Gilead Research Scholars Program – Solid Tumors U.S. (2026)

$180,000 Research Awards Supporting Early-Career Investigators in Solid Tumor Oncology

The Gilead Research Scholars Program – Solid Tumors U.S. provides research funding to early-career faculty conducting innovative basic and clinical research focused on breast, endometrial, ovarian, or small cell lung cancer.

The program is designed to help emerging investigators establish independent research careers, pursue innovative scientific questions, address unmet patient needs, and advance knowledge in areas where additional research is needed.

Three awards of up to $180,000 each are available for the 2026 funding cycle.

Organization: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Program: Gilead Research Scholars Program – Solid Tumors U.S.
Support Type: Early-career research award
Geographic Focus: United States
Funding Amount: Up to $180,000 over two years
Number of Awards: 3
Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

Gilead Sciences is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines and advancing scientific research addressing serious diseases and unmet medical needs.

Through the Gilead Research Scholars Program, the company supports emerging investigators and new perspectives in scientific research. Since 2008, the broader Research Scholars Program has invested more than $36 million in research conducted by more than 280 scholars.

This particular opportunity is an industry-sponsored award funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc., rather than the Gilead Foundation. Applications are evaluated by an independent Scientific Review Committee.

What This Program Supports

The Solid Tumors Research Scholars Program supports basic and clinical research addressing:

Breast Cancer

Research that advances scientific understanding, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, patient outcomes, or other unmet needs related to breast cancer.

Endometrial Cancer

Projects investigating endometrial cancer biology, treatment approaches, biomarkers, disparities, patient outcomes, and related scientific questions.

Ovarian Cancer

Research addressing ovarian cancer diagnosis, treatment, resistance mechanisms, novel therapeutic strategies, patient quality of life, and other unmet medical needs.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Projects focused on improving scientific understanding and treatment of small cell lung cancer, including new targets, biomarkers, treatment strategies, resistance mechanisms, and patient outcomes.

Priority Research Areas

Potential research topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Disparities and inequities in cancer care
• Tumor-agnostic approaches relevant to eligible cancers
• Combination treatment strategies
• Identification of resistance mechanisms
• New approaches for overcoming treatment resistance
• Transformative therapeutic modalities
• Patient-specific predictors of toxicity
• Genomic polymorphisms affecting treatment response
• Novel targets
• Biomarkers and imaging techniques
• Diagnostic strategies
• Cancer prevention approaches
• New treatment strategies
• Quality-of-life research
• Patient-reported outcomes
• Adverse events and unmet patient needs
• Other basic or clinical research addressing significant gaps in scientific knowledge

Projects should demonstrate innovation, scientific significance, feasibility, and relevance to solid tumor oncology.

Eligibility Requirements

The program is intended for junior faculty who meet the criteria for an Early Stage Investigator.

Applicants must:

• Hold an MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent degree at the time of application
• Have received their initial faculty appointment within the past seven years
• Hold their faculty appointment in association with a U.S. research institution
• Have an experienced research mentor
• Have institutional support allowing them to devote approximately 30% of their professional time to research in general
• Demonstrate a strong career interest in oncology and solid tumor research
• Be able to complete the proposed research during the two-year award period
• Be positioned to produce evidence of research progress, such as manuscripts, presentations, or abstracts

Potentially eligible faculty positions may include:

• Instructor
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Assistant Researcher
• Lecturer
• Assistant Project Scientist

Institutional definitions of faculty positions may vary.

Research fellows generally are not eligible.

Gilead may consider certain extenuating circumstances affecting the seven-year faculty appointment window, including parental leave, bereavement, or military service.

Citizenship & Visa Requirements

Applicants may be:

• U.S. citizens
• U.S. permanent residents
• Certain temporary non-immigrant visa or work permit holders

Applicants working under temporary immigration status must have authorization allowing them to conduct the proposed research in the United States throughout the full two-year award period or be able to demonstrate eligibility for an appropriate extension or renewal.

Ineligible Research & Applicants

The program will not support:

• Research investigating Gilead products
• Interventional clinical studies or trials involving administration of pharmaceutical drugs
• Studies focused solely on the safety, efficacy, or tolerability of competitor pharmaceutical products
• Co-principal investigator applications
• Applicants holding certain major NIH awards, including R01, P01, U01, or equivalent awards, at the time of application
• Applicants participating in the NIH Loan Repayment Program
• Funding that directly duplicates other institutional, governmental, nonprofit, or industry support
• Applicants whose visa or work authorization cannot cover the two-year award period

Research involving Gilead products should instead be submitted through Gilead’s Externally-Sponsored Research Grant Program.

