The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award in Cancer Supportive Care provides mentored research funding to promising physician-investigators transitioning from oncology training or fellowship into an academic faculty appointment.
The award supports clinical and translational research focused on improving quality of life for people with cancer. Eligible projects may address cancer symptoms, treatment-related side effects, palliative and supportive care, symptom management, and the psychological, social, or spiritual effects of cancer and its treatment. Applications are accepted from eligible investigators working in the United States and internationally.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be physicians holding an MD, DO, or international equivalent.
- Applicants may work in any country, with no general citizenship or geographic restrictions.
- When the mentor is not an ASCO member, a supporting letter from an ASCO member at the sponsoring institution is required.
- Applicants must commit at least 60% of their overall professional time to research during the award period.
- Applicants may apply to both the general YIA and YIA special competitions but may accept only the first formal award offered.
- Individuals may hold only one active Conquer Cancer award at a time.
Funding Details:
- The total award amount is USD 50,000 for one year.
- Funding is paid to the sponsoring institution in two instalments of USD 25,000.
- One award is expected to be funded through the 2027 competition.
- Patient-care expenses reimbursable by third-party payors, professional membership dues, tuition, academic courses, and certification fees are not eligible costs.
Deadline:
- Applications opened: July 1, 2026.
- Full application deadline: January 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Post-submission materials deadline: February 18, 2027.
- Award term: July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028.
Further Information:
- Projects must focus on cancer supportive care and demonstrate the potential to improve patients’ quality of life.
- Clinical proposals must be developed with a patient advocate; patient-advocate involvement is strongly encouraged for preclinical studies.
- Applications require a four-page research strategy, a one-page biostatistical plan, a patient-impact section, budget, timeline, biosketch, mentorship plan, and institutional support letter.
- All materials must be submitted in English through the ASCO and Conquer Cancer Application Portal; email, fax, and paper submissions are not accepted.
- Eligibility questions may be sent to grants@conquer.org, and full details are available on the official YIA Special Competitions page.