The Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research is the scientific engine driving basic and translational research at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute.
The goal of the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Awards is to support Krantz Center faculty in developing highly impactful cancer research projects. The Krantz Awards are expected to drive discovery, bolster cancer research across the institution, and produce a fundamental change in the understanding and treatment of cancer for patients around the world.
The Krantz Awards recognize varying degrees of progress and encourage collaboration across platforms. The number of awards within each category will be determined based on the quality, impact, and promise of individual projects.
Krantz Awards
Quantum Awards - Major initiative poised to have definitive impact on fundamental cancer research, diagnostics, or therapeutics. Quantum Awards may provide up to $1 million per year for two years, with the possibility to extend to a third year upon review of progress. These awards fund projects that have established proof-of-principle based on promising initial findings, are appropriate for rapid expansion, and have the potential to transform our understanding and treatment of cancer.
Breakthrough Awards - Transformative project based on research findings poised for expansion and scale. Breakthrough Awards may provide up to $500,000 per year for two years. These awards support new and innovative ideas to the point of proof-of-principle based on promising initial findings.
Spark Awards - Exploratory research with potential to yield major initiative. Spark Awards may provide up to $100,000 per year for one year to test exciting new thought-provoking ideas to the point of proof-of-principle.
Krantz Awards Announcement Status
The Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research will issue a Request for Applications among its faculty annually. The amount of funding distributed at each cycle will be at the discretion of the Internal and External Review Committees, reflecting the quality of applications. The Internal Review Committee is comprised of senior leaders in the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research with representation from clinical investigators in the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. The funded projects will be presented annually to the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Scientific External Advisory Board.
The proposal submission period for the 2025 Krantz Awards is now closed. The Internal and External Review Committees thoughtfully evaluated the submissions and are thrilled the awardees have launched their research projects. The 2026 Krantz Awards will solicit new applications in the spring.
Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD Saul J. Farber Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Senior Vice President and Vice Dean for Science NYU Langone Health
David E. Fisher, MD, PhD Chair, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital Director, Melanoma Program, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Director, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, MGH Edward Wigglesworth Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School
Keith Flaherty, MD Director of Clinical Research, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Daniel Haber, MD, PhD Director, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Director Emeritus, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Kurt J. Isselbacher Professor of Oncology (Medicine) Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Nir Hacohen, PhD Director, Center for Cancer Immunology, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Director, Center for Cell Circuits, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT David P. Ryan Endowed Chair in Cancer Research Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Rebecca Heist, MD, MPH Associate Director for Clinical Research, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Lee Albright and Nile Albright, MD Endowed Chair in Clinical Cancer Research Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Robert E. Kingston, PhD Chief Academic Officer, Massachusetts General Hospital Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
David N. Louis, MD Associate Chief of Pathology for Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School Atul K. Bhan, MBBS, MD, Endowed Chair in Experimental Pathology
Andrea McClatchey, PhD Director for Academic Affairs, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Poitras Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School
Raul Mostoslavsky, PhD Scientific Director, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Laurel Schwartz Professor of Oncology (Medicine) Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
David Ryan, MD President, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD Chair, Department of Immunology Kolokotrones University Professor, Harvard Medical School
M. Celeste Simon, PhD Scientific Director, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute Arthur H. Rubenstein, MBBCh Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Matt Vander Heiden, PhD Director, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research Lester Wolfe Professor of Molecular Biology, MIT
The Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute announced the selection of 19 scientists who have been awarded a combined $6 million in funding.
