The Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Pancreatic Cancer Research, in Honor of John Robert Lewis, is a prestigious funding opportunity that reflects the shared commitment of the Lustgarten Foundation and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to accelerate progress in pancreatic cancer research. This award honors the legacy of Representative John Lewis, a tireless advocate for civil rights who battled pancreatic cancer, by supporting the career development of early-stage investigators from historically underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical research. The program seeks to develop diverse scientific talent focused on the understanding, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
This funding opportunity is open to early-career researchers with faculty-level appointments, specifically those holding assistant professor positions or equivalent roles such as research assistant professor or instructor. Eligible applicants must be AACR Active members in good standing and members of the Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) constituency group. There are no citizenship or geographic restrictions, but international applicants must confirm their visa status allows them to complete the grant term. Applicants must demonstrate independent research capacity and the ability to secure and manage independent funding, as certified by their institutions.
The grant provides $300,000 distributed over a three-year period. Funds may be used for direct research expenses, including salaries, research staff, laboratory supplies, equipment, and publication costs directly tied to the funded project. Importantly, indirect costs are not permitted under this award. Grantees will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers funded by the Lustgarten Foundation and AACR, expanding their scientific network and impact within the pancreatic cancer research community.
Eligible projects must be directly relevant to pancreatic cancer and may span basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences. Applications are evaluated on the applicant’s research accomplishments, the scientific quality and innovation of the proposed work, and alignment with the goals of the Lustgarten Foundation. The institutional environment and available resources will also be considered in the review process.
Applicants must submit a complete application through the ProposalCentral platform by 1:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on January 6, 2026. Required materials include a research proposal, biographical sketch, letters of reference, budget justification, and organizational assurances. The funding decision will be announced in March 2026, and the grant term begins on July 1, 2026. Recipients are required to attend the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 or a similar event for official grant recognition.
This is a non-recurring opportunity specifically honoring John Robert Lewis, with no indication of regular issuance. For inquiries, applicants may contact AACR at [email protected] or via phone at 215-440-9300. Additional program details, guidelines, and instructions are available in the downloadable PDF provided by the AACR.
Emphasize alignment with Lustgarten Foundation’s mission; demonstrate strong institutional support and independent research capacity.
