[Pershing Square Philanthropies](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org)

February 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (projected)

$750,000 total ($250,000/year for 3 years; includes up to 10% indirect costs)

Supports bold, collaborative research to advance transformative solutions for ovarian cancer.

Forecasted opportunity—dates and details may shift; nomination by an Advisory Board member or Prize winner required.

--- ## Description The Pershing Square Lotus Award aims to catalyze innovative, high-risk, high-reward research in ovarian cancer, the deadliest gynecologic cancer and one of the most underfunded areas in women’s health. The award seeks to bring new perspectives and foster collaboration by supporting both established ovarian cancer researchers and investigators from other cancer disciplines. Projects should focus on transformative solutions with the potential for significant impact on the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of ovarian cancer—especially those that might be too risky for traditional funding sources. --- ## Due Dates - February 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Total award: $750,000 per project - $250,000 per year for 3 years (includes direct and indirect costs) - Up to 10% of the annual award ($25,000/year) may be allocated to indirect costs - Funding is contingent on annual progress reports and meeting project milestones --- ## Eligibility - Lead Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a PhD, MD, MD-PhD (or equivalent) - PI must: - Be nominated by a Pershing Square Sohn Prize Advisory Board member, Scientific Review Council member, or Cancer Prize winner - Hold a tenure-track faculty appointment (or equivalent) at a U.S. academic research institution - Have at least two years of experience running their own laboratory by the grant start date - Multiple applicants from the same institution may apply if eligibility is met - If the PI lacks demonstrated ovarian cancer research experience, a collaborator with such expertise is required - Each Board member or Prize winner may nominate up to two lead PIs (including themselves) - Current awardees (including MIND and PSSCRA winners) cannot apply until their term and reporting requirements are complete - Lead PIs and collaborators can only participate in one application per cycle - Non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents must have visa status sufficient to complete the project in the U.S. --- ## Application Process - One-stage process: submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI), biosketch, and budget - LOI requirements: - One-page summary (Georgia, 11-point font, single-spaced, 0.5-inch margins, figures allowed, references excluded from limit) - Must describe project rationale, aims, research plan, innovation, and impact on ovarian cancer - Budget and biosketch must use provided templates - Submission via the [application portal](https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/) - No full proposal or finalist presentation stage; decisions based on LOI review - Peer review by Foundation leadership and the Lotus Scientific Review Board - Award agreement required upon selection; reporting and annual attendance at scientific retreat mandated --- ## Additional Information - Projects must be radically innovative with a clear potential for impact in ovarian cancer research (basic, translational, early detection, immunotherapy, novel models, etc.) - The Foundation does not provide reviewer critiques to applicants - Multi-year funding is not automatic; continued support is based on satisfactory progress - The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of legally protected characteristics --- ## External Links - [Program Page](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/lotus-award) - [Application Guidelines](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/lotus-award/page/application-guidelines-3) - [Application Portal](https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/) - [Scientific Advisory Board](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/lotus-award/page/lotus-award-scientific-advisory-board) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/lotus-award/page/frequently-asked-questions-lotus-award) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Method | Details | |---|---| | General Inquiries | [lifesci@persq.org](mailto:lifesci@persq.org) | | Funder Website | [https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org) | | Contact Page | [https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/contact](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/contact) |

Lotus Award

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