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Young Investigator Award

CureSearch for Children's Cancer

Our Young Investigator program provides seed support for bright researchers, early in their careers, who are pursuing exciting and novel research in pediatric oncology. Young Investigator Award Funding provides up to $75,000 per year for up to three years.

Timeline*	Date
RFA opens on ProposalCentral	3/2/2026
Letter of Intent due	4/14/2026
LOI Notification/Full Applications Invited	5/11/2026
Full Applications Due	7/16/2026
Earliest Award Notification*	Sept. 2026
Earliest Start Date*	11/15/2026

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer supports the recruitment of promising early-career scientists to a research career in pediatric oncology. Early career investigators are the most vulnerable to the shortfalls in federal research funding. The CureSearch Young Investigator program helps early career scientists begin their research programs and provides a pathway to independence. Since 2012, CureSearch hasinvested over $5.9M in Young Investigator awards to 32 grantees in research areas with high-risk and poor outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer: relapsed and highrisk ALL, AML, brain tumors, Ewing sarcoma, hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, rhabdoid tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, head and neck cancer, germ cell tumor, and Wilms tumor.

CureSearch’s mission is to drive innovative research into clinical impact to accelerate the delivery of novel therapeutics to pediatric cancer patients. A key component of this mission istoultimatelydrive outstandingtranslationalandpreclinicalresearch toclinical trials and beyond towards commercialization. The 2026/27 Young Investigator Program is designed to provide support and training for exceptional young investigators in pediatric oncology drug development. The award is intended for investigators who have completed post-doctoral training and are transitioning to a full-time academic position.

FUNDING INFORMATION AND GRANT TERM

YI awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of applications of high scientific merit and potential impact. Up to four awards are available, contingent on the availability of funds, and will be based on the merits of the research proposed, the applicant’s previous productivity, ongoing mentorship during the transition, and the research environment.

The applicant will receive $75,000 per year for three years (inclusive of up to 10% indirect costs). Continued support for second- and third-year funding is contingent upon a noncompetitive review and demonstration of satisfactory and timely completion of milestones.

Projects should be focused on pediatric oncology drug development. Applicants are encouraged to submit projects addressing areas of high unmet need in pediatric cancer research. Funding decisions will be based on scientific merit and the project’s drug development potential.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🚀 1. Strong Translational Focus (Most Critical Predictor)

CureSearch only funds translational research
Projects must clearly move:
- Bench → preclinical → clinical trial

👉 If a project is not on a path to becoming a new therapy, it is unlikely to be funded

🎯 2. Clear Path to Drug Development

Successful proposals demonstrate:

Potential to:
- Discover new drug targets
- Develop therapies
- Advance to clinical trials within a few years

👉 CureSearch prioritizes projects that can reach patients quickly (3–5 years)

⚡ 3. Speed & Acceleration Potential (Unique Predictor)

Projects must show:
- Accelerated timelines
- Rapid milestone achievement
Funding is tied to:
- Progress every 6 months

👉 CureSearch measures success by how fast research reaches patients, not publications

🧒 4. Focus on High-Risk Pediatric Cancers

Priority for:
- Rare, aggressive, or relapsed childhood cancers
Strong emphasis on:
- Unmet medical needs

👉 Projects targeting difficult-to-treat cancers have higher success rates

🔬 5. Strong Scientific Merit & Innovation

Proposals are evaluated on:

Scientific rigor
Novelty of approach
Potential to change treatment landscape

👉 Reviewed by expert Scientific Review Committees

🧪 6. Feasibility & Clinical Readiness

Clear experimental plan
Preclinical validation (preferred)
Defined pathway to:
- IND-enabling studies
- Clinical trials

👉 CureSearch projects are 7× more likely to reach trials vs average

🤝 7. Industry & Commercialization Potential

Strong advantage if:
- Industry collaboration exists
- There is a plan for market translation
Some programs require:
- Partnership with biotech/pharma

👉 “Can this become a real treatment product?” is a key question

👩‍🔬 8. Investigator Strength & Career Stage

Strong emphasis on:
- Early-career investigators transitioning to independence
Evaluation includes:
- Productivity
- Research environment
- Mentorship support

🌐 9. Collaborative & Multidisciplinary Approach

Projects involving:
- Academia + clinical centers + industry
Large collaborative teams improve success

📊 10. Measurable Milestones & Accountability

Clear deliverables:
- Preclinical results
- Trial readiness
Continued funding depends on:
- Meeting milestones
- Demonstrating progress

📊 Summary: Key Predictors (Ranked)

Highest impact factors:

Translational (bench-to-bedside) focus
Clear path to drug development
Speed/acceleration potential

Moderate predictors:
4. Pediatric high-risk cancer relevance
5. Scientific innovation
6. Feasibility & clinical readiness

Supporting factors:
7. Industry collaboration
8. Investigator strength
9. Milestones & accountability

💡 Insider Insight

Compared to other pediatric cancer funders:

CureSearch for Children's Cancer is extremely translation- and speed-driven

👉 Key success question:
“Will this become a treatment for children—and fast?”

Publications ≠ priority
Clinical impact + speed to trial = decisive

Specialties

Cancer

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• The applicant’s previous productivity, research environment, and ongoing mentorship during the transition to independence.

• Extent to which the proposed research has potential for pediatric drug development. Research studies leading to target and drug discovery and preclinical testing of new therapies will be given priority. Proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit by CureSearch’s Scientific Review Committee and prioritized according to the 2026/27 funding priorities noted in this RFA by the Scientific Advisory Council.

• Continued support for second- and third-year funding is contingent upon a noncompetitive review and demonstration of satisfactory completion of proposed research objectives and meeting the following expectations:

o Submission of progress reports and completion ofstated milestones, unless modified based on the direction of research.

o If applicable, attendance and participation in the annual CureSearch Summit, a travel stipend to be provided by CureSearch.

o Participation in CureSearch volunteer leadership activities, including yearly scientific review.

Research shows that diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogenous teams. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a American, or American Indian or Alaska Native. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting. CureSearch encourages applicants from diverse populations to enhance the participation of researchers identified as nationally underrepresented in the biomedical and clinical sciences.

APPLICANT (PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR)

Applicants should meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must have MD (or equivalent), PhD, MD-PhD with no more than six years beyond completion of post-doctoral training.

• Applicants must have an academic appointment at a medical institution in the United States, South America, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, China, or Australia at the Instructor or Assistant Professor level; transition into an appropriate position anticipated during the funding period, ideally within the first year, must be verified by a Letter of Institutional Support.

• Applicants may not hold an independent NIH “R” or “P” award at the time of

• application. Career development awards, including the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, are not considered independent “R”-level funding for the purposes of this eligibility requirement, thus applicants with a K99/R00 award are eligible to apply.

• Applicants may concurrently have an NIH “K” award.

• Applicants must have an academic mentor identified and the application must include a letter/statement from the mentor documenting his/her involvement in the proposed research.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: CureSearch for Children's Cancer

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: PO Box 45781 Baltimore, MD 21297-5781 info@curesearch.org

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