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AACR-AstraZeneca Fellowship for Physician-Scientists for Digital Pathology and AI Training

American Association for Cancer Research

Grant Amount$200,000 USD

Grant Term2 Years

Start of Grant TermDecember 1, 2026

Application DeadlineSeptember 29, 2026 1:00 PM

Decision DateNovember 2026

Additional InformationAdditional details regarding this grant can be found in the Program Guidelines and Application Instructions. Final determinations of eligibility will not be completed until the AACR is in receipt of the submitted application.

Description

The AACR-AstraZeneca Fellowship for Physician-Scientists for Digital Pathology and AI Training represents a joint effort to support the training and career development of pathologists with a strong interest in digital pathology, artificial intelligence, and/or computational pathology. This fellowship provides physician-scientists with integrated research experiences across academic and industry settings, offering a unique opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience in AI-driven cancer research and diagnostics.

The program is intended to provide fellows with a comprehensive research experience that supports their scientific development and builds expertise in digital and computational pathology. Through mentored research in both academic and industry settings, fellows will develop the skills and perspective needed to pursue independent careers in academic research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, or related fields, contributing to advances in cancer research at the intersection of technology and oncology.

Proposed research may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature and must be focused on digital and/or computational pathology.

Applicants are required to complete two years of research training, consisting of one year at their academic institution and one year with their assigned AstraZeneca team. The AstraZeneca training component is intended to provide an immersive experience in an industry setting, with strong preference for onsite work at the company’s Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Cambridge, Massachusetts locations. The structure and scheduling of the industry-based training period may be flexible and will be determined through mutual agreement among the fellow, the fellow’s institution, and AstraZeneca, provided that a cumulative total of one year is completed with the industry partner. Hybrid and remote work arrangements may be considered, as appropriate to the fellow’s project and training plan.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong alignment with the specific AACR funding opportunity (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important predictor of success.

Competitive proposals should closely match the objectives of the specific grant mechanism or Request for Applications (RFA).

Common priority areas include:

Cancer biology
Cancer prevention
Early detection
Cancer diagnosis
Cancer interception
Precision oncology
Immunotherapy
Translational research
Population science
Cancer disparities
Therapeutic development

Applications that clearly fit the stated goals and eligibility requirements of the funding opportunity are substantially more competitive.

2. Scientific excellence and innovation (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Innovation is central to AACR funding.

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

Novel hypotheses
Original scientific concepts
Innovative technologies
Creative experimental approaches
High scientific significance
Potential to substantially advance cancer research

AACR consistently prioritizes research that moves the field beyond incremental advances.

3. Direct relevance to improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Successful proposals clearly explain how the research will improve one or more of the following:

Cancer prevention
Early detection
Diagnosis
Treatment
Interception
Survivorship
Understanding of cancer biology

Projects with clear relevance to improving outcomes for people with cancer are particularly competitive.

4. Strong scientific rigor and methodology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive applications include:

Clearly defined hypotheses
Robust experimental design
Appropriate statistical analyses
Well-defined endpoints
Reproducible methods
Feasible research plan

Scientific rigor is a fundamental component of AACR's peer-review process.

5. Strong translational potential (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

AACR strongly supports research capable of moving discoveries toward clinical benefit.

Competitive projects often include:

Biomarker development
Precision medicine
Therapeutic development
Translational oncology
Clinical implementation
Early-phase clinical translation

Applications should clearly describe how laboratory discoveries could ultimately benefit patients.

6. Investigator excellence and career development (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers evaluate:

Publication record
Scientific achievements
Leadership potential
Independence (where applicable)
Institutional support
Career development plan (for fellowship and career awards)

Many AACR funding mechanisms are specifically designed to support early-career investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and newly independent faculty.

7. Addressing important unmet needs in cancer research (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals frequently address:

Drug resistance
Rare cancers
Metastatic disease
Cancer disparities
Tumor microenvironment
Immunotherapy resistance
Early detection
Precision oncology
Cancer prevention

Projects targeting major unmet scientific or clinical challenges are highly valued.

8. Strong multidisciplinary collaboration (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive teams often include:

Basic scientists
Medical oncologists
Surgeons
Radiation oncologists
Pathologists
Bioinformaticians
Computational biologists
Epidemiologists

Multidisciplinary expertise enhances both scientific quality and translational impact.

9. Feasible project design and appropriate budget (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

Realistic timelines
Clearly defined milestones
Appropriate resource allocation
Well-justified budgets
Feasible implementation

Projects should be achievable within the duration and budget of the specific AACR award.

10. Potential for high scientific and clinical impact (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The strongest proposals demonstrate potential to:

Change clinical practice
Influence future clinical trials
Generate high-impact publications
Advance precision oncology
Improve patient outcomes
Secure future external funding

Research with broad influence across cancer research or patient care is especially competitive.

Specialties

Artificial Intelligence

Oncology

Cancer

Pathology

Eligibility Requirements

At the start of the grant term (December 1, 2026), applicants must:

Have a medical degree (MD, DO, MD/PhD, or the equivalent) in a related field.
Be enrolled in an accredited pathology fellowship or residency program at an academic, medical, or research institution within the United States and be authorized to work in the United States.
- Applicants who require a visa must ensure that their visa status and/or work authorization will permit them to complete the project and grant term.
- If eligibility is based on a future fellowship or residency position, the position must be confirmed at the time of submission and CANNOT be contingent upon receiving this grant. Applicants are advised to contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration (RGA) at grants@aacr.org before submission to confirm they will hold an eligible position.
Have at least two years of protected research time.
Have a mentor in the proposed research field from the sponsoring institution.

At the start of the grant term (December 1, 2026), applicants cannot:

Be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
Be an employee or subcontractor of a U.S. federal government entity or for-profit private industry or be clinical fellows applying from a U.S. government laboratory (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA, etc.)
Concurrently hold another AACR grant.
- Current AACR grantees may apply only if their current grant ends before the start of the grant term for this funding opportunity (i.e., December 1, 2026). Also, the terms of their current grant must stipulate that the final progress reports be approved by the AACR before December 1, 2026.

All applicants with questions about eligibility should contact the AACR’s Research and Grants Administration at grants@aacr.org before submitting an application.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Association for Cancer Research

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 615 Chestnut St., 17th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404 USA Telephone: 215-440-9300 Email: aacr@aacr.org

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