Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA), part of The Pershing Square Foundation, offers the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer research by funding early-career scientists. Established to promote high-impact, high-risk cancer research, this prestigious award was originally limited to the New York City area but has expanded to accept applicants from all academic research institutions across the United States beginning in 2026. The program emphasizes groundbreaking, speculative projects that challenge conventional scientific approaches and would typically struggle to secure traditional funding. The Cancer Prize awards $250,000 annually for three years per recipient, totaling $750,000, with a minimum of six awards made each year depending on proposal quality. Funding covers both direct ($225,000) and indirect ($25,000) costs annually. Prize recipients benefit from more than just financial support—they join a distinguished community of researchers, gain exposure through conferences, and are granted access to exclusive mentorship and networking opportunities with leaders in science and business. The application process involves two stages. Interested applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) via the application portal, open from September 29 to November 3, 2025. There is no full proposal stage; decisions are based entirely on the LOI and subsequent presentations. Finalists will be invited to present to the Review Board in New York City on March 25, 2026. Winners will be notified in mid-April 2026, and projects officially begin July 1, 2026. Eligible applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or MD-PhD (or equivalent), and be Assistant or Associate Professors with 2 to 6 years of lab leadership by July 2026. They must be affiliated with a U.S.-based academic research institution. The prize prohibits simultaneous applications to other Pershing Square programs and restricts current grantees from applying until their award's final year. While U.S. citizenship is not required, applicants must demonstrate that their visa allows them to complete the grant term in the U.S. Review is conducted by the PSSCRA Scientific Review Council and Advisory Board, who evaluate based on innovation, scientific merit, applicant qualifications, and cancer research impact. Progress reports are required annually. Awardees must agree to the standard grant terms, which prohibit modification unless factual errors exist. Publicity rights, reporting obligations, and participation in the annual retreat are also included in the prize structure. Christy Hudson is the point of contact for inquiries regarding life sciences programming.

Focus on high-risk, high-reward innovation with cancer relevance; LOI is the sole basis for evaluation—clarity and novelty are critical.