Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize
Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize supports early-career scientists pursuing bold, high-risk cancer research to advance understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment and accelerate discoveries toward cures.
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Funder: Pershing Square Philanthropies
Due Dates: October 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET (Letter of Intent) | April 13–14, 2027 (Finalist presentations) | June 14, 2027 (Award dinner) | July 1, 2027 (Project start)
Funding Amounts: $750,000 over three years ($250,000 annually, including indirect costs)
Summary: Supports early-career U.S.-based scientists pursuing bold, high-risk cancer research with potential to advance understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
Key Information: Applicants must have two to six years of independent laboratory experience by July 2027 and may apply only twice.
Description
The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA) awards this annual prize to early-career scientists pursuing radically innovative, scientifically sound cancer research. Supported by Pershing Square Philanthropies, the program provides freedom to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas that may be too speculative for traditional funding but have a likelihood of producing important findings. Research may include basic science and technological applications, with potential to shift paradigms or address unmet needs in cancer understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
The prize also connects researchers with academia, industry, and the business community to accelerate discoveries toward cancer cures. Winners receive access to research partnerships, industry mentors, philanthropic and for-profit investors, networking and entrepreneurship events, an annual retreat and symposium, and opportunities to present ideas at conferences. Since 2026, the program has accepted applicants from institutions across the United States.
