External Deadline: (LOI) July 24, 2025; (Full application – by invitation) October 2, 2025
Internal Deadline: June 23, 2025
Instructions for electronic submission: To apply for the Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research Grant, please submit the materials requested below to this link no later than June 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Program description:
Through our research program, Komen awards grants to support cutting-edge breast cancer research that will provide the greatest benefit to patients. We’re focused on conquering metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing personalized breast care and eliminating breast cancer disparities and inequities. The Foundation’s goal is to improve breast health care and outcomes for everyone and save lives.
Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research (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. We seek to support those who will emerge as the next key leaders in the fight against breast cancer.
CCR Research Focus: Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research goals and priorities and mission to save lives from breast cancer.
Check the Foundation website for more information: https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer-research/grants/opportunities/
Number of Applications: 1 application from WCM
Budget: Applicant/Primary Investigator (PI) may request funding of up to $150,000 per year (combined direct and indirect costs) for up to three years ($450,000).
Eligibility
- Must be nominated by the Institution. Applicants cannot self-nominate.
- 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 2, 2025), documented by the Applicant/PI Biosketch and Letter of Institutional Support.
- 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 (October 2, 2025), documented by the Applicant/PI Biosketch and Letter of Institutional Support. All positions that are considered as “Faculty” positions by the Applicant/PI’s institution (or prior institution) count towards the 6-year limit. This may include positions such as Instructor, Research Fellow, or other non-tenure track faculty positions as appropriate. All faculty positions and terms must be verified by the Letter of Institutional Support which must also include information regarding a pathway to independence if the applicant is not already leading their own research lab.
- 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, 2026).
- 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, i.e., protected research time.
- Must ensure that all past and current Komen-funded Grants are up to date and in compliance with all Komen requirements; e.g., progress and financial report submissions, IRB (Institutional Review Boards) approvals, etc. by the Letter of Intent due date (July 24, 2025), if applicable.
- Is not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- May only submit ONE LOI/Application in response to this Announcement.
Application Requirements
Internal Application Requirements:
Weill Cornell Medicine is limited to submitting 1 nominee. Due to this limitation an internal selection process will be coordinated. Chairpersons/Division Heads/Institute Directors may submit no more than two nominations from their department/division/institute.
Chairs/Division Heads submitting more than one nomination must send a description on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two nominees to researchdean@med.cornell.edu by the internal application deadline.
Internal submissions should contain the following information:
- Letter of nomination by Chair of Department, Division Head, or Institute Director. Letter must explain why the candidate is deserving of this nomination and must be co-signed by the candidate’s mentor (1-2 pages).
- Narrative (1 page max.). Include:
- Project title
- Research Plan: Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical, data science and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research priorities and mission to save lives from breast cancer. The Research Plan must demonstrate consideration to the entire 3-year grant term expected of this grant mechanism, including detailed information on the specific aims and research goals. The Applicant/PI must propose a Research Plan that includes a clear and concise statement of the research question, hypothesis(es), and specific aims of the Research Project. The Research Plan must be included within the one-page limit.
- Impact and Innovation: Briefly summarize how, if successful, the proposal and specific aims will increase our understanding of breast cancer and lead to advances in the field and/or breast cancer care, and the project’s significance and potential impact to breast cancer patients, including who will/will not benefit from the findings of the research study. This must be included within the one-page limit.
- Candidate’s biosketch
Submit the items listed above here no later than June 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM in the order listed as one PDF document using the naming convention: Candidate’s last name-first initial_ KomenCCR2025.pdf (see example below).
Example: Smith-J_ KomenCCR2025.pdf
- Cancer