AACR-KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Innovation and Discovery Grants
The AACR-KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Innovation and Discovery Grants seeks to stimulate creative approaches to translate basic research into new treatment options for kidney cancer.
Applications are invited from researchers currently in the field as well as investigators with experience in other areas of cancer or biomedical research who have promising ideas and approaches that can be applied to kidney cancer research.
This grant provides $50,000 over one year for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient, collaborator, postdoctoral or clinical research fellows, graduate students (including tuition costs associated with graduate students’ education and training), or research assistants; research/laboratory supplies; equipment; publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project; and other research expenses. Indirect costs are not allowable expenses.
Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all eligibility criteria and instructions carefully before submitting an application.
These grants will support basic, translational, and/or clinical research projects that examine important and druggable* novel targets and/or biomarkers that are relevant for kidney cancer.
*For the purposes of this grant program, a "druggable" target is defined as a nucleic acid or a protein (e.g., an enzyme, a receptor) whose activity can be modified by a drug. The drug can be a small- molecular weight chemical compound or a biological, such as an antibody or a recombinant protein. The target should have been shown to be effective/mechanistically involved in cancer by relevant in vitro or in vivo models. A cancer-related biomarker might be a protein, a nucleic acid, or a metabolite that can be measured in biological fluids, tissue, or isolated cells for the diagnosis, monitoring, prognosis, or stratification of patients.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
At the start of the grant term on May 15, 2025, applicants must:
- Be independent investigators and be affiliated with an academic, medical, or non-profit research institution.
- 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 AACR’s Research and Grants Administration Department (the AACR’s RGA) at [email protected] before submitting their application for information on additional verification materials/signatures that may be required.
- 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). Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR Active membership by the Application deadline. 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 membership by the application 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 application deadline and should contact the Membership Department at [email protected] for assistance.
The AACR requires applicants to submit an online application by 1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, using the ProposalCentral website at https://proposalcentral.com.
Download Program Guidelines and Application Instructions here.