The Clinical Research Mentorship Program – CRMP 2026 is a one-year research mentorship and training program for oncology residents enrolled in African training programs, with a particular focus on radiation oncology. Participants are supported by a local supervisor and matched with an international mentor from a participating academic cancer center, including Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or collaborating institutions.
The program combines structured training in clinical research methods with hands-on mentorship as residents design and implement their own research projects. The goal is for each participant to complete a feasible clinical research study, prepare an abstract for submission to the AORTIC Biennial Cancer in Africa Conference, and work toward manuscript publication.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be residents enrolled in an African oncology training program during the proposed year of participation.
- Applicants must identify a local supervisor who agrees to support the resident throughout the mentorship program.
- The local supervisor must provide a letter of support as part of the application.
- Applicants must obtain permission from their residency training program to participate.
- Research questions related to radiation oncology practice are preferred, although other clinical research questions relevant to oncology are welcome.
- Residents should propose a research question and project that can realistically be completed within the one-year program period.
- Participants are expected to prepare an abstract suitable for submission to the AORTIC Biennial Cancer in Africa Conference.
Funding Details:
- Participation provides structured research training and mentorship throughout the one-year program.
- A stipend is available to support dissemination of research findings.
- The stipend becomes available only after the participant’s abstract has been successfully accepted for presentation at the AORTIC conference or an equivalent meeting.
- The official call does not specify the value of the stipend.
- No general research grant amount, salary, or standard fellowship stipend is stated in the official program document.
Deadline:
- Application deadline: August 15, 2026
- The official call does not specify a submission time or time zone.
- Applicant notification: by September 7, 2026
- Target program start: end of September 2026
- Expected program period: approximately September 2026–August 2027.
- Current status: Open — Deadline Approaching
Further Information:
- Official organization: Visit the AORTIC official website for information about the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer, its research, training, and professional programs.
- Application submission: Completed applications should be sent to Belmira Rodrigues at Belmira.rodrigues@aortic-Africa.org.
- Program co-directors: Scientific and program contacts listed in the call include Rebecca Wong, MB ChB, MSc, FRCP, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University of Toronto, at rebecca.wong@rmp.uhn.ca, and Anuja Jhingran, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, at ajhingra@mdanderson.org.
- Application package: Applicants should submit their CV, cover letter, supervisor support letter, and completed application form in the order specified in the official call.
- Download the official program document: Download the CRMP 2026 PDF.