[Sontag Foundation](https://sontagfoundation.org)

March 12, 2025 | March 18, 2026

$750,000 total ($150,000/year for 5 years; max $19,500/year indirect costs included)

Supports early-career faculty pursuing innovative, high-risk research in brain cancer with substantial multi-year funding and mentorship.

No citizenship requirement; must be at US or Canadian nonprofit institution; clinical trials not funded.

--- ## Description The Sontag Foundation's Distinguished Scientist Award provides substantial, multi-year funding to early-career faculty undertaking high-risk, innovative research relevant to brain cancer. The program is designed to accelerate the careers of promising young investigators from diverse scientific backgrounds and foster new perspectives on the biology, causes, and treatment of primary brain tumors. Awardees join a collaborative scientific community, participate in annual retreats, and benefit from professional development and mentorship. --- ## Due Dates - March 12, 2025: 2025 full application deadline (portal closes at 23:59 ET) - March 18, 2026: 2026 full application deadline (portal closes at 23:59 ET) --- ## Funding Amount - Total award: $750,000 per recipient - Disbursed as $150,000 per year over five years - Up to $19,500 per year may be used for indirect (F&A) costs, included in the annual total - Disbursements are made quarterly to the sponsoring institution and are subject to annual progress review --- ## Eligibility - **Career Stage:** Early-career investigators; must have received first independent faculty appointment (tenure-track if applicable) between March 1, 2021 and January 1, 2026 at a US or Canadian nonprofit academic, research, or medical institution - **Degree:** Must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a discipline relevant to brain cancer research - **Citizenship:** No citizenship requirement, but appointment must be at eligible US or Canadian institution - **Research Scope:** Project must be relevant to primary brain tumors (not metastatic brain cancer); clinical trials are not supported - **Mentorship:** Applicants new to brain tumor research must have a mentor with brain cancer experience and provide a letter of support - **Reapplications:** Allowed, but must demonstrate substantive changes from prior submissions - **Multiple Applicants:** More than one individual from an institution may apply --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Applications must be submitted through the online grant portal - **Materials:** Required documents include research proposal (max 5 pages including figures), references (not included in page limit), personal statement (max 1000 words), project summary (max 250–300 words), letters of recommendation (from department chair/program leader, postdoc advisor/mentor, and a professional reference), and mentor letter (if applicable) - **Deadline:** All documents, including letters and institutional approvals, must be uploaded by the application deadline - **Review:** Peer-reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Board and a lay committee; selection considers both scientific merit and applicant potential - **Notification:** Funding awards announced in the fall of the application year; funding period typically begins mid-October --- ## Additional Information - Awardees are required to attend annual scientific retreats (February; travel and lodging covered) - The award may be transferred if the recipient changes institution, subject to Sontag Foundation approval - Number of awards varies (typically 2–6 per year) --- ## External Links - [Sontag Foundation – Distinguished Scientist Award Overview](https://sontagfoundation.org/about-dsa/) - [Application Guidelines & FAQs (2026, PDF)](https://sontagfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/faq_2026_revised_11_18_25.pdf) - [Grant Application Portal & Process](https://sontagfoundation.org/grant-application-process/) - [Meet Past Grantees](https://sontagfoundation.org/meet-the-grantees/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Title | Email | Phone | Hours | |-----------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------|----------------------| | Georgia Pinner | Program Officer | [gpinner@sontagfoundation.org](mailto:gpinner@sontagfoundation.org) | 904-273-8755 | 8:00am–5:00pm ET | | Shandra Koler | Senior Program Officer| [skoler@sontagfoundation.org](mailto:skoler@sontagfoundation.org) | 904-273-8755 | 7:30am–4:30pm ET | | General Contact | — | [info@sontagfoundation.org](mailto:info@sontagfoundation.org) | 904-273-8755 | — |

Distinguished Scientist Award

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