PCF Young Investigator Awards

PCF Young Investigator Award

Funds early-career researchers and junior faculty joining prostate cancer programmes through the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Young Investigator Award is an annual research grant program designed to recruit and develop the next generation of prostate cancer scientists. Founded in 1993, PCF has funded more than 2,250 research awards and the Young Investigator Award is its primary entry-level mechanism, providing $75,000 per year for three years — a total of $225,000 — to postdoctoral fellows and recently appointed junior faculty who are committing their careers to prostate cancer research. The 2026 cycle closed on February 23, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and annual cycles are expected to recur around January–February each year.

Applicants must be postdoctoral fellows or recently appointed junior faculty, generally age 35 or younger, and must have a designated research mentor whose involvement is evaluated as part of the application. Universities and research organizations are the eligible host institutions; for-profit companies and non-profit organizations are not eligible to receive the award directly. The research must be focused specifically on prostate cancer — adjacent indications fall outside scope. PCF funds projects across all stages and modalities of prostate cancer research, from basic biology through translational and clinical work.

To compete successfully, applicants should demonstrate a compelling scientific hypothesis, a strong mentor relationship with an established prostate cancer researcher, and a credible path toward independent research. Applications are submitted via PCF's online system, and the foundation reviews proposals against scientific merit, investigator qualifications, and mentor quality. The next annual cycle is expected to open in early 2027, giving prospective applicants time to identify a mentor and develop their research proposal well in advance of the deadline.