External Deadline: February 1, 2026 Internal Deadline: January 7, 2026
Instructions for electronic submission: To apply for the Mary K. Ash Innovative/Translational Cancer Research Grant, please submit the materials requested below no later than January 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Budget: $100,000 for a two-year period (combined direct and indirect costs), cannot exceed 15% IDC
Number of Applications: 1 application from Cornell (including Ithaca)
Program Description:
The Mary K. Ash Foundation seeks for innovative proposals focused on translational research of cancers affecting women (ovarian, uterine, breast, endometrial or cervical cancer among others). Translational research is broadly defined as research that will provide a scientific link between laboratory research and the clinic. Ultimately, such research would lead to improvement in diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer. The Foundation anticipates funding between 10 and 15 grants.
Funding priorities: MK Ash review committee tends to lean toward the more traditional “women-related cancers” (i.e. breast, uterine, ovarian, cervical, and more recently lung and endometrial).
Foundation website: https://www.marykayfoundation.org/causes
FAQs can be 
found here.
Eligibility
- The proposal must be focused on translational research of cancers affecting women (ovarian, uterine, breast, endometrial or cervical cancer among others).
- Principal Investigator must be appointed a full-time assistant professor or higher at the time of application submission and commit a minimum 5% effort.
- Staff scientists, postdoctoral trainees and instructors are NOT eligible.
- Faculty currently receiving funding from the Mary Kay Foundations are not eligible to apply.
- Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply if they are not currently receiving funding from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation.
Application Requirements
Cornell is limited to submitting 1 nominee. Due to this limitation, an internal selection process will be coordinated. Chairpersons/Institute Directors/Division Heads may submit no more than two nominations from their department/division. Note: Chairs/Institute Directors/Division Heads submitting more than one nomination must send a statement to mcc@med.cornell.edu commenting on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two nominees.
Upload the following items in the order listed in one PDF file using this naming convention: PI last name-first initial_MARYK-2026.pdf (see example below).
Example: Smith-J_MARYK-2026.pdf
- Letter of nomination form the candidate’s Chairpersons/Institute Directors/Division Heads (1-2 pages)
- Research plan (2 pages). Include a description of the scope and significance of the proposed research
- Animal studies are allowed. However, researchers will need to indicate how their studies would impact patient care in the future should their research be successful.
- Preliminary data is not required, however it is helpful to include if available.
- Anticipated budget outline including categories
- the total budget may not exceed $100,000 (combined indirect/direct costs)
- equipment and travel costs must be justified
- indirect costs must not exceed 15% of direct costs.
- Budget format should follow NIH format for a two-year grant ($50,000/year) and include justification.
- Biosketch
Submit the items listed above to this link no later than January 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM in the order listed as one PDF document using the naming convention PI last name-first initial_ MARYK-2026.pdf (see example below).
Example: Smith-J_MARYK-2026.pdf
Past Recipients
- Cancer
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Translational Science
- Faculty
- Junior Faculty
- New Investigator