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Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Pancreatic Cancer Research, in Honor of John Robert Lewis

Grant Amount $300,000 USD
Grant Term3 Years
Start of Grant TermJuly 1, 2025
Letter of Intent DeadlineOctober 10, 2024 1:00 PM (ET)
Letter of Intent Notification DateNovember 2024
Application DeadlineJanuary 9, 2025 1:00 PM (ET)
Decision DateMarch 2025
Additional InformationAdditional details regarding this grant can be found in the Program Guidelines and Competitive Letter of Intent Application Instructions. Final determinations of eligibility will not be completed until the AACR is in receipt of the submitted Competitive Letter of Intent.
Description

The Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Pancreatic Cancer Research, in Honor of John Robert Lewis, has been established to honor the life and legacy of Representative Lewis, who worked tirelessly to advance the civil rights of all Americans, even while battling pancreatic cancer. The intent of this program is to support the development and diversity of talent working in pancreatic cancer research. Eligibility is limited to members of racial or ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the cancer related sciences workforce. Selection is competitive and will be based on outstanding accomplishments in scientific research.

This Award represents a joint effort to encourage and support early career scientists engaged in pancreatic cancer research relevant to the goals and mission of the Lustgarten Foundation. The proposed project may be basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences related research and must have direct applicability and relevance to the understanding, detection, diagnosis, or treatment of pancreatic 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 pancreatic cancer research.

The grant provides $300,000 over three years for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient, any collaborators, 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. Grantees supported through this Program will have the opportunity to interact and/or collaborate with other investigators from the network of Lustgarten Foundation-funded investigators and laboratories as well as leading investigators in the AACR’s grantee community.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines and Competitive Letter of Intent Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all guidelines and instructions carefully before submitting an application.

Research Project Criteria

Proposed projects may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences related research and must have direct applicability and relevance to the understanding, detection, diagnosis, or treatment of pancreatic cancer and be aligned with the goals and priorities of the Lustgarten Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Applicants must belong to racial or ethnic group(s) that has been shown to be underrepresented in the cancer related sciences workforce.
  • Applicants must be investigators with a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
  • At the start of the grant term on July 1, 2025, applicants must:
    • Hold a faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor. Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor, or instructor are eligible. Applicants that have progressed to associate professor appointments are not eligible.
      • If eligibility is based on a future position, the applicant must contact the AACR’s RGA at [email protected] before submitting their application for information on additional verification materials/signatures that may be required.
    • Have independent laboratory space and be able to hold independent funding as confirmed by their institution.
    • Work at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world.
Citizenship Requirements

There are no citizenship or geographic requirements. However, by submitting a letter of intent for this grant, an applicant applying from an institution located in a country in which they are not a citizen or 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.

AACR Membership Requirements

Applicants must be AACR Active members in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Annual dues are not required for early-career researchers interested in Associate membership. Please be informed that AACR offers reduced membership due rates for applicants from countries with emerging economies based on the World Bank listing. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR membership by the 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 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 to bring their membership current. 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.

Application Instructions

The AACR requires applicants to complete an online Letter of Intent submission by 1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 10, 2024, using the ProposalCentral website at https://proposalcentral.com.

Program Guidelines and Competitive Letter of Intent Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all guidelines and instructions carefully before submitting an application.