Salisbury Award for Entrepreneurial Translational Research

Purpose: The Salisbury Award encourages and promotes innovative scientists and early-stage start-up companies to translate their discoveries into therapies that can improve the lives of cancer patients. It is designed to identify 'high risk, high impact and high reward' projects and help accelerate the pace for them to get into clinics faster.

Award Criteria:

• Granted to faculty or non-faculty investigators within world-class institutions
• Early-stage cancer therapeutic, diagnostic or vaccine projects
• Evaluation based on best combination of: novel, feasible, impactful and patentable technology with clear clinical trial pathway

Focus Areas:

• Cancer therapeutics (including CAR-T cell therapies, solid tumors)
• Cancer diagnostics
• Cancer vaccines
• Translational research bridging laboratory discovery to clinical application

Award Benefits:

• Cash prize (winner: $3,000; runner-up: $1,500; honorable mention recognized)
• Introduction to NFCR fellows, scientific advisory board members and other affiliates
• Opportunity to participate in NFCR's biennial research symposia
• Future eligibility to compete for multiyear Recoverable Translational Research Grants (up to $250,000 for associated start-up firms in Salisbury Venture Competition)

Eligibility:

• Faculty and non-faculty investigators at world-class research institutions
• Early-stage projects with clear path to human clinical trials

Geographic Scope: International (competitions held in cooperation with major research institutes)

Background: Established in 2019, named in honor of the Salisbury family (Franklin Sr., Tamara, and Franklin Jr.) whose 80+ years of service helped galvanize NFCR into a significant force for cancer research worldwide.

Contact:

• Bradley Gillenwater, Senior Director Global Program Development
• Email: bgillenwater@nfcr.org
• Phone: 301-961-9161
• Address: 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1105, Rockville, MD 20852
• General: 1-800-321-CURE (2873) or info@nfcr.org

Application Process

Format:

• Presentations pitched by participants vying for awards
• Evaluated by panel of well-known professionals in cancer research community (academic, business, clinical)

Selection Criteria:

• Novel, feasible, and impactful technology
• Patentable intellectual property
• Clear clinical trial pathway
• Potential for translation to patient benefit

Judging Panel:

• Includes key opinion leaders in cancer research
• Business professionals from life sciences and venture investment sectors
• Previous panelists include Harvard Medical School faculty, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Scripps Research, former Avera Cancer Institute leadership, and venture capital firms

Note: Specific application deadlines and detailed submission requirements not provided in available materials. Contact NFCR directly for current application timeline and procedures.