The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is offering the 2025 Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer to support the advancement of minority researchers in biomedical and health-related sciences. Recognizing the systemic and structural barriers faced by underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in academia and scientific research, LCRF is providing this award to encourage the development, retention, and success of minority postdoctoral researchers, clinical fellows, and assistant professors within ten years of earning their MD and/or PhD degrees.

This award provides protected time, financial support, and mentorship to minority investigators pursuing a wide range of research topics in lung cancer. Eligible projects may include studies in lung cancer biology, screening and early detection, biomarker identification, novel therapeutic development, resistance mechanisms, bioengineering approaches, genetic and environmental interaction studies, disparities research, palliative support strategies, and health equity in treatment access and biomarker testing. Special emphasis is placed on research addressing disparities in outcomes and the inclusion of real-world data to inform drug development and patient-centered treatment pathways.

The grant awards up to $150,000 over a two-year period, with annual disbursements of $75,000. Applicants must be affiliated with a nonprofit academic or research institution and must self-identify as belonging to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in biomedical sciences. This includes, but is not limited to, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander individuals. Other applicants from groups considered underrepresented by their host institution may be eligible if this can be convincingly demonstrated.

Applications follow a two-stage process via Proposal Central, beginning with a Letter of Intent (LOI) due March 3, 2025. Applicants will be notified of LOI outcomes by April 18, 2025. Full proposals from invited applicants are due by June 2, 2025. Notification of funding decisions will be made in November 2025, and projects will commence on December 1, 2025. Only one application per applicant is permitted across all LCRF grant programs in a given cycle.

Proposals are reviewed in two stages, with each stage involving administrative screening, scientific peer review, and evaluation by patient advocates. Proposals will be assessed on scientific merit, potential impact on lung cancer research and health disparities, innovation, and feasibility. Grantees will be required to submit interim and final scientific reports, as well as periodic lay summaries. Awardees must also adhere to LCRF’s open-access and data sharing policies, including timely submission of peer-reviewed publications to PubMed Central.

Inquiries should be directed to the LCRF Grants Office at grants@lcrf.org. Technical questions related to Proposal Central should be addressed by calling 800-875-2562 (U.S./Canada) or +1-703-964-5840 (International).