Call for The Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Awards 2026 is open now!!!
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.
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research actively partners with scientists to accelerate research that will transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. They fulfill our mission by supporting groundbreaking science carried out by individual investigators, multi-disciplinary teams, and early-stage companies in the United States and across the globe. Recognizing the obstacles that prevent scientific advances from improving patient outcomes, they maintain a nimble, high-impact approach to funding basic and translational cancer research that bridges the gap between bench and bedside through grants and venture investments.
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Since its founding in 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded over $275 million in research funding to investigators at more than 110 institutions across 18 countries. They are committed to directing the majority of our resources toward achieving our mission and maximizing their impact.
The Mark Foundation provides grant support to an expanding network of scientists conducting research across cancer types. From individual investigators to multidisciplinary collaborative teams, their awardees represent the best scientific minds in cancer research and technological innovation and become a vital part of their scientific network. Since 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded over $230 million in grants to investigators at more than 100 academic institutions across 16 countries.
The Mark Foundation employs various funding mechanisms, both independent and in collaboration with partner organizations. All grant submissions undergo rigorous peer review and are held to the strictest standards of scientific excellence.
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The Mark Foundation is committed to bringing together interdisciplinary groups of researchers to pool their expertise and rapidly respond to the most pressing issues in cancer research. At these workshops, scientists gather in an informal setting to share their ideas, brainstorm, and establish new collaborations, and are offered the opportunity to apply for funding from The Mark Foundation to support new ideas sparked by the stimulating environment.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
- 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.
Eligibilities
- MD, PhD, or an equivalent degree is required.
- 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. 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. 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).
- The Mark Foundation will assess the eligibility of individual applicants during the review process – due to the volume of applications received, we cannot provide eligibility determinations prior to submission of the application.
- Projects for this award must be centered on evidence-based laboratory data and/or medical science.
- 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.
- 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.
- If selected, finalists must be available for virtual interviews in October 2026.
- 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.
Application Process
- Letters of Intent must be submitted through the online application system no later than 5 PM Eastern Time on April 30, 2026. Registration and email address verification are required. Notifications will be sent from the application system, so please be sure these emails are not caught in spam filters.
- The initial Letter of Intent should include:
- Project Title
- Project Summary: description of the proposed project, including a concise discussion of the rationale, experimental approach, innovation, and potential impact (350 words).
- Statement of Project Distinction: a brief paragraph describing how the proposed project is unique from the main focus of the lab and prior research activities.
- Applicants will also be requested to provide a biosketch (NIH format or similar) and a list of current grants and other funding supporting the lab.
- To ensure fairness, the initial review process of the Letters of Intent will conceal the applicant’s name and institution. Please avoid citations and references to the applicant and institution name in the Project Summary and Statement of Project Distinction. Letters of Intent that contain identifying information such as the applicant’s name, institution name, or citation of articles authored by the applicant may result in disqualification.
- All application materials, including Letter of Intent, biosketch, and letters of support, must be submitted in English.
- After the Letters of Intent have been evaluated, full applications will be accepted by invitation only.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026 (17 Days Remaining)
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