AACR-Think Forward Foundation Career Development Award

The AACR-Think Forward Foundation Career Development Award supports early-career researchers dedicated to advancing precision medicine in breast cancer treatment. This collaborative initiative between the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Think Forward Foundation aims to accelerate the development of personalized therapeutic strategies that account for individual genetic profiles, molecular markers, and biomarkers to optimize treatment effectiveness and minimize adverse effects. It promotes the integration of advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in data analysis to facilitate the translation of complex datasets into actionable insights for clinical care. Awardees receive $300,000 over a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2026. Funds may be allocated to research-specific expenses such as laboratory supplies, equipment, and supplemental salary support. The funding is intended to directly support the implementation of impactful and innovative breast cancer research projects with a strong emphasis on real-world clinical application. Indirect costs and unrelated administrative expenses are not specified in the guidelines, suggesting the funding is tightly scoped to project execution. Applicants must be in early stages of their academic research careers, holding titles such as assistant professor, instructor, or research assistant professor, with a faculty appointment no earlier than July 1, 2020. Candidates must also maintain independent laboratory space and demonstrate institutional support. The program is open internationally with no restrictions on citizenship, provided applicants can confirm sufficient visa status for project completion if based outside their country of citizenship. The application process begins with a Competitive Letter of Intent (LOI), which must be submitted through ProposalCentral by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 18, 2025. This letter must outline the research aims, rationale, methodology, statistical plan, and project significance within a two-page limit, alongside required documentation including scientific and lay abstracts, a biographical sketch, and a checklist. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application due April 7, 2026. Evaluation of submissions is conducted by a peer review committee composed of esteemed researchers and physician-scientists. Review criteria include the investigator’s capacity for independent research, scientific merit of the project, methodological rigor, and institutional environment. Final award decisions will be communicated in June 2026. Grantees are also required to attend the AACR Annual Meeting's Grantee Recognition Event, with allowable use of grant funds to support travel and registration. Applicants must be AACR Active members in good standing or apply for membership before the LOI deadline. Nonmembers must also secure a nominator who is a current AACR member. The program emphasizes strict conflict of interest compliance, particularly with regard to tobacco industry funding, which disqualifies applicants. The grant operates on an annual cycle with future opportunities anticipated to follow a similar timeline.

Align with focus on precision medicine in breast cancer; leverage AI/data analysis; ensure strong institutional support and clarity on independent research role.