PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Lloyd J. Old STAR Program provides grants of $1.25 million over 5 years to mid-career scientists. This long-term funding is not be tied to a specific research project, but rather aims to provide a degree of flexibility and freedom for investigators to explore outside-the-box and disruptive avenues of research. Candidates selected for this award are expected to be future “stars” in the field of cancer immunology: Scientists TAking Risks.
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
Candidates for the Lloyd J. Old STAR program must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicant must have an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. (or equivalent)
- Applicants must belong to one of the following categories as of July 1, 2023:
- Tenure-track assistant professor with a minimum of 3 years in this position (appointed on or before July 1, 2020)
- Tenure-track associate professor with a maximum of 3 years in this position (appointed on or after July 1, 2020)
Adjunct or acting positions are not eligible.
Applicants are expected to commit a minimum of 80% of their time to conducting research.
CRI has no citizenship restrictions, and research supported by the award may be conducted at medical schools and research centers in the United States or abroad. Please note that the Cancer Research Institute does not support research at for-profit institutions.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Lloyd J. Old STAR Program grants provide up to $250,000 per year for five years. Awarded funds are intended to be flexible and may be used for salary, technical assistance, supplies, capital equipment, or scientific travel. CRI does not provide funds for indirect costs. Payments are made quarterly in U.S. currency to the host institution.
Award Terms and Conditions
All awardees must adhere to the terms of this award.
Please note: The Cancer Research Institute will not modify the terms of its policies at the request of individual institutions. Policies have been approved by our Board of Trustees, and we do not have the resources to negotiate separately with the many institutions that receive our support.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The process for applying for a Lloyd J. Old STAR Program grant consists of two parts:
- Application
- Invited interview
The deadline for the receipt of applications is January 15. Candidates will be notified in early March whether or not they have been invited for an interview. Interviews will be conducted virtually with members of CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council leadership. It is the policy of CRI that all reviewers are required to adhere to ethical guidelines that mandate strict confidentiality concerning all aspects of any letter of intents (“LOIs”), grant applications, and research proposals submitted to CRI for funding consideration. Confidentiality agreements with all reviewers are kept on file at CRI. The earliest an award can activate is July 1. Awards must activate on the first of the month.
UPLOADING SUPPORTING MATERIALS
After you have filled out all required fields on the online form, you will be asked on the final page of the application to upload, in this order, the following supporting documentation along with your application form in one PDF document:
- Complete the Application Form (PDF)
- Abstract: A 300-word overview of the research questions, goals, and approaches of your lab. The content should be written in nontechnical English.
- Research summary: A summary (not to exceed 4 pages) of your ongoing and planned research, highlighting your past work and plans for the next 5 years. Tables, figures, and references may be attached as an appendix.
- List five (5) publications of note: Five peer-reviewed papers that cover your most important scientific contributions. For each publication, provide a citation followed by a 300 word or less summary of the publication’s significance. Do not include copies of the publications with your application.
- Curriculum vitae and bibliography (limit bibliography to past 5 years and relevant publications).
- List of your current research support.
Only PDF documents will be accepted. All files must be combined into one document and named according to the following formula: if your name is John Brown, your file should be called Brown, John.pdf. Do not submit multiple attachments.
When you have finished uploading the attachments, click "Submit". You will receive a notice confirming that you have successfully submitted your Application Form. Immediately after, an automated notification from CRI will be sent to your email address, also confirming submission.
If you encounter problems uploading your attachment, email it to grants@cancerresearch.org. Be sure to note the application number, which will be assigned to you at the time of submission.
Online applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. We strongly suggest submitting your applications as early as possible to provide ample time in case your application is incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Formatting Guidelines
Any documents you attach to your online application form must be typed single-space using a 12 pt. or larger font size.
DOWNLOAD PDF APPLICATION FORM
Completing the Online Application Form
New Users
You will be prompted to create a user account unique to you, which will catalogue all applications you submit to CRI. You will use this account every time you login.
Create Account
Continue Existing Application
Applicants Visit the login page to access your saved application.
Login to Portal
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