The Lloyd J. Old STAR Program, offered by the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), is a prestigious funding initiative designed to empower visionary mid-career scientists. The program prioritizes creativity, scientific risk-taking, and interdisciplinary thinking to advance fundamental and translational discoveries in cancer immunotherapy.
Program Purpose and Vision
The STAR Program supports scientists who challenge conventional thinking and pursue ambitious research questions. Funded investigators are expected to:
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Formulate non-obvious, high-impact scientific questions
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Integrate insights across disciplines to generate novel hypotheses
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Explore unconventional research paths, even with a risk of failure
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Drive transformative advances in immune-based cancer therapies
The program emphasizes long-term impact over incremental progress, fostering discoveries that shape the future of immuno-oncology.
Funding Amount and Duration
Each STAR award provides a total of $1.25 million over five years. Funding is flexible and intended to support innovative research programs rather than narrowly defined projects.
Indirect costs of up to 10 percent of the total award may be provided to institutions in addition to the awarded funds.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The program is open to mid-career scientists who meet all of the following criteria:
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Hold an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. degree or equivalent
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Occupy a tenure-track faculty position
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Commit at least 80 percent of their professional time to research
Academic Rank and Appointment Timing
Eligibility depends on academic rank and appointment date:
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Assistant professors must have a minimum of three years in rank and must have been appointed on or before July 1, 2023
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Associate professors are eligible only if they were appointed on or after July 1, 2023, with a maximum of three years in rank
Adjunct, acting, or non–tenure-track positions are not eligible.
Institutional and Geographic Eligibility
There are no citizenship restrictions. Research may be conducted at:
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Medical schools
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Academic research institutions
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Nonprofit research centers
Institutions may be located in the United States or internationally. For-profit institutions are not eligible.
Why This Program Matters
Cancer immunotherapy remains one of the most rapidly evolving fields in biomedical research. The STAR Program addresses a critical funding gap by:
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Supporting bold ideas that may not fit traditional grant mechanisms
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Providing long-term stability for ambitious research agendas
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Encouraging scientific risk-taking with potentially transformative outcomes
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Accelerating discoveries with global relevance for cancer patients
Application Timeline and Key Dates
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Application deadline: January 15 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time)
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Interview notifications: Early March
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Interviews: Virtual meetings with CRI Scientific Advisory Council leadership
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Earliest award activation: July 1
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Award start date: Must begin on the first day of a month
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
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Create or log into an account in the CRI online application system.
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Prepare all required application materials as individual PDF files.
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Complete and upload each document according to formatting requirements.
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Submit the full application electronically before the January 15 deadline.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit the following documents:
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A 300-word non-technical abstract describing the research vision
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A research proposal of up to four pages outlining ongoing and planned work over the next five years
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Summaries of five key peer-reviewed publications
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A curriculum vitae with a bibliography limited to the past five years
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A list of current research support
All documents must be single-spaced, use 12-point font or larger, and be uploaded as separate PDF files.
Evaluation and Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by CRI leadership and scientific experts with a focus on:
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Scientific originality and boldness
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Potential for transformative impact in cancer immunotherapy
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Investigator creativity, independence, and track record
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Alignment with CRI’s mission to advance immune-based therapies
Selected candidates are invited to participate in virtual interviews before final funding decisions are made.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Submitting incremental or low-risk research proposals
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Failing to articulate long-term vision beyond a single project
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Exceeding page or word limits
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Including publications outside the five-year bibliography window
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Missing formatting or PDF submission requirements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the total value of the STAR award?
The award provides $1.25 million over five years.
Are indirect costs allowed?
Yes, institutions may receive up to 10 percent in indirect costs in addition to the award amount.
Is citizenship required?
No, there are no citizenship restrictions.
Can research be conducted outside the United States?
Yes, research may be conducted at eligible nonprofit institutions in the U.S. or abroad.
How much time must awardees dedicate to research?
Awardees are expected to commit at least 80 percent of their time to research.
Are assistant professors eligible?
Yes, provided they have at least three years in rank and meet the appointment date requirement.
When do awards start?
Awards may activate as early as July 1 and must begin on the first day of a month.
Conclusion
The CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program is a premier opportunity for mid-career scientists seeking the freedom to pursue daring, high-impact research in cancer immunotherapy. By providing substantial, long-term funding and prioritizing scientific risk-taking, the program enables discoveries that have the potential to redefine immune-based cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
For more information, visit CRI.