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Based on funding availability, a limited number of Merit Awards will be awarded to eligible trainees and students whose research is addressed in high-quality abstracts submitted to an ASCO Meeting and recognized for its scientific merit.

Merit Award recipients are honored with the opportunity to present their abstract at the Meeting, receive $1,000 in monetary support, complimentary registration for the Meeting, and access to reserved Meeting hotel reservation blocks. Merit Award candidates must apply for this award at the time of abstract submission.

For the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Awards, Conquer Cancer has dedicated funds for the following areas and groups: acute leukemia, breast cancer, central nervous system tumors, endometrial cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, genitourinary cancer, geriatric oncology, glioblastoma multiforme, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, pediatric oncology, prostate cancer, sarcoma; research in medical education, real-world evidence/data, early drug development, biology in head and neck cancer, developmental therapeutics; researcher holding a PharmD, female researchers on liver cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, renal cell carcinoma or uterine cancers; researchers from populations underrepresented in medicine (UIM), researchers from Florida, Maryland/DC, Northern California, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other countries outside of the US. Abstracts in other types of oncology-related research are also highly encouraged.

Eligibility:

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for a Merit Award:

  • Be the First Author on the abstract submission and agree to present the abstract if selected for presentation at the Meeting
  • Be enrolled in a fellowship/residency/advanced degree training program or in a medical or doctoral degree program at the time of abstract submission
  • Provide a letter from their training program director or faculty advisor confirming the candidate is enrolled in the training program at the time of submission
  • Provide a curriculum vitae

Special Merit Awards

Special Merit Awards are presented each year to eligible First Authors who have the top-ranking abstracts for the ASCO Annual Meeting. In addition to the stipend, recipients receive a plaque and are recognized at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Bradley Stuart Beller Endowed Merit Award ($2,000)

This award is given to the eligible First Author who has the highest-ranking abstract overall in the Merit Award category as determined by the Scientific Program Committee.

Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award ($1000)

This award is given to the eligible First Author who submitted the top abstract in Pediatric Oncology as determined by the Scientific Program Committee.

Pain and Symptom Management Special Merit Award ($1000)

This award is given to the eligible First Author who submitted the top abstract in Pain and Symptom Management Research as determined by the Scientific Program Committee.

Allen S. Lichter, MD Endowed Merit Award ($1000)

This award is given to the eligible First Author who has the second highest-ranking abstract in the Merit Award category as determined by the Scientific Program Committee.

James B. Nachman Endowed ASCO Junior Faculty Award in Pediatric Oncology ($3,000)

This award was established in memory of James B. Nachman, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago and an internationally renowned pediatric cancer expert. It is endowed through the James B. Nachman Pediatric Oncology Fund and will be given each year to a junior faculty member who submits the highest-ranking abstract in pediatric oncology for the ASCO Annual Meeting as determined by the ASCO Scientific Program Committee. The recipient will receive $3,000 in monetary support to attend the Annual Meeting, complimentary registration for the Annual Meeting, and access to reserved Meeting housing. Candidates must apply for this award at the time of abstract submission.

The First Author must meet all of the following requirements to be considered for the James B. Nachman ASCO Junior Faculty Award in Pediatric Oncology:

  • Hold a medical or doctoral degree (MD, PhD, DO, or DNP)
  • Be within 7 years of their first faculty appointment at the time of abstract submission
  • Conduct laboratory, population-based, or clinical research focused on childhood cancer
  • Agree to present the abstract at the ASCO Annual Meeting
  • In addition, the abstract must be selected for presentation in an Oral Abstract Session

Application Instructions

Consideration for a Merit Award is available on the abstract submitter for the ASCO Annual Meeting and other ASCO thematic meetings.

For Merit Award eligibility and application questions, please contact our Abstracts team.

Supporters

The Merit Award is supported by:

AstraZeneca BCRF BristolMeyersSquibb
Eisai Epiphany Flatiron
GSK Harborside Press Loxo
MDCSCO Melanoma Research Foundation QuadW
Sarah Cannon Syndax  

                                                                                                                                                                         

ASCO Employees
Terri Armstrong, Chris Armstrong, and Mark Gilbert
Association of Northern California Oncologists
BeiGene
Friends and Family of Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Beller
The Berry Family
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas W. Blayney
Stephen A. Cannistra, MD
Jonathan K. and Cora Y. Cho Charitable Fund
Friends, Family, and Colleagues of Dr. Cecil "Pete" Coggins
Michael Craig Cox, PharmD, MHS, BCOP
Trailblazing patient Mark A. Crafts and Generous Supporters of Team Crafty
Bill and Karen Dahut
Steve and Audra Edwards
Estate of Darla C. Ellis
Friends, Colleagues, and Family of Joe Hogan
Melissa M. Hudson, MD, FASCO and Albert E. Weeks, MD
Kimberly Irvine
Nicole M. Kuderer, MD and Gary H. Lyman, MD, MPH, FASCO
Natasha B. Leighl, MD, FASCO
William T. Leslie, MD
Friends and Colleagues of Theresa Mays
Therese Marie Mulvey, MD, FASCO
Friends and Family of Dr. James B. Nachman
New Rhein Healthcare, LLC
Friends and Colleagues of Dr. Larry Norton
Dr. Kathleen Pritchard Medicine Professional Corporation
Gabrielle Betty Rocque, MD, MSPH
Frances A. Shepherd, MD, FASCO
Stephen A. Sherwin, MD
Drs. Rachna and Puneet Shroff
The Sontag Foundation
Supporters of Innovations and Research in Medical Education,
Nizar M. Tannir, MD
Anthony and Marilyn Tolcher
Dr. Michael and Deborah Troner
William S. Yaus, Jeffrey W. Yaus, and Kathleen Y. Wolin, ScD

 

This list reflects commitments as of May 26, 2023. 
 

This grant receives support that may result in a report to the CMS Open Payments website under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The supporting companies are required to report the amount of the grant, the names of physicians who are awarded this grant, and the names of their institutions. This information may appear on the Open Payments websiteFind out more information about the Sunshine Act and CMS Open Payments program.