The Conquer Cancer International Development and Education Award supports early-career oncologists from low- and middle-income countries by providing mentorship, international oncology education, and participation in the 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting.
Recipients are paired with an experienced ASCO member, attend the Annual Meeting in Chicago, and complete a post-meeting visit at their mentor’s institution in the United States or Canada. The program aims to establish long-term professional relationships and help recipients strengthen cancer care in their home countries.
The related IDEA in Palliative Care program supports applicants interested in palliative and supportive oncology. Participants receive education in symptom management, communication, end-of-life care, and multidisciplinary palliative care before sharing their knowledge with colleagues at their home institutions.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must currently reside in a country classified by the World Bank as low-income, lower-middle-income, or upper-middle-income.
- Applicants must have limited financial resources to attend the ASCO Annual Meeting.
- Applicants must be within 10 years of completing their oncology training program.
- Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.
- IDEA-PC applicants must demonstrate an interest in integrating palliative and supportive care into their institution.
- Relevant IDEA-PC experience may include participation in palliative-care courses, clinical activities, or related educational programs. (asco.org)
Funding Details:
- ASCO and Conquer Cancer expect to select 30 recipients across the IDEA and IDEA-PC programs.
- The program provides support to attend the 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting and participate in a post-meeting visit at the recipient’s mentor institution in the United States or Canada.
- Recipients receive three years of complimentary ASCO membership, including a subscription to the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
- The official program page does not list a fixed cash value for the award; it should therefore be described as a travel, education, and mentorship award rather than a fixed-sum research grant.
Deadline:
- Applications opened: July 1, 2026.
- The official funding page lists the application deadline as October 1, 2026.
- The application portal closes on September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Applicants should submit by the portal’s displayed cutoff.
- The 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting will take place June 4–8, 2027, in Chicago, Illinois.
Further Information:
- Applicants may apply to the general IDEA program or the IDEA in Palliative Care program, depending on their professional focus.
- The application requires program objectives, a plan for sharing the acquired knowledge, evidence of access to mentorship, and information about the applicant’s oncology training.
- Required materials include a recommendation, biosketch, institutional approval, and personal statement using the official templates.
- All materials must be prepared in English and submitted through the official application portal; applications sent by email, fax, or post will not be accepted.
- Recipients are expected to share the knowledge and training gained through the program with colleagues in their home countries.