AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship Grant

AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Association for Cancer Research
Amount: US $130,000
Last Updated: April 04, 2026

Summary

The AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship offers a two-year grant of $130,000 to support postdoctoral or clinical research fellows in ALK-positive lung cancer research. This fellowship aims to foster the career development of grantees through mentored research projects. Eligible applicants should hold a doctoral degree and commit at least 50% effort to their research. The fellowship also covers registration and travel costs for the AACR Annual Meeting, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in the application process.

Overview

AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship Description The AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship represents a joint effort designed to encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow in conducting ALK-positive lung cancer research and help the grantee establish a successful career path in this field. The fellowship provides a two-year grant of $130,000 to support the salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored lung cancer research project. Funds may also be designated for non-personnel expenses such as research/laboratory supplies, equipment, publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project, and other research expenses. However, grant funds cannot be used to compensate for clinical practice or indirect costs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Research Project CriteriaProjects may be in basic, clinical, translational, or population sciences research and must have direct applicability and relevance to ALK-positive lung cancer.Areas of interest include developing non-ALK-directed therapies including immunotherapies, identifying persister cells and therapies to eliminate them, and discovering new orthogonal therapeutic targets in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.Eligibility CriteriaApplicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.Applicants who believe that they are at the level of postdoctoral or clinical research fellow, but hold a different title, may be eligible and must contact AACR’s RGA before submitting an application.If you are an MD who is considered a postdoctoral fellow but hold the title of instructor so that you can see patients, you may be eligible. Potential applicants possessing an MD are encouraged to contact AACR’s RGA before submitting an application to verify your eligibility.At the start of the grant term on September 1, 2025, applicants must:Hold a mentored research position with the title of postdoctoral fellow, clinical research fellow, or the equivalentIf the future position is at a different institution than the applicant’s current institution, the applicant must contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration Department (AACR’s RGA) at grants@aacr.org before submitting their application for information on additional verification materials/signatures that may be required.Have completed their most recent doctoral degree within the past five years.Applicants with a medical degree must have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency - whichever date is later - within the past five years.An exception to the five-year window may be granted for parental leave or other well-justified leave from research for pressing personal or family situations of generally less than 12 months’ duration.Applicants whose experience exceeds the maximum of five years but who believe they are eligible must contact the AACR’s RGA before submitting an application to verify their eligibility.Work under the auspices of a mentor at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world.Citizenship RequirementsThere are no citizenship or geographic requirements. However, by submitting an application for this grant, an applicant applying from an institution located in a country in which they are not a citizen or permanent resident assures that the visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term at the institution from which they applied.Annual Grantee Recognition Event Grant recipient must attend the Annual Grantee Recognition Event held during the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 to formally accept their grant.Future Annual Meeting: April 17-22, 2026: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California.Grant funds may be used to support the grantee’s registration and travel to this Event.Up to $2,000 may be allocated from the grant to support the grantee’s registration and attendance at this Event. Additionally, up to $1,000 can be allocated for attending the AACR Grantee Summit.Investigators may submit only one application for AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship but may concurrently apply for other AACR grants. However, applicants are expected to accept the first grant they are awarded.Individuals may accept and hold only one AACR grant at a time.Current AACR Grantees may apply only if their current grant ends before the start of the grant term of this funding opportunity (i.e., September 1, 2025). Also, the terms of their current grant must require that the final progress reports be approved by the AACR before September 1, 2025.Letter of Reference Each applicant must have a letter of reference from their mentor accompanying the online application.If the applicant is being co-mentored, a co-signed letter of reference must be provided. For applicants whose eligibility is based on a future position, the letter of reference must verify that the future position is confirmed, and the title of the new position and start date must be stated. Budget Period DetailApplicants must submit a budget in the amount of $130,000. As this fellowship is intended to support the salary and benefits of the fellow, applicants must dedicate at least 50% effort to the proposed project. Up to 50% of the total budget may be allocated for non-personnel direct research expenses, such as research/laboratory supplies, equipment, publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project, and other research expenses. Budget requests for equipment that exceed 10% of the total budget must be accompanied by a detailed justification. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. AACR Membership Requirements

Applicants must be AACR members in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Annual dues are not required for early-career researchers interested in Associate membership. Please be informed that no dues are required for members located in countries building cancer research capacities (view list of eligible countries here). Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR membership by the application deadline. Nonmembers can apply for membership online. Please review the Membership Categories for the category that best fits your qualifications. Nonmembers must obtain a statement of support from a nominator who is an Active AACR member in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Nonmembers requiring assistance with finding a nominator may email membership@aacr.org and include your geographical location to receive a list of members in your area to contact for nominations. For more information check the membership FAQ. Members can renew their membership through myAACR. You will need your logon (email address) and password to access the member portal. If you require assistance logging in, please submit a help form. Lapsed members must be members in good standing by the application deadline and should contact the Membership Department at membership@aacr.org for assistance.

Ineligibility

If eligibility is based on a future position, the position must be confirmed at the time of submission and CANNOT be contingent upon receiving this grant.Degree cannot have been conferred before September 1, 2020; the formal date of receipt of doctoral degree is the date the degree was conferred, as indicated on the diploma and/or transcript.Employees or subcontractors of a U.S. government entity or for-profit private industry are not eligible.Postdoctoral or clinical research fellows conducting research in a U.S. government laboratory (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA, etc.), are not eligible. Investigators currently or previously holding the rank of instructor, adjunct professor, assistant professor, research assistant professor, the equivalent or higher are not eligible. If the mentor or co-mentor (if applicable) is not an active, emeritus, or honorary member of the AACR, the applicant must be endorsed by an active, emeritus, or honorary member of the AACR.A Fellow whose named mentor is funded by the tobacco industry for any research project is not eligible for any AACR grant. A Grantee or their named mentor who accepts funding from the tobacco industry for any research project during the term of an AACR grant must inform the AACR of such funding, whereupon the AACR grant will be immediately terminated.The percentage of salary requested may not exceed the percent effort of the applicant.No other travel is permitted. Salary and benefit expenses for individuals other than the grantee, indirect costs, tuition, attendance (other than to the Annual Grantee Recognition Event 2026 and Grantee Summit), professional membership dues, and any other research-related expenses not directly related to this project are not allowable expenses. For the purposes of this grant, any general office supplies or individual institutional administrative charges (e.g., telephone, other electronic communication, utilities, IT network, etc.) are considered to be part of indirect costs and are not allowable budget line items. In addition, no grant funds may be directed towards salary or benefits of any individuals from a U.S. government entity or for-profit industry, nor for any research expenses related to the project that are incurred by these individuals.