Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR
The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers was established to accelerate innovation in cancer research for women, by women. This groundbreaking initiative will fund innovative research aimed at progressing outcomes for women's cancers and invest in the next generation of women scientists who represent the diverse population they serve. By focusing on prevention, detection, diagnostic, and treatment innovations for women’s cancers and advancing outcomes for cancer health disparities, Victoria’s Secret aims to improve and save the lives of millions of women around the world.
The Fund builds upon Victoria's Secret’s established commitment toward cancer research and education, with longstanding impact partner, Pelotonia. Through a transformational partnership with Pelotonia and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers is proud to offer a series of grants programs for female researchers and clinicians working internationally, and at various stages of their careers. To learn more please visit pelotonia.org/vsfund.
The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR is intended to fund innovative research projects in breast and gynecologic cancers and to invest in the next generation of female early-stage scientists domestically and globally. The aim of this award is to foster innovation in the understanding, prevention, interception, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers with the goal of eliminating cancer health disparities and improving patient outcomes. The research proposed for funding may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences. Proposals focused on research into the causes of cancer health disparities and approaches to achieve equity in outcomes are especially encouraged.
The grant provides $206,000 over two years for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient (who must devote at least 75% of their total effort to research in breast or a gynecologic cancer), 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 expenses are not allowed.
Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. Please read all program guidelines and instructions carefully before submitting an Application
Proposed projects may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences related research and must have direct applicability and relevance to the understanding, prevention, interception, early detection, diagnosis, or treatment of breast or a gynecologic cancer. Proposals focused on research that aims to advance the science of cancer health disparities are especially encouraged.
At the start of the grant term (December 1, 2026), applicants must:
- Have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field.
- 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 submission and CANNOT be contingent upon receiving this grant. Applicants are advised to contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration (RGA) at [email protected] before submission to confirm they will hold an eligible position.
- Have started their first independent faculty position within the past 6 years from the start of the grant term (as indicated on the employment offer letter). Exceptions to the 6-year window may be granted for up to 12 months of parental or justified personal/family leave. Applicants exceeding the 6-year limit who believe they are eligible must contact the AACR’s RGA before submitting their application.
- Devote at least 75% of their total effort to research in breast or a gynecologic cancer.
- Have independent laboratory space as confirmed by their institution.
- Work at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world.
At the start of the grant term (December 1, 2026), applicants cannot:
- Be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
- Be an employee or subcontractor of a U.S. federal government entity or for-profit private industry. They may serve as collaborators, but no grant funds may be directed toward these individuals.
- Concurrently hold another AACR grant.
- Current AACR grantees may apply only if their current grant ends before the start of the grant term for this funding opportunity (i.e., December 1, 2026). Also, the terms of their current grant must stipulate that the final progress reports be approved by the AACR before December 1, 2026.
- Be, or have been, a Principal Investigator on a substantial independent research award (e.g., an NIH R01 award, DP2 award, DP5 award, MIRA award, or the equivalent). These individuals are invited to apply for AACR grants for independent investigators.
- For the purposes of this grant, a substantial independent research award is defined as a grant that offers at least $250,000 (direct) per year for more than three years and must have undergone a peer-review process by active researchers and physician-scientists.
All applicants with questions about eligibility should contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration at [email protected] before submitting an application.
There are no citizenship or geographic requirements. However, by submitting an application for this grant, applicants applying from an institution in a country where they are not a citizen or permanent resident confirm that their work status will allow them to complete the project and grant term.
By the submission deadline, applicants must be AACR Active members in good standing (dues paid for the current year):
- Information on AACR membership, including membership categories, due rates, and steps for lapsed or nonmembers, can be accessed on our membership website.
- Assistance with membership can be requested by submitting a myAACR help form or by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected].
- Applicants whose membership is not in good standing or nonmembers who do not apply for membership by the submission deadline will be considered ineligible.
The AACR requires applicants to complete an online Application submission by 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 3, 2026, using the ProposalCentral website.
Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available in PDF format.