Yosemite-American Cancer Society Award Grant

Note: Investigators at any career stage with a full-time faculty (or equivalent) appointment at one of the invited institutions (see Eligible Institutions in Section 8 of attached pdf) are eligible to apply. Applications submitted from an institution that is not eligible will be withdrawn and returned without review.
Grant Overview
The 2026 Yosemite-American Cancer Society Award supports innovative research to develop methodologies, establish feasibility, or pilot high risk/high reward projects to advance the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer as outlined in either Topic #1 or #2. Preliminary data are not required. Priority will be given to projects that are highly innovative, feasible within a two-year maximum timeframe, and are poised to make an impact on cancer prevention, treatment, and healthcare delivery by demonstrating a plan of translation to the clinic.
Scientific Scope
Topic #1 - Beyond the canonical proteome: post-transciptional and post-translational regulation in cancer
Non-genetic regulation beyond DNA sequence and mRNA abundance can profoundly shape tumor biology, yet remains underexplored. These layers include alternative splicing, RNA modifications, non-canonical translation (e.g., cryptic peptides), and post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as glycosylation. This topic seeks proposals that reveal or therapeutically exploit these regulatory mechanisms to advance cancer detection or treatment, leading to actionable biomarkers or therapeutic strategies.
Topic #2 - Induced Proximity and New Frontiers in Protein Modulation
Induced proximity has introduced a transformative paradigm in medicine, originating with targeted protein degradation (i.e. PROTACs and Molecular Glue Degraders), and more recently expanding into a broader array of applications beyond degradation. Extending this paradigm to drive novel biological outcomes has the potential to unlock novel mechanisms of action and address targets previously considered undruggable. We seek innovative platforms, chemistries, and mechanistic strategies that leverage induced proximity or related concepts to modulate protein function, especially in ways beyond degradation.