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.
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.
Key Dates:
Application deadline: 11 January, 2027