MISSION
The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) has worked across sectors to catalyze innovative approaches to the most difficult problems. Talented individuals have always been at the center of our approach. We aim to support leaders who transform systems, embrace new paradigms, and have an innate drive to make an impact.
PSF has funded pioneering cancer researchers through the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance for over a decade and supported women’s health initiatives in New York City. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), PSF aims to combine these two priority areas of women’s health and cancer to shine a lens on one of the most understudied and underfunded cancers—ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, with 80% of women diagnosed at an advanced stage. Only 27% of women diagnosed during an advanced stage survive for five years. Ovarian cancer remains a disease with a poor prognosis due to limited early-detection and treatment options.
PSF supports research efforts by (1) deploying capital quickly, (2) funding high-risk, high-reward ideas, (3) bringing new perspectives into a field, (4) encouraging collaboration, and (5) leveraging our vast network. We challenge our scientific partners to think creatively and across silos, to spur innovation to fight ovarian cancer.
Through the Lotus Award (formerly the Pershing Square Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant), PSF is looking for investigators in the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance community who are either already working on a promising project in ovarian cancer or in another type of cancer that could have an impact on ovarian cancer. Grantees each receive $250,000 a year for three years, totaling $750,000.
KEY CRITERIA
- Radically innovative research: The project needs to display great innovation, with potential for impact in ovarian cancer research. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, basic research, early detection, immune-oncology approaches (ovarian cancer vaccines, new cell therapy approaches), creation of realistic models, novel technological approaches, profiling and targeting of dormant cells, and translational and therapeutic applications. The objective is to support projects that may be too risky for traditional funding sources but still have a likelihood of producing findings that will make an impact. Impact is defined as a transformative finding in ovarian cancer research—opening new avenues of research, examining important paradigms that have been established in other cancer types in ovarian cancer, as well as pursuing advanced stage research with a clear path to translation. Accordingly, priority will be given to bold projects whose intent is curing the disease.
- Scientific excellence: Scientific merit as determined by peer review.
- Potential impact on ovarian cancer: Proposals that articulate a clearly defined application to and impact on the field of ovarian cancer will be favored. The goal is to advance research in new ways that will have an impact on the understanding, diagnosis (especially early detection), prevention (including vaccines), and/or treatment (including, but not limited to, immunotherapy) of primary or recurrent (e.g. research on dormant or quiescent cells) ovarian cancer. Consider the significance of the research question being asked, and the potential to shift paradigms or address unmet needs.
ELIGIBILITY
A PhD, MD, MD-PhD degree (or equivalent) is required. Lead Principal Investigators (PIs) of the submitted proposal must be nominated by a Pershing Square Sohn Prize Advisory Board member, Scientific Review Council member, or Cancer Prize winner. PIs must hold tenure-track faculty appointments (or equivalent) at academic research institutions in the United States of America and must have at least two (2) years of experience running their own laboratories by the start date of the grant (August 2026). Multiple applicants from the same institution may apply as long as eligibility criteria are met. If a PI wishes to nominate a member of their lab, the PI should apply as the mentor overseeing their lab member. Each Prize Advisory Board member, Scientific Review Council member, and Cancer Prize winner may nominate up to two (2) lead PIs (including themselves). Current PSF awardees (including MIND and PSSCRA winners) may not apply to the Lotus Award until their existing award term has concluded, and final reports have been received.
If a lead PI does not have demonstrated experience in ovarian cancer research, they must include a collaborator with a background in ovarian cancer. Lead PIs and collaborators can only be on one application—i.e. a collaborator cannot be on multiple applications, a lead PI cannot be a collaborator on another application, and a collaborator cannot be a lead PI on another application.
Collaborations are encouraged, and only the lead PI needs to meet these eligibility requirements.
A PI who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, by submitting an application for this funding, assures that his/her visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term within the United States.
2026 Lotus Award Application Guidelines
The application portal for the 2026 Lotus Award has not yet opened. Applications will begin to be accepted on Monday, January 5th, 2026. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is Monday, February 2nd, 2026 by 5:00pm ET.
Applications will be notified regarding the status of their application in the spring.
Please be sure to thoroughly read the above application guidelines.
If you have any questions, please contact us at lifesci@persq.org.
Visit our website to learn more about The Pershing Square Foundation and Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance.
