Funded Up To

$120,000

Focus

Supports quantitative pathology research to optimize and validate the use of HER2 IHC across solid tumors beyond breast and gastric cancer.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a CAP member at the time of submission. This award is directed at Early Career Pathologists (1 to 5 years in practice) and will aim to support early investigators, both pathology residents and new-in-practice fellows.

Timeframe

Opens September 8, 2026

Overview

HER2 testing, while widely implemented for breast and gastric cancers, is sorely lacking in standardization and implementation for other cancers, even with mounting evidence of its potential clinical relevance.

This award will provide funding, up to $120,000.00 USD, supporting early-career investigators in conducting quantitative pathology research to optimize and validate HER2 IHC assay use across solid tumors beyond breast and gastric cancer. The funded project(s) will aim to generate critical evidence to guide consistent and accurate patient selection for anti-HER2 ADC therapies, as well as to assess the clinical utility of HER2 testing in tumor types where standardized protocols are currently lacking.

HER2 testing, while widely implemented for breast and gastric cancers, is sorely lacking in standardization and implementation for other cancers, even with mounting evidence of its potential clinical relevance.  Three priority areas have been identified that would be greatly impacted by continued research. While not preferred, researchers may select one or more research areas for their project.

Application Deadline

November 2, 2026

Eligibility

Eligibility
Applicants must be a CAP member at the time of submission. This award is directed at Early Career Pathologists (1 to 5 years in practice) and will aim to support early investigators, both pathology residents and new-in-practice fellows. To fully engage trainees (residents or fellows), the CAP Foundation strongly encourages inclusion of one or more trainees as co-investigators or active participants in the project.

Additional selection criteria are defined below:

  • Surgical Pathologists with at least 3 years’ experience signing out relevant tumor specimens.
  • Surgical pathologists actively engaged in their institution’s immunohistochemistry workflow or who have expertise/experience with HER2 immunohistochemistry.
  • Pathologists with interest and expertise correlating IHC and molecular testing (particularly next-generation sequencing) of solid tumors and clinical correlation.
  • If applicant holds faculty status at an academic institution, they should be at the Assistant or Associate professor rank.

Applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, or religion. Only one proposal may be submitted per institution and must include a letter of support from the Chair of the Pathology Department.

To Apply

Submission process
The RFP will be posted on the CAP Foundation website from September 8, 2026, to November 2, 2026. Applicants are requested to submit the application electronically through the CAP Foundation Survey Monkey Apply portal. Projects will take place from February 2027 through February 2028. To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials:

  1. Application Form
    • Applicant information
      • Team member information if relevant
        • Priority area
        • Human subjects’ involvement declaration – IRB requirement if applicable
        • NIH research category
  2. A project proposal, to include:
    • Lay abstract (300 words)
    • Research plan
  3. Background/Importance (500 words)
  4. Hypothesis/Aims (500 words)
  5. Research Approach (include methods, protocols, expected outcomes, statistical analysis) (500 words)
  6. Investigative Team and Research Environment (500 words)
    • Bibliography
    • Additional Funding
  8. Detailed budget (items ineligible for funding include PI/MD salaries and capital equipment purchase – items greater than $5,000.00 USD)
  9. Project timeline with confirmation that the project can be completed within 12 months.
  10. Two Letters of Support
    • 1) A letter from your institution (e.g., department chair) granting you permission to pursue the project, if an award is made.
    • 2) A letter from a superior discussing the applicant’s ability to complete the proposed project within the timeline and the applicant’s subject matter experience regarding the project.
  11. Curriculum vitae
  12. Professional headshot for use in Foundation web and print media (Requirements: 1+megabyte, color, professional dress, neutral background; no selfies)
  13. W9 for your institution

If Selected

It is anticipated that this award will generate results that will be submitted as a manuscript for publication in ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE. If the Archives editors reject the paper, the author is free to submit to other journals. CAP Foundation will also encourage awardees to submit for a poster presentation or educational session at the annual meeting as a result of their findings. All publications or presentations resulting from the research award will recognize the support of the CAP Foundation and all other supporters.

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