The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research: Emerging Leader Award Grant

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research's Emerging Leader Award supports early-career investigators with $250,000 annually for three years, totaling $750,000. This grant encourages high-impact research in cancer studies, allowing applicants to pursue innovative projects distinct from current work. Eligible candidates must hold an MD or PhD, show multi-year independent funding, and be within three to eight years of starting an independent faculty position. The program aims to foster the next generation of leaders in cancer research.

Program Overview
The Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Awards support innovative cancer research from the next generation of leaders. These grants are awarded to outstanding early career investigators to support high-impact, high-risk projects that are distinct from their current research portfolio.
Award Terms
New in 2026: The grant amount totals $1,000,000 (USD) distributed evenly over four (4) years ($250,000 USD per year).Budget limits are inclusive of both direct and indirect costs, with indirect costs allowed up to 10% of the direct costs and included in the total grant amount.Emerging Leader Awards are granted to a single investigator; co-investigators are not permitted. The award may be used to support projects carried out with collaborators, who may provide letters of support.The letter of agreement will include IP terms with a revenue-sharing component.The award start date will be January 1, 2027.

Eligibility

New in 2026: Emerging Leader Awards support scientists worldwide. There are no eligibility restrictions based on geography or citizenship for this program.Open to non-profit academic/research institutions worldwide.Applicants must have established their independent laboratories three to eight years prior to December 31, 2026 (i.e., the official start date of the independent appointment must fall within the calendar years 2018-2023). Exceptions due to prolonged medical or family leave will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To be considered “independent”, applicants must have their own dedicated laboratory space, the ability to independently hire personnel, and institutional permission to apply to grants as principal investigator.Applicants must demonstrate multi-year independent funding, active in 2027, that sustains the central activities of the laboratory (for example, for US-based applicants, this should be at least one or two NIH/R01).Projects for this award must be centered on evidence-based laboratory data and/or medical science.Only one submission per applicant is permitted per cycle.Institutions may submit multiple applications, but no more than one award will be made per institution in each funding cycle.The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Ineligibility

Research track, adjunct faculty, and independent fellow positions are not eligible.This award is not intended to be the main source of funding for the applicant’s laboratory. Proposed projects must not be supported by other sources of funding. Finalists will be asked to discuss any potential overlap with other current or pending awards during the interview.