Young Investigator Award (YIA)

Young Investigator Award (YIA)

Overview: The Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award is the organization's preeminent grant-making program and has been established for more than 30 years. It represents CRF's commitment to funding promising early-career cancer researchers.

Purpose: Addresses a critical catch-22 situation in early-career cancer research: most scientists cannot compile an initial data set without funding, but financial support from the majority of funders requires a proposal backed up by primary data and results. The YIA provides seed capital to allow early-career researchers to gather primary data and establish themselves as principal investigators.

Award Amount: $100,000 over two years

Geographic Scope: Primarily supports researchers at institutions in the Midwest/Chicago area, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Washington University in St. Louis

Eligibility:

Early-career scientists/researchers in cancer research

Pursuing independent research hypotheses

Working to establish themselves as primary investigators

Focus Areas:

Cancer biology and immunotherapy

Genomics and bioinformatics

Molecular engineering

Data science and artificial intelligence

Cancer prevention and treatment

Basic and translational cancer research

Specific cancer types (brain tumors, lung cancer, blood cancers, ovarian cancer, etc.)

Research Fields Supported:

Tumor immunology and immune checkpoint inhibitors

Metabolic adaptations in cancer

Genetic mutations and cancer predisposition

Cancer stem cells

CAR-T cell therapy

Tumor microenvironment

Epigenomics and genomics

Drug delivery and targeting

Cancer-associated fibroblasts

Circulating tumor DNA

Natural killer cell therapy

Microbiome-based immunotherapy

Mission: The Cancer Research Foundation was established more than 60 years ago to find ways to fight and prevent cancer. The organization acts as "venture philanthropists," seeking opportunities to support new researchers and novel ideas at a time when promising ideas can be starved for capital.

Diversity Commitment: The organization is dedicated to supporting diversity among researchers, with emphasis on women and minorities in STEM fields, recognizing that diverse scientific minds and backgrounds lead to better solutions in cancer research.

Special Recognition: Breakthrough Board Scholar - one Young Investigator selected annually receives additional recognition and funding exclusively from The Breakthrough Board's annual event.

Contact Information:

Email: mjohnson@cancerresearchfdn.org

Address: 6200 N. Hiawatha Ave., Suite 640, Chicago, IL 60646

Phone: 312.630.0055

Fax: 312.630.0075

Organization:

Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit

CRFCC EIN: 81-2771469

CRF EIN: 36-2385213