Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize is an initiative of the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance, an organization dedicated to accelerating cures for cancer by advancing innovative cancer research and facilitating collaboration between the scientific and business communities. The Prize is designed to give early-career scientists the freedom to pursue bold, high-risk, high-reward research at a career stage when traditional funding may be difficult to obtain. Beginning in 2026, the program expanded beyond the greater New York City area to institutions across the United States. Prize winners receive $250,000 per year for three years, for a total award of $750,000, and gain access to research partnerships, industry mentors, philanthropic and for-profit investors, networking and entrepreneurship opportunities, an annual retreat, and opportunities to present ideas at conferences and events. The program seeks radically innovative and scientifically sound cancer research supported by a strong scientific rationale and novel methodologies. Research may include basic research and technological applications, and investigators do not need to have been specifically trained in cancer research if they work in an environment capable of conducting high-quality, high-impact cancer research. PSSCRA particularly seeks projects that may be too innovative or speculative for traditional funding but have the potential to produce important findings. Proposals should identify an important gap or unmet need and demonstrate potential to advance understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer. Each winner's budget must total $250,000 per year, including direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs may not exceed 10 percent of the annual award, or $25,000 per year. Full-term funding is contingent on annual progress reports, oversight, milestones, deliverables, and PSSCRA's determination regarding future funding. Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, MD-PhD, or equivalent degree and have at least two years but no more than six years of experience running their own laboratories by the July 2027 Prize start date. Exceptions related to prolonged medical or family leave may be considered case by case. Principal Investigators must hold an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor faculty appointment, or equivalent, at an academic research institution or equivalent in the United States. Multiple applicants from the same institution may apply, but an individual may apply for the Prize only twice in total. Applicants may apply to only one Pershing Square Foundation prize program at a time, and current grantees may not apply to another Foundation prize program until their existing award has concluded and final reports have been received. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must have visa status providing sufficient time to complete the project and grant term in the United States. The application portal opens September 21, 2026, and the Letter of Intent is due October 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET through https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/. There is no separate full-proposal stage; projects are evaluated solely through the LOI before selected applicants advance to a finalist presentation. The LOI is limited to 1.5 pages using Georgia 11-point font, single spacing, and 0.5-inch margins. Figures are permitted if legible within the page limit, while references do not count toward the limit. The scientific background and rationale section is limited to one-half page and 400 words and should describe the biological question, underlying rationale, and why the applicant is particularly well positioned to undertake the work. The one-page proposed research project section must address the aims, experimental approach, research plan, innovation and impact, unmet need, potential advancement of the field, innovation within the research focus area, and why the project warrants funding now. A budget and PSSCRA-format biosketch are also required, using templates available through the application portal. Applications are initially reviewed by the PSSCRA Scientific Review Council. Selection considers applicant credentials, proposal merit, and alignment with PSSCRA's goals. Scientific merit is evaluated by the Scientific Review Council and Prize Advisory Board, with emphasis on radically innovative and scientifically sound research, applicant quality, and potential impact on the cancer field. Applicants are expected to demonstrate creativity, adaptability, strong written communication, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial orientation toward impact and scale. Finalists will present to the Governing Board, Prize Advisory Board, and Scientific Review Council at the Prize Review Board Meeting in New York City. A virtual option will be available, although in-person attendance is preferred and travel expenses will be reimbursed. Final selection is contingent on ratification by the PSSCRA Governing Board, and reviewer critiques or evaluations are not provided to applicants. Applicants are expected to receive status notifications in mid-February 2027, with selected applicants invited to the Finalist Review Board Meeting in mid-April 2027. Winners are expected to be notified in mid-April, followed by the Prize Award Dinner in New York City on June 14, 2027. Projects begin July 1, 2027. Upon acceptance, the PI and employing institution must execute an award agreement accepting The Pershing Square Foundation Grant Terms and Conditions; edits are not permitted unless information in the agreement is factually incorrect. Significant changes to research objectives, key personnel, or budgets require advance notification and approval, and PSSCRA must be acknowledged in publications. Grantees must submit annual narrative and financial progress reports. The named program contact is Christy Hudson, Program Director, Life Sciences, at chudson@persq.org.

Prioritize a radically innovative, high-risk, high-reward cancer research concept while maintaining a strong scientific rationale and sound methodology. Clearly articulate the unmet need, potential paradigm shift, and impact on cancer understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment. Explain why the applicant is uniquely positioned to conduct the research and why the project should be funded now. Demonstrate creativity, adaptability, collaboration, strong written communication, and an entrepreneurial orientation toward impact and scale.