.

Duration and Time Commitment

The proposed high school summer program must be at least six weeks in duration. Students are expected to participate in activities for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

Curriculum Components

The curriculum must include:

  1. Lectures and Enrichment Activities on Cancer Research and Professional Opportunities that highlight the wide scope of cancer research and the range professional opportunities within the field. These activities should introduce students to the fundamental types of cancer research across the cancer continuum and offer a broad overview. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, Introduction to Cancer Research, Why Cancer Research Needs You, and Careers in Cancer Research.
  2. Research Practicum Component that provides students with hands-on engagement in a research setting, allowing them to actively participate in day-to-day lab activities and scientific inquiry. Each student should undertake an independent, mentored project that is appropriate for their educational level, offering meaningful exposure to the research process while being guided by a mentor.
  3. Signature Areas of Excellence and Institutional/Programmatic Differentiators that incorporate the institution’s research strengths, signature areas of excellence, and unique institutional assets in cancer research to leverage their capacity to engage and inspire high school students. Programs are encouraged to showcase distinctive areas of expertise, which may include, but are not limited to basic, translational, and clinical cancer research; epidemiology; data and computer science; community engagement; and immuno-oncology.
  4. Cumulative Project/Final Deliverable such as a scientific poster, brief research paper/essay or abstract, or oral presentation giving students the opportunity to synthesize and communicate their findings to peers, mentors, and the broader research community. Deliverables may be traditional, hypothesis-driven scientific presentations or abstracts; however, students are encouraged to take a broad approach. Submissions may also highlight experiential learning and personal development gained through the summer program.

Student Recruitment and Eligibility

Institutions are responsible for recruiting students to participate in their proposed summer research program.

The following criteria will apply to high school students accepted into the AACR CARES High School Scholars Program:

  1. Age and Grade Level. Must be at least 16 years old and a rising high school junior or senior by the beginning of the summer internship. Host institutions should describe the age verification process for their program in their application.
  2. Academic Background. Must have completed general coursework in STEM/STEAM subjects.
  3. Recommendations or Nominations. Institutions may either collect letters of recommendation for each student from individuals such as teachers, counselors, mentors, religious leaders, nurses, coaches, or employers or accept student nominations through trusted programmatic or institutional pathways, such as after-school programs, school districts, community-based organizations, or other established pipelines. Host institutions should describe their overall process and the information requested from recommenders or nominators.
  4. Interest in STEM. Institutions should request materials from each student that demonstrate their interest in STEM fields. This could take the form of a personal statement or other formats such as short responses, multimedia presentations, videos, portfolios, or creative projects.
  5. Location. Students may come from local or non-local high schools. Institutions may determine this criterion and must justify their decision in the application.
  6. Program Participation. Students must participate in the pre-summer orientation, summer research experience, and the post-summer mentorship program.

Students who are selected and participate in the AACR CARES High School Scholars program are not eligible to participate in future cycles.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Institutions

Accredited cancer centers and other institutions with cancer research programs in the U.S. are eligible to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, cancer centers as well as programs hosted by not-for-profit private institutions.

Institutions with existing summer high school programs may apply; however, their program design should clearly demonstrate compatibility with the objectives and expectations outlined by the AACR CARES High School Scholars Program.

U.S. government and for-profit entities are not eligible.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Program Directors or Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) are invited to work with their institution to develop an application for support. PDs/PIs must be affiliated full-time with a U.S.-based institution that conducts cancer research.

Additional Information on Eligibility

Only one application from an institution may be submitted to the AACR CARES High School Scholars Program.

AACR Membership Requirements

Applicants must be AACR members in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Annual dues are not required for early-career researchers interested in Associate membership. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR membership by the letter of intent deadline. Nonmembers can apply for membership online. Please review the Membership Categories for the category that best fits your qualifications. Nonmembers must obtain a statement of support from a nominator with is an Active AACR member in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Nonmembers requiring assistance with finding a nominator may email [email protected] and include your geographical location to receive a list of members in your area to contact for nominations. For more information check the membership FAQ. Members can renew their membership through myAACR. You will need your email address and password to access the member portal. If you require assistance logging in, please submit a help form. Lapsed members must be members in good standing by the application deadline and should contact the Membership Department at [email protected] for assistance.

Application Instructions

The AACR requires applicants to submit an online application by 1 p.m. ET on February 25, 2026, using the online application system.

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all eligibility criteria and instructions carefully before submitting your application.

For questions about the application process, contact Lyngine Calizo, PhD, Director, Scientific Conferences and Workshops via email at [email protected].