Emerging Leader Award

Program Overview

The Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Awards support innovative cancer research from the next generation of leaders. These grants are awarded to outstanding early career investigators to support high-impact, high-risk projects that are distinct from their current research portfolio.

Eligibility

  • MD, PhD, or equivalent is required.
  • Applicants must be employed by a U.S. or Canadian non-profit academic institution.
  • Applicants must be three to eight years from the start of an independent faculty appointment as of December 31, 2025 (i.e., the official start date of the appointment must fall within the calendar years 2017-2022). Exceptions due to prolonged medical or family leave will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • This award is not intended to be the main source of funding for the applicant’s laboratory. Applicants must demonstrate multi-year independent funding that sustains the central activities of the laboratory (e.g., at least one or two grants such as NIH/R01, NSF/CAREER, or equivalently substantial multi-year awards). Individual eligibility will be determined during the review process.
  • Projects for this award must be centered on evidence-based laboratory, data, and/or medical science.
  • Proposed projects must not be supported by other sources of funding. Finalists will be asked to discuss any potential overlap with other current or pending awards during the interview.
  • Only one submission per applicant is permitted.
  • If selected, finalists must be available for virtual interviews in October 2025.
  • The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other legally protected characteristics.

Award Terms

  • The grant amount is $250,000 per year for three (3) years totaling $750,000.
  • Indirect costs are not to exceed 10% of direct costs and are included in the total.
  • Emerging Leader Awards are granted to a single investigator; co-investigators are not permitted. The award may be used to support projects carried out with collaborators, who may provide letters of support.
  • The letter of agreement will include IP terms with a revenue sharing component.
  • Award start date will be January 1, 2026.

Submission Process

  • Letters of Intent must be submitted through the online application system no later than 5 PM Eastern Time on May 5, 2025. Registration and email address verification are required. Notifications will be sent from the application system so please be sure these emails are not caught in spam filters.
  • The initial Letter of Intent should include:
    • Project Title
    • Project Summary: description of the proposed project, including a concise discussion of the rationale, experimental approach, innovation, and potential impact (350 words).
    • Statement of Project Distinction: brief paragraph describing how the proposed project is unique from the main focus of the lab and prior research activities.
  • Applicants will also be requested to provide a biosketch (NIH format or similar) and a list of current grants and other funding supporting the lab.
  • The initial review process of the Letters of Intent will conceal the applicant’s name and institution. Please avoid citations and references to the applicant and institution name in the Project Summary and Statement of Project Distinction.
  • After the Letters of Intent have been evaluated, full applications will be accepted by invitation only.

Key Dates

  • March 26, 2025: Letter of intent portal opens
  • May 5, 2025: Letters of intent due by 5 pm ET
  • Week of June 16: Applications invited
  • July 28, 2025: Applications due by 5 pm ET
  • Week of September 29: Finalists notified
  • Week of October 13, 2025: Virtual interviews of finalists
  • January 1, 2026: Grant start date

EXPLORE EMERGING LEADER AWARD

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