2026 Lotus Award
MISSION
The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) has worked across sectors to catalyze innovative approaches to the most difficult problems. Talented individuals have always been at the center of our approach. We aim to support leaders who transform systems, embrace new paradigms, and have an innate drive to make an impact.
PSF has funded pioneering cancer researchers through the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance for over a decade and supported women’s health initiatives in New York City. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), PSF aims to combine these two priority areas of women’s health and cancer to shine a lens on one of the most understudied and underfunded cancers—ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, with 80% of women diagnosed at an advanced stage. Only 27% of women diagnosed during an advanced stage survive for five years. Ovarian cancer remains a disease with a poor prognosis due to limited early-detection and treatment options.
PSF supports research efforts by (1) deploying capital quickly, (2) funding high-risk, high-reward ideas, (3) bringing new perspectives into a field, (4) encouraging collaboration, and (5) leveraging our vast network. We challenge our scientific partners to think creatively and across silos, to spur innovation to fight ovarian cancer.
Through the Lotus Award (formerly the Pershing Square Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant), PSF is looking for investigators in the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance community who are either already working on a promising project in ovarian cancer or in another type of cancer that could have an impact on ovarian cancer. Grantees each receive $250,000 a year for three years, totaling $750,000.
KEY CRITERIA
- Radically innovative research: The project needs to display great innovation, with potential for impact in ovarian cancer research. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, basic research, early detection, immune-oncology approaches (ovarian cancer vaccines, new cell therapy approaches), creation of realistic models, novel technological approaches, profiling and targeting of dormant cells, and translational and therapeutic applications. The objective is to support projects that may be too risky for traditional funding sources but still have a likelihood of producing findings that will make an impact. Impact is defined as a transformative finding in ovarian cancer research—opening new avenues of research, examining important paradigms that have been established in other cancer types in ovarian cancer, as well as pursuing advanced stage research with a clear path to translation. Accordingly, priority will be given to bold projects whose intent is curing the disease.
- Scientific excellence: Scientific merit as determined by peer review.
- Potential impact on ovarian cancer: Proposals that articulate a clearly defined application to and impact on the field of ovarian cancer will be favored. The goal is to advance research in new ways that will have an impact on the understanding, diagnosis (especially early detection), prevention (including vaccines), and/or treatment (including, but not limited to, immunotherapy) of primary or recurrent (e.g. research on dormant or quiescent cells) ovarian cancer. Consider the significance of the research question being asked, and the potential to shift paradigms or address unmet needs.
ELIGIBILITY
A PhD, MD, MD-PhD degree (or equivalent) is required. Lead Principal Investigators (PIs) of the submitted proposal must be nominated by a Pershing Square Sohn Prize Advisory Board member, Scientific Review Council member, or Cancer Prize winner. PIs must hold tenure-track faculty appointments (or equivalent) at academic research institutions in the United States of America and must have at least two (2) years of experience running their own laboratories by the start date of the grant (August 2026). Multiple applicants from the same institution may apply as long as eligibility criteria are met. If a PI wishes to nominate a member of their lab, the PI should apply as the mentor overseeing their lab member. Each Prize Advisory Board member, Scientific Review Council member, and Cancer Prize winner may nominate up to two (2) lead PIs (including themselves). Current PSF awardees (including MIND and PSSCRA winners) may not apply to the Lotus Award until their existing award term has concluded, and final reports have been received.
If a lead PI does not have demonstrated experience in ovarian cancer research, they must include a collaborator with a background in ovarian cancer. Lead PIs and collaborators can only be on one application—i.e. a collaborator cannot be on multiple applications, a lead PI cannot be a collaborator on another application, and a collaborator cannot be a lead PI on another application.
Collaborations are encouraged, and only the lead PI needs to meet these eligibility requirements.
A PI who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, by submitting an application for this funding, assures that his/her visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term within the United States.
2026 Lotus Award Application Guidelines
The application portal for the 2026 Lotus Award has not yet opened. Applications will begin to be accepted on Monday, January 5th, 2026. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is Monday, February 2nd, 2026 by 5:00pm ET.
Applications will be notified regarding the status of their application in the spring.
Please be sure to thoroughly read the above application guidelines.
If you have any questions, please contact us at lifesci@persq.org.
Visit our website to learn more about The Pershing Square Foundation and Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance.