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Career Development Award in HER2

College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation

This award will provide funding, up to $120,000.00 USD, supporting early-career investigators in conducting quantitative pathology research to optimize and validate HER2 IHC assay use across solid tumors beyond breast and gastric cancer. The funded project(s) will aim to generate critical evidence to guide consistent and accurate patient selection for anti-HER2 ADC therapies, as well as to assess the clinical utility of HER2 testing in tumor types where standardized protocols are currently lacking.

HER2 testing, while widely implemented for breast and gastric cancers, is sorely lacking in standardization and implementation for other cancers, even with mounting evidence of its potential clinical relevance. Three priority areas have been identified that would be greatly impacted by continued research. While not preferred, researchers may select one or more research areas for their project.

Submission process

The RFP will be posted on the CAP Foundation website from September 8, 2026, to November 2, 2026. Applicants are requested to submit the application electronically through the CAP Foundation Survey Monkey Apply portal. Projects will take place from February 2027 through February 2028. To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials:

Application Form
- Applicant information
  - Team member information if relevant
    - Priority area
    - Human subjects’ involvement declaration – IRB requirement if applicable
    - NIH research category
A project proposal, to include:
- Lay abstract (300 words)
- Research plan
  1. Background/Importance (500 words)
  2. Hypothesis/Aims (500 words)
  3. Research Approach (include methods, protocols, expected outcomes, statistical analysis) (500 words)
  4. Investigative Team and Research Environment (500 words)
- Bibliography
- Additional Funding
Detailed budget (items ineligible for funding include PI/MD salaries and capital equipment purchase - items greater than $5,000.00 USD)
Project timeline with confirmation that the project can be completed within 12 months.
Two Letters of Support
- 1) A letter from your institution (e.g., department chair) granting you permission to pursue the project, if an award is made.
- 2) A letter from a superior discussing the applicant’s ability to complete the proposed project within the timeline and the applicant's subject matter experience regarding the project.
Curriculum vitae
Professional headshot for use in Foundation web and print media (Requirements: 1+megabyte, color, professional dress, neutral background; no selfies)
W9 for your institution

It is anticipated that this award will generate results that will be submitted as a manuscript for publication in ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE. If the Archives editors reject the paper, the author is free to submit to other journals. CAP Foundation will also encourage awardees to submit for a poster presentation or educational session at the annual meeting as a result of their findings. All publications or presentations resulting from the research award will recognize the support of the CAP Foundation and all other supporters.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct pathology relevance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the fundamental predictor of fit.

Strong projects should involve areas such as:

Anatomic pathology
Clinical pathology
Surgical pathology
Cytopathology
Hematopathology
Molecular pathology
Immunohistochemistry
Laboratory medicine
Diagnostic biomarkers
Digital pathology
Laboratory diagnostics
Cancer pathology
Precision medicine

A general clinical study with no meaningful pathology component would have weaker alignment.

2. Important diagnostic or clinical problem ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A competitive proposal should identify a problem where pathology can make a meaningful difference.

Examples:

Diagnostic uncertainty
Misclassification of disease
Delayed diagnosis
Limited sensitivity/specificity of current tests
Difficulty distinguishing benign vs malignant lesions
Biomarker limitations
Reproducibility problems
Laboratory quality problems
Challenges in molecular diagnosis

The proposal should clearly establish:

Clinical problem → pathology knowledge gap → proposed solution → patient benefit.

3. Patient-care impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The strongest projects demonstrate a pathway from laboratory findings to improved patient care.

Potential benefits include:

Earlier diagnosis
More accurate diagnosis
Better disease classification
Improved prognosis
More appropriate treatment selection
Reduced diagnostic errors
Faster turnaround time
Better laboratory quality
Improved precision medicine

For example:

New biomarker → improved tumor classification → better treatment selection → improved patient outcome

is a strong translational pathway.

4. Scientific merit and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The project should generate new knowledge, rather than simply reproduce established findings.

Potentially strong areas include:

Novel biomarkers
Molecular pathology
Digital pathology
Artificial intelligence
Computational pathology
New diagnostic assays
Precision oncology
Integrated pathology/genomic approaches
Novel disease-classification methods

Innovation is strongest when it addresses an established diagnostic limitation.

5. Methodological rigor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A competitive pathology research proposal should clearly describe:

Study population
Specimen selection
Sample size
Controls/comparators
Pathology methods
Laboratory protocols
Biomarker validation
Statistical analysis
Quality-control procedures
Primary and secondary endpoints

For diagnostic studies, reviewers should be able to determine whether the proposed study can actually establish diagnostic validity and clinical utility.

6. Translational/clinical applicability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Projects that can move from laboratory research into clinical practice are particularly attractive.

A strong pathway is:

Discovery → analytical validation → clinical validation → implementation → improved diagnosis

For example:

Novel molecular marker → validation in patient tissue → improved diagnostic classification → clinical implementation

Projects that remain purely theoretical may have less immediate clinical impact.

7. Investigator qualifications ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The investigator should demonstrate appropriate expertise in:

Pathology
Laboratory medicine
Molecular biology
Clinical research
Biostatistics
Bioinformatics
Digital pathology, where applicable

For early-career investigators, strong mentorship and access to experienced pathology researchers can compensate for a limited independent research track record.

8. Feasibility and pathology resources ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The application should establish access to:

Pathology specimens
Tissue archives
Histology facilities
Molecular laboratories
Immunohistochemistry
Digital pathology scanners
Sequencing facilities
Clinical databases
Statistical/bioinformatics support

A technically ambitious proposal is less competitive if the necessary specimens, equipment, or expertise are not already available.

9. Advancement of pathology practice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A strong proposal should answer:

How could this research change what pathologists or laboratories do?

Potential effects include:

Improved diagnostic algorithms
Standardized testing
Better biomarker interpretation
Improved laboratory workflow
Reduced diagnostic variability
Improved quality assurance
New testing approaches
More efficient pathology reporting

This practical connection can substantially strengthen the proposal.

10. Appropriate budget and focused objectives ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The proposed work should be achievable within the available resources.

A strong small-grant proposal typically has:

1 clear central question
2–3 focused objectives
Realistic sample size
Existing laboratory infrastructure
Clearly justified costs
Achievable timeline

Avoid trying to conduct a full-scale clinical trial with a small research award.

Specialties

Pathology

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be a CAP member at the time of submission. This award is directed at Early Career Pathologists (1 to 5 years in practice) and will aim to support early investigators, both pathology residents and new-in-practice fellows. To fully engage trainees (residents or fellows), the CAP Foundation strongly encourages inclusion of one or more trainees as co-investigators or active participants in the project.

Additional selection criteria are defined below:

Surgical Pathologists with at least 3 years’ experience signing out relevant tumor specimens.
Surgical pathologists actively engaged in their institution’s immunohistochemistry workflow or who have expertise/experience with HER2 immunohistochemistry.
Pathologists with interest and expertise correlating IHC and molecular testing (particularly next-generation sequencing) of solid tumors and clinical correlation.
If applicant holds faculty status at an academic institution, they should be at the Assistant or Associate professor rank.

Applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, or religion. Only one proposal may be submitted per institution and must include a letter of support from the Chair of the Pathology Department.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 325 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093-2719

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