AACR Career Development Awards to Foster Diversity and Inclusion
The AACR Career Development Awards to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in Cancer Research encourages and supports 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.
This grant provides $300,000 over three years for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient and any collaborator, postdoctoral research fellows, graduate students (including tuition costs associated with graduate students’ education and training), research assistants; research/laboratory supplies; equipment; publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project; and other research expenses.
Program Guidelines and Competitive Letter of Intent Instructions are available in PDF format.
The proposed project 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.
NOTE: Clinical research projects will not be funded by this grant opportunity.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree (including PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral or professional degree. Applicants cannot have clinical responsibilities.
At the start of the grant term on September 1, 2026, applicants must:
- Hold a faculty position with the title of assistant professor, instructor, research assistant professor, or the equivalent
- If eligibility is based on a future position, the position must be confirmed at the time of application and CANNOT be contingent upon receiving this grant.
- If the future position is at a different institution than the applicant’s current institution, the applicant must contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration Department (RGA) at [email protected] before submitting their application for information on additional verification materials/signatures that may be required.
- Have attained their first independent investigator position no earlier than September 1, 2020 and no later than September 1, 2026.
- Applicants with a medical degree must have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency (or equivalent) - whichever date is later - within the past 6 years.
- Have independent laboratory space as confirmed by their institution.
- Work at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world
There are no citizenship or geographic requirements. However, by submitting an application for this grant, an applicant applying from an institution located in a country in which they are not a citizen, or a permanent resident assures that the visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term at the institution from which they applied.
Applicants must be AACR Active members in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Please be informed that no dues are required for members located in countries building cancer research capacities (view list of eligible countries here). Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR Active membership by the Letter of Intent (LOI) 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 who 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 logon (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 LOI deadline and should contact the Membership Department at [email protected] for assistance.
The AACR requires applicants to complete an online Letter of Intent submission by 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, using the ProposalCentral website.
Program Guidelines and Competitive Letter of Intent Instructions are available in PDF format.