Research Professorship in Ovarian Cancer

The Research Professorship in Ovarian Cancer is a funding opportunity administered by Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating breakthroughs in oncology research and improving patient care globally. Since its establishment, Conquer Cancer has awarded over 10,500 grants totaling more than 215 million dollars to support clinical and translational cancer research. This specific professorship reflects the organization’s commitment to advancing ovarian cancer research while fostering the development of future oncology leaders through mentorship and leadership. The primary purpose of the Research Professorship is to provide flexible funding to outstanding full professors who have demonstrated significant contributions to ovarian cancer research and who actively mentor junior faculty and trainees. The award is designed to support the overall research activities of the recipient rather than a single narrowly defined project. It emphasizes both scientific excellence and sustained leadership in mentoring the next generation of oncology researchers, ensuring long-term impact in the field. The total funding available for this opportunity is 500000 dollars, distributed in annual increments of 100000 dollars over a five-year period. Funds are paid to the sponsoring institution and may be used for a wide range of research-related expenses, including personnel, supplies, equipment, and travel. However, certain restrictions apply: funds cannot be used for reimbursable patient care costs, membership dues, or tuition. Indirect costs are capped at 5 percent annually, and at least 93500 dollars per year must directly support research activities. The award is not intended to fully fund a project or salary but to supplement ongoing research programs. Eligibility is limited to physicians holding an MD, DO, or international equivalent who are full-time faculty members at U.S. academic medical centers and hold the rank of full professor or equivalent. Applicants must demonstrate significant contributions to ovarian cancer research, lead an active research team, and provide mentorship to trainees or early-career faculty. Applicants must also be members of ASCO or apply for membership during the application process. There is no citizenship requirement, but applicants must have sufficient visa status to complete the project. Only one active Conquer Cancer grant may be held at a time. The application process consists of two phases: a mandatory Letter of Intent phase followed by an invitation-only full application phase. The LOI requires submission of applicant information, a mentoring and leadership statement, project information, and a biosketch. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a comprehensive full application, which includes detailed research plans, mentoring strategies, budget justification, biostatistical plans, patient impact statements, and multiple supporting documents such as institutional letters and mentee references. All applications must be submitted through the online portal, and no paper or email submissions are accepted. Applications are evaluated through a rigorous peer review process conducted by an independent Grants Selection Committee. Each application is reviewed by scientific experts, a biostatistician, and a patient advocate. Evaluation criteria include the applicant’s qualifications, research impact, leadership and mentoring track record, scientific merit of ongoing work, and institutional support. Only the highest scoring applications are funded, and final selections are made after committee discussion in a final review stage. The timeline for the 2027 cycle includes an application opening on July 1, 2026, with a Letter of Intent deadline in late September 2026. Notifications for LOI decisions occur in early October, with full applications due in December 2026. Final award notifications are expected in April 2027, and the award period begins July 1, 2027 and extends through mid-2032. The program is recurring annually, with similar timelines expected in future cycles.

Emphasize strong mentoring track record and leadership in ovarian cancer research demonstrate sustained research impact and clearly articulate patient relevance and scientific innovation