The AACR-ALK Positive Lung Cancer Research Fellowship is a collaborative funding initiative between the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and ALK Positive, focused on advancing research in ALK-positive lung cancer. The fellowship supports postdoctoral or clinical research fellows engaged in mentored research with direct relevance to ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The program is designed to facilitate career development while contributing to scientific innovation in targeted therapies and treatment resistance in this cancer subtype.

The fellowship provides a total of $130,000 over a two-year grant term beginning on September 1, 2025. Funding is primarily directed toward the fellow’s salary and benefits. Additional funds may be designated for non-personnel research expenses such as laboratory supplies, equipment, and publication charges directly related to the funded project. The grant does not cover indirect costs or clinical practice compensation.

Eligible research projects must fall within the areas of basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences and demonstrate direct applicability to ALK-positive lung cancer. Priority areas of interest include the development of non-ALK-directed therapies, immunotherapies, identification of persister cells, strategies to eliminate them, and discovery of orthogonal therapeutic targets in ALK-positive NSCLC.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) and cannot be candidates for a further doctoral degree. They must hold or have a confirmed mentored research position such as postdoctoral or clinical research fellow by the start of the grant term. The position must be fully secured at the time of application and cannot be contingent on receiving the fellowship. Applicants must have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency (whichever is later) on or after September 1, 2020. Research must be conducted under the direction of a mentor at an academic, medical, or research institution located anywhere in the world.

There are no citizenship or geographic restrictions for applicants. However, applicants working in countries where they are not citizens or permanent residents must ensure their visa status allows for the entire grant term. Applicants must be AACR members in good standing by the application deadline. Associate membership is available without dues for early-career researchers, and membership dues may be waived for applicants from countries with developing cancer research infrastructure. Nonmembers must submit an AACR membership application and obtain a nominator who is an active AACR member. Assistance in finding a nominator is available via email.

The application must be submitted online through ProposalCentral by 1:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Award decisions will be announced in July 2025. Applicants are encouraged to download and review the full Program Guidelines and Application Instructions for comprehensive information. For questions about eligibility or application procedures, contact AACR’s Research and Grants Administration Department at grants@aacr.org or by phone at 215-440-9300. The AACR's mailing address is 615 Chestnut St., 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404.