CRI IGNITE Award

About this funding opportunity

CRI IGNITE Award

Inspiring Growth and Nurturing Independence Through Excellence Submission Deadline

January 9, 2026

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Program Overview

The CRI IGNITE Award, Inspiring Growth and Nurturing Independence Through Excellence, supports the transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers into independent tenure-track investigators. The program offers two sequential phases of funding: Phase 1: Foundation Phase, Up to 2 years of postdoctoral support Phase 2: Independence Phase, Up to 3 years of faculty support

IGNITE provides more than funding, it delivers a structured pathway to independence at a time when such opportunities are shrinking. Focus and Scope

Success in early-career research depends on both individual talent and institution commitment. IGNITE therefore requires a formal co-investment from the hiring institution during the Independence Phase. This commitment includes essential resources-such as lab space, protected research time, and mentorship.

By aligning CRI’s support with institutional responsibility, IGNITE maximizes the potential of long-term career success. Early-stage funding is a proven catalyst, enabling new faculty to establish a research program, generate the preliminary data required for subsequent competitive awards, and build the momentum necessary for career sustainability.

Studies show that investigators who secure early support are significantly more likely to attain tenure and maintain long-term research productivity. The IGNITE Award is designed to provide precisely this kind of catalytic funding, targeted, timely, and transformational.

Through IGNITE, CRI affirms its longstanding commitment to advancing cancer immunotherapy through investment in people, not just projects. IGNITE fills a critical gap in the scientific ecosystem, complementing CRI’s existing career development awards and ensuring that the most promising scientists are not lost at the very moment their careers, and their ideas, are ready to take flight. Financial Support

Phase 1: IGNITE Foundation Phase Up to 2 years \ $150,000 per year Provides $90,000 a year in salary support, and $60,000 to fund independent work Provides critical protected time, mentorship, and research support to help postdocs prepare for independence

Phase 2: IGNITE Independence Phase Up to 3 years \ $250,000 per year Funding is contingent upon an adequate start-up package by the host institution

Supports early faculty as they launch new labs and pursue bold, high-impact research in cancer immunology Phase 1: IGNITE Foundation Phase Eligibility Must be in a mentored postdoctoral position at time of application No more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience at time of application. Candidates with more than 5 years postdoctoral experience may be granted an exception. Contact CRI for more information. Must commit to a minimum of 12 months of mentored research before transition Open to U.S. and international researchers; CRI does not have citizenship requirements May conduct research in the U.S. or abroad Have not currently or previously held an independent research faculty or tenure-track faculty position, or its equivalent, in academia, industry or elsewhere Deadlines

The application deadline is January 9, 2026. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date. Applicants are notified of committee decisions within approximately 10-12 weeks of the application deadline. Instructions for Applying

The application process requires you to access CRI’s Application Portal for institutional signatures and certification.

Apply Now Supporting Materials

The following is a list of all required materials in the online application:

Candidate Specific Documentation Candidate’s CV and bibliography Background and Accomplishments Describe your commitment to a career in a biomedical or clinical research in a field relevant to cancer immunology Describe your potential to develop into a successful, independent investigator Publication History List…

Topic areas: Life Sciences and Health, Education and Training, Workforce Development.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Not specified by the program.

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

CRI IGNITE Award is administered by Cancer Research Institute (CRI), listed via Cancer Research Institute.