Young Investigator Award

The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award is administered by Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and improving patient care worldwide. Since its founding in 1984, the foundation has distributed significant funding to support oncology research and foster the development of early-career investigators. The Young Investigator Award specifically targets physicians transitioning from fellowship or subspecialty training into independent academic faculty roles, with the goal of strengthening the pipeline of clinician scientists in oncology. The primary purpose of this award is to provide financial support and structured mentorship to promising early-career investigators conducting research in clinical oncology. The program emphasizes hypothesis-driven research that can include both clinical and preclinical components, provided there is a clear pathway to clinical application. Projects may span a wide range of oncology disciplines including epidemiology, therapeutics, diagnostics, health services research, and translational science. A key feature of the award is the requirement for mentorship, ensuring that applicants receive guidance from experienced investigators to support both project success and long-term career development. Funding for the award consists of a total of 50000 dollars distributed over a one-year period. Funds are paid in two equal installments and must be used primarily for research-related expenses, including personnel, supplies, and equipment. At least 46000 dollars must directly support research activities, while up to 1500 dollars may be allocated for travel, including required attendance at the Conquer Cancer Grants and Awards Ceremony. Indirect costs are capped at 5 percent of the total award. The funding does not allow for expenses such as tuition, membership dues, or reimbursable patient care costs. Awardees may hold additional funding as long as there is no overlap in budget or scientific scope. Eligibility is limited to physicians with an MD, DO, or equivalent degree, including MD PhD holders who have completed both degrees prior to the award start. Applicants must be within specific career stages, such as being in the final two years of oncology subspecialty training, enrolled in structured training with a dedicated research year, or within the first year of a full-time academic faculty appointment. Additional requirements include holding an active medical license, committing at least 60 percent of time to research, maintaining ASCO membership or applying for it, and working under the supervision of a qualified mentor. The program is open to both US and international applicants, with no geographic restrictions. The application process is conducted entirely online through the ASCO application portal. Applicants must complete a comprehensive submission that includes project information, research strategy, biostatistical plan, patient impact section, budget, timeline, biosketch, mentorship plan, and multiple letters of support. Clinical proposals require patient advocate involvement and documentation, while projects involving drugs must include letters from manufacturers. All materials must be submitted in English, and strict formatting and page limits are enforced across application components. Applications undergo a rigorous multi-stage peer review process conducted by an independent Grants Selection Committee. Each application is evaluated for scientific merit, feasibility, statistical rigor, mentorship quality, and potential impact on the applicant’s career. Top applications are further reviewed by biostatisticians and patient advocates before final funding decisions are made. The highest scoring proposals are selected for funding, with some awards aligned to donor-specified focus areas such as specific cancer types or research domains. Key dates for the program include an application opening on July 1, 2026 and a submission deadline of September 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Additional post-submission materials may be submitted by November 17, 2026 and January 28, 2027. Award notifications are expected in April 2027, with the award period running from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028. The program is offered annually, supporting a recurring opportunity for early-career oncology researchers to secure funding and mentorship.

Focus on clear hypothesis strong mentorship plan and feasible one year timeline with patient impact relevance