Career Development Awards

ASGCT will award $1 million in 2025 Career Development Awards to support U.S.-based members' career development.

Apply for a 2025 Career Development Award Through Aug. 1!

Overview & Benefits     Required Documents

ASGCT will award a $100,000 Career Development Award in each of the following six broad topics (up to six total grants):

• Viral Vector Development

• Gene Targeting and Gene Correction

• Oligonucleotide Therapeutics

• Cell Therapies

• Immunological Aspects of Gene Therapy and Vaccines

• Synthetic/Molecular Conjugates and Physical Methods for Delivery of Gene Therapeutics

ASGCT has partnered with the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) as part of a shared mission to drive scientific research and funding. FAST is supporting up to three additional $100,000 Career Development Awards. FAST has a single mission, which is to support transformative research leading to potentially effective therapeutics for individuals living with Angelman syndrome. We are proud to continue our partnerships with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF), and the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (FUSF). These foundations have generously committed to supporting additional Career Development Awards, each valued at $100,000.

In an effort to streamline our review process, each of our partners has provided a short statement describing the type of submissions they are interested in. If you feel your proposal fits with one of our partners’ needs, please include the appropriate hashtag in the subject line of your application.

PLEASE NOTE: All applications will be reviewed in the category submitted. If you wish for your application to be specially considered by one of our partners, please review their statements below.

Children’s Tumor Foundation

The Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) is dedicated to driving cutting-edge research, expanding scientific knowledge, and advancing innovative care for the neurofibromatosis (NF), which includes neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and all types of schwannomatosis (SWN), including NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN). Our mission focuses on transforming the lives of those affected by these conditions through strategic research investments and collaborative scientific advancement. Specifically, CTF is interested in funding grant applications focused on the development of non-viral therapeutic gene delivery modalities that successfully target Schwann cells, including but not limited to lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and extracellular vesicles. CTF is also interested in the development of RNA-based therapeutics, including but not limited to mRNA, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), small interfering RNA (siRNA), micro RNA (miRNA), and aptamer approaches for the treatment of NF.

For consideration by CTF, please include #CTF in the subject line of your application

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care. The Foundation seeks to fund highly innovative research to (1) develop new tissue-specific nucleic acid delivery tools, including viral and non-viral vectors suitable for inhaled or systemic administration; (2) advance large gene insertion technologies for mutation agnostic restoration of CFTR; (3) identify novel approaches to mitigate immunological and inflammatory responses to repeat dosing of gene therapy vectors; and (4) refine technologies to efficiently identify off-target effects of gene editing systems.

For consideration by CFF, please include #CFF in the subject line of your application

Focused Ultrasound Foundation

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the development and clinical adoption of therapeutic ultrasound. Its mission is to accelerate the translation of focused ultrasound (FUS) into the clinic to improve outcomes for patients. Through its Gene and Cell Therapy Program, the Foundation supports research exploring FUS as a delivery modality for gene and cell therapies, as well as approaches that use ultrasound to control or modulate cell activity (sonogenetics). In partnership with ASGCT, the Foundation funded a Career Development Award in 2024 focused on emerging sonogenetic strategies. For the upcoming cycle, we are particularly interested in applications with a clear translational pathway—projects that address a specific clinical indication where targeted delivery via FUS could add value or complement existing routes of administration. We would be especially interested in proposals involving non-viral cargos and brain applications but remain open to other compelling approaches.

For consideration by FUSF, please include #FUSF in the subject line of your application

Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) has a single mission which is to support transformative research leading to potentially effective therapeutics for individuals living with Angelman syndrome (AS), and drive programs forward as quickly and safely as possible. To accomplish that mission, FAST is interested in supporting cutting edge translational research that has the potential to lead to a potential transformative therapeutic. In addition, FAST is interested in funding proof of concept studies in “high risk/high reward” therapeutic areas related to neuronal targeting. We are interested in funding as many “shots on goal” as possible, regardless of therapeutic modality.

For consideration by FAST, please include #FAST in the subject line of your application

Thank You to Our Supporters

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children's Tumor Foundation, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, and the Foundation for Angelman’s Syndrome Therapeutics will support the CDAs in 2025 without any influence on the program's content.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Interested in sponsoring ASGCT's Career Development awards? Contact development@asgct.org and download the prospectus below for more information.

2024 CDA Prospectus by Leanne Klawien