Pew Charitable Trust

2024 Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research

T. Sawyer (Biomedical Engineering)

The selection process and submission of this funding program are coordinated by the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC). For any other questions, please contact UACC Research Development (UACC-PreAward@arizona.edu)

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate one applicant for the 2024 Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research which supports assistant professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of a cure for cancer.

Purpose of Award:

In line with The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust’s mission to invest in innovative, cutting-edge cancer research that may accelerate and advance progress toward a cure for cancer, applications are invited from nominees conducting cancer research. This program is distinct from the Pew Scholars Program, and it follows a diﬀerent, but parallel set of guidelines and procedures for nominating an applicant whose research is related to cancer.

This program does not fund clinical trials research. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied cancer research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply. Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged.

Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Award Terms

An award of $75,000 per year for four years ($300,000 total) will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the Pew-Stewart scholar, subject to annual review of his or her progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew-Stewart program.

It is expected that Pew-Stewart scholars will spend at least 80 percent of their time in work or activities related to the accomplishment of their overall research goals (which are not restricted to the speciﬁc aims proposed for this award). However, Pew provides ﬂexible support to the general research aims of the Pew-Stewart scholar and does not require eﬀort reporting.

The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew-Stewart scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the Pew-Stewart scholar's research and as to best advance his or her research and career. Specifically:

The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including beneﬁts) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries.
Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).
Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program oﬃce, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).
Subawards are allowed.

Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonproﬁt associations do not pose a conﬂict with the Pew-Stewart program. If you have questions concerning eligibility, please contact Kara Coleman, project director, Pew Biomedical Programs at 215-575-4925 or Pew-Stewart@pewtrusts.org in advance of applying.

Applicant Eligibility:

Candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

Due to COVID-19-related research disruptions, we are adding an additional year of eligibility so that individuals in the first four years of their assistant professor position are eligible to apply. Candidates must have been awarded a doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine or a related field. As of Aug. 31, 2023, nominees must be running an independent lab and hold full-time appointments at the rank of assistant professor or equivalent. Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor, or instructor are not eligible. Candidates must not have been appointed as an assistant professor at any institution prior to June 12, 2019. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental or medical leave does not count as part of this four-year limit. Candidates who need an eligibility extension due to leave or other reasons should contact Pew’s program office. Candidates may apply two times in total Candidates should be conducting creative, interdisciplinary, basic or translational cancer research. This program is not designed to fund clinical trial research. If an applicant's university has more than one eligible nominating institution or campus, that applicant may apply from only one institution; the applicant may not reapply in a subsequent year from a different one. Candidates may not be nominated for the Pew Scholars Program and the Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research in the same year.