Young Investigator Award (YIA)
Young Investigator Award (YIA) supports graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with salary funding for basic and translational neurofibromatosis research to advance understanding and build independent careers.
Funder: Children's Tumor Foundation
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (LOI opens) | December 1, 2026 (LOI deadline) | July 1, 2027 (Award start)
Funding Amounts: Two-year salary support: $29,364/year predoctoral or $63,480–$77,076/year postdoctoral, plus capped fringe, indirect costs, and travel
Summary: Supports early-career researchers conducting basic and translational neurofibromatosis research to establish independent careers.
Key Information: Not for independent faculty; applicants need a senior research sponsor and existing resources to cover research expenses.
Description
The Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Young Investigator Award (YIA) provides salary support to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing neurofibromatosis (NF) research. Part of CTF’s Discovery Fund and its longest-running competitive award program, YIA helps emerging investigators establish independent careers and generate data for larger grants, including NIH and CDMRP Neurofibromatosis Research Program funding.
The program supports basic and translational studies of cellular, genetic, and molecular disease mechanisms, novel therapeutic targets, candidate therapeutics, and NF natural history. Research may address NF1 and all forms of schwannomatosis, including tumors, bone and cardiovascular abnormalities, cognitive manifestations, and pain. Applicants whose work primarily validates or tests therapeutic targets and agents are advised to consider CTF’s Drug Discovery Initiative instead.
