MMRF Scholars Program

MMRF Scholars Program

Supports early-career myeloma investigators through sustained training and research opportunities in global medical research settings.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Scholars Program is a four-year career development award designed to accelerate myeloma research by supporting early-career investigators at the stage where independent laboratory funding is most difficult to obtain. The program awards up to $400,000 over four years, structured as $100,000 per year with indirect costs capped at 10% and included within that annual total — meaning investigators receive the full amount without institutional overhead eating into direct research funds. The 2026 cycle RFA was issued 6 April 2026 with a submission deadline of 30 June 2026 and notification expected 14 August 2026. Sponsors funding the 2026 cycle are Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Eligibility is worldwide with no country restrictions on the applicant's institution. Candidates must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent terminal degree, or be scheduled to defend within 12 months of the application deadline. The career rank cap is firm: applicants may hold no position higher than assistant professor, or the equivalent rank at non-US institutions, at the time of application. The research scope covers clinical, translational, and basic science in multiple myeloma — all three tracks are eligible. The MMRF has explicitly stated that Black and African American researchers are strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the foundation's workforce diversity mission: Black patients represent approximately 20% of annual multiple myeloma diagnoses in the United States but only 5% of clinical trial participants, and fewer than 4% of oncology fellows are Black researchers.

The 2023 inaugural awardees — Eden Biltibo, MD, MS at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Joselle Cook, MBBS at Mayo Clinic Rochester — illustrate the program's preference for projects with direct translational relevance to disparities in myeloma outcomes or treatment optimization. Competitive applications present a focused myeloma hypothesis, a mentor environment with established myeloma infrastructure, and a clear career development plan. Applicants should download the 2026 RFA PDF from the MMRF website for full page limits, required sections, and submission portal instructions, as those details are contained in that document and not on the program landing page.