CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program

Empowering Bold Thinkers to Transform Cancer Immunotherapy

The CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program — Scientists TAking Risks — provides long-term, flexible  funding to mid-career scientists, giving them the freedom to pursue high-risk, high-reward research at the leading edge of cancer immunotherapy.

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Rooted in CRI’s unparalleled track record of identifying and supporting individuals who have reshaped the field, these awards are not tied to a single research project. Instead, they are designed to support outstanding investigators whose body of work demonstrates exceptional promise and the potential for transformative impact. 

Named in honor of CRI’s founding scientific and medical director — widely recognized as the “Father of Modern Tumor Immunology” — the STAR Program carries forward Lloyd J. Old’s vision of empowering scientific pioneers. 

STAR recipients are expected to become tomorrow’s leaders in cancer immunotherapy. By providing sustained, unrestricted support, the program enables investigators to follow new and unexpected paths, often leading to paradigm-shifting discoveries.

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The ideal candidate is a bold, creative scientist who embraces risk in pursuit of breakthrough insights. They are distinguished by their ability to: 

• Leverage deep expertise and visionary curiosity to frame significant, non-obvious questions
• Draw connections across disciplines to generate and test novel hypotheses
• Pursue unconventional lines of inquiry, even at the risk of failure, with the potential for transformative success

Ultimately, CRI STARs will advance fundamental or translational discoveries that shape the development of immune-based therapies, broadening their impact for patients worldwide. CRI STARs not only drive innovation, they are defining the future of cancer immunology.

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The Lloyd J. Old STAR Program provides $1.25M over a 5 year period. Institutions will be provided indirect costs of up to 10% of the total amount awarded. Indirects are provided in addition to awarded funds.

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• The applicant must have an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. (or equivalent)
• Candidates must hold a tenure-track position. Assistant professors with a minimum of 3 years in that role and associate professors with a maximum 3 years may apply

The following is a guide to determine eligibility:

• Tenure-track assistant professor with a minimum of 3 years in this position (for Jan. 2026 deadline, candidate must be appointed on or before July 1, 2023)
• Tenure-track associate professor with a maximum of 3 years in this position (for Jan. 2026 deadline, candidate must be appointed on or after July 1, 2023)

Adjunct or acting positions are not eligible.

Applicants are expected to commit a minimum of 80% of their time to conducting research.

CRI has no citizenship restrictions, and research supported by the award may be conducted at medical schools and research centers in the United States or abroad. Please note that the Cancer Research Institute does not support research at for-profit institutions.

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The deadline for the receipt of applications is January 15. Candidates will be notified in early March whether they have been invited for an interview. Interviews will be conducted virtually with members of CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council leadership. It is the policy of CRI that all reviewers are required to adhere to ethical guidelines that mandate strict confidentiality concerning all aspects of any letters of intent (“LOIs”), grant applications, and research proposals submitted to CRI for funding consideration. Confidentiality agreements with all reviewers are kept on file at CRI. The earliest an award can activate is July 1. Awards must activate on the first of the month.

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Applications must be submitted electronically. Once you access the application, you will be asked to create a user account unique to you, which will catalogue all applications you submit to CRI. If you have submitted a grant application to CRI in the past, please login with your existing user account.

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After you have filled out all required fields on the online form, you will be asked to upload the following 5 items as individual PDF documents.

1. Abstract: A 300-word overview of the research questions, goals, and approaches of your lab. The content should be written in non-technical English.
2. Research Proposal: A summary (not to exceed 4 pages) of your ongoing and planned research, highlighting your past work and plans for the next 5 years.
3. List five publications of note: Five peer-reviewed papers that cover your most important scientific contributions. For each publication, provide a citation followed by a 300-word or less summary of the publication’s significance. Do not include copies of the publications with your application. 
4. Curriculum vitae and bibliography (limit bibliography to past 5 years and relevant publications).
5. List your current research support.

Notes:

• Only PDF documents will be accepted. All files must be submitted individually on the attachments page of the online application.
• When you have finished uploading the attachments, click “Submit.” You will receive a notice confirming that you have successfully submitted your Application Form. Immediately after, an automated notification from CRI will be sent to your email address, also confirming submission. If you encounter problems uploading your attachments, email them to [email protected]. Be sure to note the application number, which will be assigned to you at the time of submission.
• Online applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on the weekend, applications will be accepted until the end of day that following Monday. We strongly suggest submitting your applications as early as possible to provide ample time in case your application is incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Formatting Guidelines: Any documents you attach to your online application form must be typed single-space using a 12 point or larger font size.