[American Association for Cancer Research](https://www.aacr.org)

January 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)

$300,000 total over 3 years; no indirect costs allowed

Supports early career researchers pursuing innovative pancreatic cancer research in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences.

Applicants must be AACR Active members and MICR group members at the assistant professor level.

--- ## Description This award, a collaboration between the Lustgarten Foundation and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), honors John Robert Lewis and aims to support early career faculty-level scientists conducting innovative research on pancreatic cancer. Projects may be in basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences and must be directly relevant to the understanding, detection, diagnosis, or treatment of pancreatic cancer. The program particularly encourages applications from investigators from historically underrepresented groups and provides opportunities for grantees to network and collaborate within the AACR and Lustgarten Foundation research communities. --- ## Due Dates - January 2027 (anticipated full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Total award: $300,000 over three years - No indirect costs or institutional overhead allowed - Funds may cover salary and benefits for the PI, collaborators, postdocs, graduate students (including tuition), research assistants, supplies, equipment, publication costs, and travel (up to $2,000/year, including attendance at the AACR Annual Meeting for grantee recognition) --- ## Eligibility - **Career Stage:** Early career investigators at the assistant professor level (including research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, research-track assistant professor, visiting professor, or instructor) - **Membership:** Must be an AACR Active member in good standing (dues paid) and a member of the Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) constituency group at the time of application - Nonmembers must apply for membership by the application deadline and obtain a nominator who is an AACR Active member - **Degree:** Doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent); not currently a candidate for a further doctoral degree - **Institution:** Must hold an independent faculty appointment with independent laboratory space at an academic, medical, or research institution worldwide - **Citizenship:** No citizenship or geographic restrictions, but visa status must allow completion of the project - **Other Funding:** Not eligible if PI has served as PI on a substantial independent award (e.g., NIH R01, DP2, DP5, MIRA, or equivalent) - **Other Restrictions:** Employees/subcontractors of U.S. government entities or for-profit industry are not eligible as PIs, but may participate as collaborators (no funds may be directed to them) - **Other:** Only one application per person for this award; may apply for other AACR grants concurrently but can only hold one at a time --- ## Application Process - **Submission Platform:** [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/) - **Required Materials:** - Online application (with direct data entry and document uploads) - Research project proposal (using required template) - Project milestones (template) - Biographical sketches (PI and collaborators, template) - Letter of reference from department chair/division head/dean (uploaded by nominator) - Budget and justification - Letters of collaboration (if applicable) - Supporting documentation (if applicable) - Applicant checklist (signed) - **Membership:** Nonmembers must apply for AACR Active membership and MICR group membership before the deadline - **Validation:** Application must be validated and submitted in ProposalCentral before the deadline - **Signatures:** Electronic signatures required from applicant, nominator, endorser (if applicable), and signing official --- ## Additional Information - Indirect costs are **not** permitted. - Applicants funded by the tobacco industry are ineligible. - Grantees must attend the AACR Annual Meeting for a recognition event. - Only one AACR grant may be held at a time. - Progress, milestone, and financial reporting is required annually or semi-annually via ProposalCentral. - Any significant rebudgeting or changes in project aims require AACR approval. --- ## External Links - [AACR Grant Program Page](https://www.aacr.org/grants/lustgarten-foundation-aacr-career-development-award-for-pancreatic-cancer-research-in-honor-of-john-robert-lewis/) - [2026 Program Guidelines and Application Instructions (PDF)](https://www.aacr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FINAL_2026-Lustgarten-JL-CDA_PG.pdf) - [AACR Membership Information](https://www.aacr.org/professionals/membership/become-a-member/) - [AACR Membership FAQ](https://www.aacr.org/professionals/membership/become-a-member/membership-faq/) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Program/Eligibility questions | [grants@aacr.org](mailto:grants@aacr.org) | | AACR Membership | [membership@aacr.org](mailto:membership@aacr.org) | | ProposalCentral support | [pcsupport@altum.com](mailto:pcsupport@altum.com) | | AACR main phone | +1 215-440-9300 | | AACR Contact Page | [Contact AACR](https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/contact-us/) | ---

Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Pancreatic Cancer Research, in Honor of John Robert Lewis

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