The Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Awards aim to foster the development of early-career investigators by supporting innovative breast cancer research. Jointly offered by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), this funding opportunity invites projects that are basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, or population-based, with a direct application to breast cancer. The initiative prioritizes advancing scientific understanding and treatment options, including research targeting disparities in breast cancer outcomes among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Each award provides $150,000 over a two-year grant term, beginning July 1, 2026. The funding may be used for investigator and collaborator salaries and benefits, postdoctoral or clinical research fellow support, graduate student tuition and stipends, laboratory supplies, equipment, and manuscript publication costs directly related to the project. Funds may also support registration and travel to the AACR Annual Meeting, where awardees are recognized.
Eligibility is limited to individuals holding doctoral degrees (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) who have secured a faculty position (e.g., assistant professor, instructor) by July 1, 2026, and began their first independent faculty role on or after July 1, 2020. Applicants must have access to independent laboratory space and be based at an academic, medical, or research institution. There are no restrictions on citizenship or geography, although non-U.S. applicants must ensure visa status allows full grant completion. Applicants must be AACR Active Members in good standing by the Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline. Nonmembers must apply for AACR membership and secure a nominator who is an AACR Active Member.
The submission process begins with a required Competitive Letter of Intent due December 16, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET via ProposalCentral. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by April 7, 2026. Award decisions will be announced in June 2026. Letters of Intent must include specific aims, methodology, statistical plans, and significance, along with a lay and scientific abstract, biographical sketch, and checklist. Institutional confirmation of faculty status and lab independence is required.
Applications are evaluated by a peer review panel based on investigator qualifications, scientific merit, methodology, and institutional support. Projects are expected to demonstrate potential for significant impact in breast cancer research and patient outcomes. Projects funded by the tobacco industry are ineligible. Questions about eligibility should be directed to AACR’s Research and Grants Administration Department.
The program is anticipated to recur annually. The next likely cycle, based on current deadlines and annual cadence, will begin in December 2026, with the next internal check recommended for May 1, 2026, to confirm any updates or changes.
Ensure institutional confirmation of position and lab space; meet AACR membership deadlines; clarify visa status if applicable; align with review criteria on significance, rigor, and disparities impact.