Funding Amounts

Three awards are currently planned.

Maximum Award: $180,000
Grant Period: 2 years
Annual Funding: Up to $90,000 per year

Funds are paid directly to the scholar’s institution.

Second-year funding is contingent upon submission of a satisfactory progress report and approval by the chair of the Scientific Review Committee.

The $180,000 maximum includes any indirect costs.

Eligible Budget Expenses

Funds may support eligible research expenses including:

Salary & Fringe Benefits

Applicants may allocate up to $75,000 per year toward salary and fringe benefit support for the applicant and/or laboratory technical staff or similar positions.

Salary or fringe benefits for mentors or students may not be included.

Research Supplies

Eligible expenses may include:

• Disposables
• Chemicals
• Reagent kits
• Animals
• Other appropriate research supplies

Equipment Rental

Purchase of durable equipment generally is not allowed.

Rental or leasing of necessary equipment may be included where appropriate. Individual equipment purchases valued above $2,500 are not eligible.

Travel

Up to $1,500 per year may be included for the applicant to travel to a scientific meeting to present research findings.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the total award.

Gilead encourages institutions to minimize indirect costs to maximize the portion of the award supporting the research itself.

Application & Review Process

The application uses a competitive two-stage process.

Round 1

Initial applications include:

• One-page Specific Aims Summary
• Applicant biosketch
• Mentor biosketch
• Research abstract
• Research budget summary
• Required online application information

The one-page Specific Aims Summary should address the proposed research, overall aims, rationale, approach, research team or mentorship, future directions, and public health significance.

Applications are initially reviewed by members of the independent Scientific Review Committee.

Applicants receiving the strongest scores are invited to advance to Round 2.

Round 2

Selected applicants will submit a more comprehensive application that includes:

• Full research proposal
• Applicant biosketch
• Mentor biosketch
• Mentor letter of support
• Co-mentor information, if applicable
• Detailed research budget
• Certification of faculty appointment
• Information regarding current or pending funding
• Department chair or division chief letter of support
• Other supporting materials when applicable

The full research proposal is limited to five pages, excluding the bibliography and budget.

How Applications Are Evaluated

The Scientific Review Committee evaluates applicants based on three major areas.

Applicant

Reviewers consider:

• Potential for a career in oncology research
• Academic record
• Presentations and publications
• Previous research experience
• Experience related to solid tumor oncology

Mentorship

Reviewers assess:

• Mentor experience and independence
• Mentor’s ability to guide the proposed research
• Strength of the mentoring plan
• Resources available to the investigator
• Institutional commitment
• Protected research time

Research Proposal

Competitive projects should demonstrate:

• Innovation
• Scientific significance
• Strong research design
• Appropriate methodology and analysis
• Feasibility
• A clear connection to important questions in solid tumor oncology
• Awareness of potential challenges and alternative approaches

Finalists whose applications reach the committee’s final discussion stage receive feedback regarding strengths and potential areas for development.

Timeline

📅 Application Deadline: November 13, 2026
⏰ Deadline Time: 11:59 PM Pacific Time
📅 Award Period: Two years
💰 Maximum Award: $180,000
🏆 Number of Awards: 3

Applicants should begin early enough to coordinate required biosketches, mentorship documentation, institutional support, faculty certification, and budget information before the deadline.

Apply / Learn More

➡️ https://researchscholars.gilead.com/solid_tumors_us/about

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for early-career investigators who:

• Are building careers in oncology and solid tumor research
• Hold junior faculty positions at U.S. research institutions
• Have strong institutional and mentor support
• Are investigating breast, endometrial, ovarian, or small cell lung cancer
• Have innovative research addressing unmet medical needs
• Can complete a meaningful research project within two years
• Need significant early-career research support to establish or expand an independent research program

The Gilead Research Scholars Program is particularly valuable for emerging investigators who have promising research ideas but have not yet received major independent NIH research awards.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Competitive, two-stage scientific review
Funding Amount: Up to $180,000 over two years
Number of Awards: 3
Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Best Suited For: Junior faculty and Early Stage Investigators conducting U.S.-based research in breast, endometrial, ovarian, or small cell lung cancer
Key Consideration: Applicants generally cannot already hold major NIH awards such as an R01, P01, or U01