Susan G. Komen Foundation

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The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate one applicant for the Susan G. Komen Rising Star Researcher Award 2025 which recognizes innovative work, budding leadership and dedicated mentorship in breast cancer research and treatment.

For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Purpose of Award:

This award will honor an investigator whose work has the potential to significantly impact the breast cancer field, who demonstrates strong leadership potential in the breast cancer community and who exhibits a strong commitment to trainee mentorship.

The Rising Star Researcher Award has become another marquee breast cancer research award for Susan G. Komen and complements the Brinker Awards established in 1992 to honor pioneers and distinguished investigators in basic science and clinical research.

The Rising Star Researcher Award will be given annually to:

• a breast cancer researcher from across the continuum of basic, translational, clinical, population health and implementation science research
• who is driving science that is having a substantial impact, expanding our understanding of breast cancer and/or improving breast cancer care and outcomes,
• is beginning to establish visibility and leadership in the field, beyond their scientific and/or clinical discoveries, and
• is demonstrating mentorship that is significantly impacting the education and professional development of research and/or clinical trainees.

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 3* // Tickets Available: 3

*The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate up to three applicants (one per category) for the Susan G. Komen’s Brinker Awards for Scientific Distinction 2025 which recognizes pioneering work in breast cancer research and treatment. 

For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Award Categories (Limit 1 Each) 

• The Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science will be presented to a basic science and/or translational researcher whose scientific discoveries or novel technologies have substantively impacted our understanding of the basic biology and intrinsic molecular processes driving breast cancer to improve breast cancer care.
• The Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research will be presented to a clinical researcher who has advanced new approaches for prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment that have paved the way for new clinical and therapeutic applications and/or practice changing, patient-focused care for breast cancer.
• The Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Population Science will be presented to a researcher who has made pivotal advances in implementing science, cancer care delivery, health services research, epidemiology and/or developed innovative evidence-based interventions to enhance breast cancer outcomes.

The CCR Grants have fostered promising breast cancer researchers who are in the early stages of their faculty careers by providing support for up to three years of “protected time” for research career development under the guidance of a Mentor Committee. The Foundation is especially interested in hypothesis-driven studies that target breast cancer, in the development of strategies for earlier diagnosis, reduce risk of breast cancer, or increase the effectiveness of current therapies to lead to longer and better-quality outcomes for patients.  They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science. 

Award: Up to $150,000 per year (combined direct and indirect costs) for up to three years ($450,000).

Eligibility:

• Must have a doctoral degree, such as M.D., Ph.D., Dr.P.H., D.O., or equivalent.
• Must currently hold a full-time faculty appointment or have a formal offer letter from the Institution that confirms position and start date by the Application due date (October 9, 2024).
• Must not have held any faculty appointment, including non-tenure and tenure track appointments combined, for more than a total of 6 years by the Application due date.
• Must not simultaneously hold any other Grant awarded by Susan G. Komen.
• Must not currently be or have been a Principal Investigator on an existing NIH R01 grant or their equivalent as of the date of Award Notification (on or around April 15, 2025).
• Must conduct the proposed research and training at the Lead Mentor’s U.S. based institution.
• Must have adequate space and facilities to conduct the proposed research and must be able to devote at least 75% of full-time effort to breast cancer research and activities.

*The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate up to two applicants but only if at least one of the two nominees identifies as as someone from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data (details outlined in RFA).

For more information please contact UACC-preaward@arizona.edu

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2*

This grant mechanism aims to help outstanding senior postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows, working under the guidance of a mentor, launch their competitive, independent breast cancer research careers. Career Transition Awards provide up to five years of funding in two phases: Phase 1 supports the final years of mentored, postdoctoral training; and Phase 2 supports the independent research of the early career, tenure-track investigators. 

Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science. 

Komen’s research priorities are conquering metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing personalized breast cancer care throughout the continuum of care and eliminating breast cancer disparities and inequities. 

Eligibility:

• Individuals pursuing independent breast cancer research careers who are in the final years of mentored postdoctoral research training positions with no more than five years of total postdoctoral research experience at the time of Letter of Intent submission (August 7, 2024). For this application clinical fellows are considered eligible and equal to the postdoctoral rank.
• Must have a doctoral degree, including M.D., Ph.D., Dr.P.H., D.O., or equivalent.
• May not hold any appointment designated as faculty (e.g., assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, faculty-level instructor, or equivalent). Clinical fellows with the title instructor are allowed as long as they are no more than 5 years into their training similar to above bullet concerning postdoctoral training.
• Must be able to devote at least 75% of full-time effort to breast cancer research and activities, i.e., protected research time.
• Applicant/PI may not hold another career transition award, training award (K-type awards) or R-type award at time of notification of intent to fund (on or around April 15, 2025). If Applicant previously held an R-type award at any point, they are not eligible to apply for this award.
• Is not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

*The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) can nominate up to two applicants but only if at least one of the two nominees identifies as as someone from groups shown to be historically minoritized and marginalized in biomedical research from National Science Foundation data (details outlined in RFA).

For more information please contact UACC-preaward@arizona.edu


Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2*