ASPIRE Awards for High-Risk, High-Reward Cancer Research

About this program

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research’s ASPIRE Awards fund innovative, high-risk, high-reward cancer research addressing feasibility and proof-of-concept questions across basic, translational, therapeutic, technology, and early-stage clinical research. ASPIRE I provides up to $250,000 for 12 months or less (up to $500,000 and 24 months for clinical studies), while ASPIRE II provides up to $750,000 for up to 36 months. Applicants may be based worldwide, collaborations are permitted, and principal investigators must be independent researchers; proposals are accepted through focused requests for proposals or by invitation. Budgets must reflect realistic project costs and timelines, with indirect costs limited to 10% of direct costs.