Career Development Award

The Career Development Award is administered by Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating breakthroughs in cancer research and improving patient care worldwide. Since its founding in 1984, the foundation has awarded significant funding to support clinical and translational oncology research across a broad range of cancer types and disciplines. This award specifically targets early-career clinical investigators who are transitioning into independent research roles following their initial faculty appointments. The primary purpose of the Career Development Award is to provide structured, mentored funding that enables physician-scientists to establish independent clinical cancer research programs. The award emphasizes patient-oriented research, requiring that funded projects involve clinical studies and or translational work with human subjects. Research proposals that primarily rely on in vitro or animal studies are explicitly excluded, ensuring that funded work directly contributes to patient care, clinical outcomes, or translational impact. Applicants must work under the guidance of an experienced mentor and demonstrate a clear trajectory toward independent investigation. The funding structure provides a total of 200000 dollars distributed over a three-year period in equal annual installments of approximately 66666 dollars. Funds are awarded to the applicant’s sponsoring institution and must be used to support the proposed research project. Allowable costs include personnel salary support, research supplies, equipment, and limited travel. Restrictions apply to certain costs, such as tuition, membership dues, and reimbursable patient care expenses. Indirect costs are capped at a defined percentage, and a minimum portion of each year’s funding must directly support research activities. Continued funding is contingent on meeting expenditure and reporting requirements. Eligibility requirements are highly specific and focused on clinical investigators early in their academic careers. Applicants must hold a medical degree or equivalent and be within the first four years of a full-time faculty appointment at an academic medical institution. They must possess a valid medical license, demonstrate prior research productivity, and commit at least fifty percent of their professional effort to research during the award period. Additional requirements include active membership or application to ASCO, compliance with prior grant obligations, and the presence of a qualified mentor. Applicants must not have previously served as principal investigators on large-scale grants and may only hold one active Conquer Cancer grant at a time. The application process is comprehensive and must be completed through an online portal. Required components include detailed project information, a research strategy, a biostatistical plan, patient impact documentation, budget justification, mentorship plan, institutional support letters, and multiple recommendation letters. The research proposal must clearly define hypotheses, methodology, statistical rigor, and expected outcomes. Applications undergo a multi-stage peer review process involving scientific experts, biostatisticians, and patient advocates. Evaluation criteria prioritize the applicant’s potential for an academic oncology career, the scientific merit of the proposal, the strength of mentorship, and institutional support. Key dates for the current cycle include an application opening on July 1, 2026, and a submission deadline in early October 2026. Additional post-submission materials may be submitted through defined deadlines later in the year. Award notifications are expected in April 2027, with the funding period running from July 2027 through mid-2030. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, with future opportunities expected to follow a similar timeline. The award does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Applications are accepted globally, with no geographic restrictions, provided all eligibility criteria are met. Contact for inquiries is available through the program’s grants office, and applicants are encouraged to seek clarification on eligibility or application requirements prior to submission. The program reflects a strong commitment to advancing clinically relevant cancer research while supporting the next generation of oncology investigators.

Focus strongly on patient oriented clinical impact and statistical rigor; ensure mentorship plan is robust and clearly structured; align proposal with feasibility within 3 year timeline