The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award in Geriatric Oncology provides mentored research funding to promising physician-investigators transitioning from oncology fellowship or specialist training to an academic faculty appointment.
The award supports clinical, translational, and preclinical research addressing cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, quality of care, and healthcare delivery for older adults with cancer. Projects must demonstrate clearly defined outcomes, clinical relevance, and feasibility within the one-year award period. 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 must generally be within 10 years of receiving their medical degree. Limited exceptions may be considered for international medical graduates and fellows completing prolonged specialist training.
- 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.
- There are no general citizenship or geographic restrictions.
- 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.
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 notification: April 2027.
- Award term: July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028.
Further Information:
- Projects must focus on geriatric oncology and may include clinical, translational, preclinical, epidemiological, behavioural, outcomes, quality-of-care, or health-services research.
- Clinical proposals must be developed with a patient advocate; patient-advocate involvement is strongly encouraged for preclinical projects.
- Applications require a four-page research strategy, one-page biostatistical plan, patient-impact section, budget, timeline, biosketch, mentorship plan, and institutional support letter.
- All materials must be prepared in English and submitted through the ASCO and Conquer Cancer Application Portal; email, fax, and paper applications are not accepted.
- Applicants with eligibility questions may contact grants@conquer.org, and current information is available through the official Young Investigator Award page.