Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance
Overview
The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA) is dedicated to accelerating cures for cancer by advancing the pursuit of innovative cancer research and by facilitating collaborations between the science and business communities. PSSCRA seeks to guide philanthropic funds to feed critical scientific discoveries, attracting like-minded investors to the cause of fighting cancer and creating a pipeline for early-stage biomedical investments.
Annually, it awards the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize, which provides early-career scientists in the USA the freedom to take risks and pursue their boldest research at a stage when traditional funding is lacking. In the quest for cures, the Prize accelerates the collaboration between academia and industry. Prize winners each receive $250,000 a year for three years. A minimum of six prizes will be awarded annually, depending on the quality of the proposals.
In addition to receiving funding, Prize winners are given access to a unique network and are invited to participate in select programs, including:
Facilitated partnerships with other researchers within and across institutions
Networking programs (including: collaborations/discussions amongst Prize winners and industry mentors, introductions to philanthropic and for-profit investors in the business community, and invitations to special industry networking and entrepreneurship events)
Annual retreat and symposium
Ability to present the best ideas at conferences and events (hosted by PSSCRA and other organizations)
Application details
The application portal for the 2026 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize has closed. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent was Monday, November 3, 2025 by 5:00pm ET.
Applications will be notified regarding the status of their application by mid-February. For those selected as a finalist, presentations will be held on March 25th in New York City (date subject to change).
Please note: The 2026 Prize is now open to all institutions in the USA!
All applications must be submitted through our application submission website:
Meet our current cohort of Prize winners and search past winners
Through a generous commitment of over $49 million from The Pershing Square Foundation, the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance has created a prestigious program that awards substantial funding to exceptional young scientists with innovative ideas in the field of cancer research. The Prize winners, selected by a panel of extraordinary leaders in medical research, are encouraged to take risks and pursue bold ideas that will lead to new discoveries and new approaches in cancer research. In the quest for cures, the Prize accelerates collaboration between academia, industry and the business community and play a catalytic role to secure traction for new ideas with non-profit and for-profit investors.
Discover our Prize winners
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Stories
Bone expert looks at the underlying cause of cancer metastasis and neurodegeneration
