What is BIG Cat?
The BIG Cat program is a flagship AORTIC initiative to build cancer research expertise and capacity in Africa. BIG Cat grants are competitive, enabling next generation African cancer researchers to build a foundation for their careers in their home countries and institutions. Proposals are selected on the basis that they will also contribute to the overall expansion of capacity for research and training in Africa by generating evidence that will guide African practice and policy.
We are proud to have make awards to five cohorts since 2010 with research grants at 25.000 USD at the start and rising to 50.000 USD per award. This is a total of 29 early career scientists across the continent.
Why it matters
Supports the next generation of African cancer researchers
Funds projects rooted in African contexts to guide local practice and policy
Expands long-term capacity for research and training across the continent
Awardees & Cohorts
Explore an interactive map showing all BigCat awardees by cohort year.
Click a country: Filter fellows by country
Click a fellow: Details
BIG Cat was initiated in 2010 by the US National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health (NCI/CGH), and it is now a collaborative effort of AORTIC, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and NCI/CGH.
Interested in becoming a Big Cat Fellow?
I would like to contribute to the BIG CAT program
Partners & Mentors
On behalf of AORTIC I express our gratitude to funding partners old and new who recognise the core need for cancer research that addresses the needs of cancer patients and the cancer burden in African countries. I especially thank AACR team members for their ongoing support of this program – they are true partners of the academic endeavour of research.
AORTIC President-Elect
Cesaltina Lorenzoni
How BIG Cat Works
We are proud to have make awards to five cohorts since 2010 with research grants at 25.000 USD at the start and rising to 50.000 USD per award. This is a total of 29 early career scientists across the continent.
BIG Cat supports competitive proposals from early-career African investigators working at African institutions. Projects are selected for their scientific merit and their potential to advance local capacity—through training, mentorship, infrastructure use, and evidence generation that can inform African practice and policy.
Award size: US$25,000 at programme start; increased to US$50,000.
