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*The Young Investigator Award (YIA) general competition is now closed. Please see currently open YIA Special Competitions with Areas Endowed and Dedicated Funding below.

The Young Investigator Award (YIA) provides funding to promising investigators to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. The purpose of this grant is to fund physicians during the transition from a fellowship program to a faculty appointment. This is a mentored award and the research project is conducted under the guidance of a scientific mentor. Applications in all areas of cancer research are accepted from U.S. and international applicants.

The YIA is a one-year grant totaling $50,000 that supports personnel and/or research expenses, and travel to attend the Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards Ceremony at the ASCO Annual Meeting. Applicants who are selected to receive a YIA are allowed to receive other grants from other funding agencies. 

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for a YIA:

  • Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent) working in any country and currently in the last two years of their final subspecialty training at an academic medical institution and within 10 years of obtaining their medical degree at the time of grant submission. Examples of subspecialty training include, but are not limited to, a hematology-oncology fellowship, a surgical oncology fellowship, or a radiation oncology residency. An MD, PhD is eligible if both degrees are completed prior to the start of the grant period.
  • Be planning an investigative career in clinical oncology.
  • Have a valid, active medical license in the country where the research will be conducted at the time of application.
  • Be working in an oncology laboratory or clinical research setting. 
  • Have a mentor in the proposed research field from the sponsoring institution. The mentor must assume responsibility and provide guidance for the research. If the mentor is not an ASCO member, a supporting letter from an ASCO member from the sponsoring institution must be included.
  • Be able to commit at least 60% of full-time effort in research (applies to total research, not just the proposed project) during the award period.
  • Be an ASCO member or have submitted a membership application with the grant application. Apply for new membership, or renew an existing membership.
  • Eligible physicians are allowed to hold only one grant from Conquer Cancer at a time.

Applicants who are uncertain about their eligibility are encouraged to refer to the Eligibility section in this FAQ or contact our grants team for clarification and provide their full CV for evaluation.

Funding Available

Conquer Cancer funds the most meritorious applications in all areas of cancer research. Awards are given based on individual merit and availability of funds.

ASCO and Conquer Cancer are committed to fostering health equity in cancer research by improving diversity and inclusion in the oncology workforce, funding research focused on health disparities and bolstering funding for investigators from underrepresented populations in medicine (UIM) and low and middle-income countries. Applications from investigators who are underrepresented in medicine and from LMICs are strongly encouraged.

Areas with Endowed and Dedicated Funding (as of March 15, 2023)

Conquer Cancer has endowed and multi-year funding for certain areas that allows us to fund grants in these areas year after year. For 2023, dedicated funding is available in, but not limited to, the areas listed below. This list will be updated as new funding is confirmed. Conquer Cancer encourages applications in ALL areas of cancer research from U.S. and international applicants. 

YIA Special Competitions are open for applicants whose research project falls under the following areas:

The YIA General Competition is now closed.  Applicants may only submit one YIA application either under a special competition or the general competition.

Application Instructions

All application materials must be in English and must be submitted through the Application Portal. Paper applications or applications sent by e-mail or fax will not be accepted.

Closing Soon: Apply by March 31, 2023.

Application Deadlines

Application Open: 

July 1, 2022

Letter of Intent Deadline: 

Application Deadline: 

March 31, 2023

Award Term: 

July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

Supporters

The Young Investigator Awards are supported by:

Association for Value-Based Cancer Care
Choose Chicago Exact Sciences
Gateway for Cancer Research GlaxoSmithKline Oncology
Hearst Foundations
Lilly Logo for Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists
Merck Pfizer
What Would Willie Want
Swim Across America Tap Cancer Out Texas Society of Clinical Oncology Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
Vaniam Group    

 

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ASCO’s State Affiliate Council
Dr. Charles M. Baum and Carol A. Baum
Sumeet and Sumeeta Bhatia
Nina Lesavoy Brady
Howard A. Burris, III, MD and Karen Y. Burris
Casdin Family Foundation
Friends, Colleagues and Family of Marc L. Citron, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Trisha Elcan
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Frist, Jr.
Generous Supporters of the Evening to Conquer Cancer
Friends and Family of Dr. Arti Hurria
Alan and Judith Kaur
Helen L. Kay Charitable Trust
LA Kunkel Foundation
Michiana Hematology Oncology
Miodrag Kukrika, MD
Georgia and Michael Michelson
Victoria H. Montgomery
Nebraska Oncology Society
New Rhein, LLC
The Phase Foundation
Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., MD, FASCO
and Susan M. DaSilva, DNP
Colleagues, Friends, and Family of
Dr. Gladys Rodriguez and Dr. Narjust Duma
Sapiente Family Foundation
Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Aaron and Barbro Sasson
Susan & Teresa Schwab Ovarian Cancer
Research Foundation
Shanken Family Foundation
Tomasello Family
The Vose Family
​Wawa Foundation
Generous Supporters of the Women Who Conquer Cancer
The Richard H. Yearick Foundation

This list reflects commitments as of October 6, 2022.
 

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 website. Find out more information about the Sunshine Act and CMS Open Payments program.