Career Development Awards

ASGCT will award up to over $1 million in 2024 Career Development Awards to support U.S.-based members' career development.


Applications for the  2024 Career Development Awards are now closed.

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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

NEW IN 2024: ASGCT has partnered with the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (FUS) as part of a shared mission to drive scientific research and funding, FUS is supporting up to three additional $100,000 Career Development Awards.  The Foundation’s mission is to accelerate the development of new applications of focused ultrasound and its widespread adoption as a standard of care.

We are proud to continue our partnerships with both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF). The CFF has generously committed to supporting up to three additional Career Development Awards, and the CTF has generously committed to supporting up to two additional Career Development Awards, each valued at $100,000.

The purpose of these awards is to support independent transformative pilot studies in gene and cell therapy by ASGCT members, particularly those ideas that would be challenging to fund with normal funding mechanisms. ASGCT is interested in helping applicants generate their own independent preliminary data to use in larger proposals (NIH K awards, first-submission R-level funding, etc.) to gain independence. Learn more about the eligibility requirements, application materials, and key deadlines in the Career Development Award Overview and Benefits.

Thank You to Our Supporters

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children's Tumor Foundation and the Focused Ultrasound Foundation will support the CDAs in 2024 without any influence on the program's content or selection of selection of the award recipients.

CFF_Logo_New-svg-(1).pngCTF.png  FUS.png

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

Any ASGCT member type who is in good standing, and persons who have a membership application pending may apply. To verify your membership status, please log in to your ASGCT account.

Not an ASGCT member yet? Take the first step. Submit your membership application at least 5 business days prior to the application deadline to allow sufficient time for processing. The mentor is not required to be an ASGCT member.

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What can this grant be used for?

Each $100,000 award must be used during the budget period of November 2024 – December 2025. All funds must be used for direct expenses associated with conducting the proposed project, and are non-transferable. It can include personnel and travel where those expenses are directly related to the project. ASGCT considers salary, where it is directly attributed to the sponsored project and meets all other criteria, a direct cost.  Please refer to our Grant Policy Statement for a list of accepted costs.

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Is U.S. citizenship a requirement?

U.S. citizenship is not required but both the applicant and mentor must be located in the United States during the duration of the research. Any visa and/or citizenship restrictions applicable to receiving the award are the responsibility of the applicant.

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May a mentor support multiple applicants?

Yes.

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When will the winners be notified?

Winners will be notified on November 15 and will receive their awards on November 30.

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Who has previously won these awards?

2022 Awardees

  • Stefanie Bailey, PhD – Harvard Medical School 
  • Enrico Barrozo, PhD – Baylor College of Medicine 
  • Monaro Biswas, PhD – Indiana University 
  • Mark Allen Brimble, PhD – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 
  • Kyle Cromer, PhD – Stanford University 
  • Andrew Hamann, PhD – University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
  • Marieke Hoffmann, PhD – University of Minnesota 
  • Reza Shahbazi, PhD – Indiana University School of Medicine 
  • Liujiang Song, MD, PhD – University of North Carolina 
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2025

Class Considerations on Immunogenicity for AAV GT Products

January 22-23, 2025 | Virtual