The Conquer Cancer Research Professorship provides flexible funding to outstanding senior physician-scientists who have made significant contributions to cancer research and are committed to training the next generation of oncology leaders.
Recipients may use the funding to strengthen their overall research programs, lead multidisciplinary research teams, and support the development of oncology trainees and junior faculty. Individual Research Professorship competitions may be dedicated to specific cancer types or research areas.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be physicians holding an MD, DO, or international equivalent.
- Applicants must currently hold the rank of Full Professor or its institutional equivalent.
- Applicants who do not formally hold the rank of Full Professor must provide a written explanation demonstrating why their position should be considered equivalent.
- Applicants must continue providing research leadership and mentorship throughout the award period.
- Applicants must commit at least 75% of their professional time to research, research-team leadership, and mentorship during the award period.
- Applicants may hold only one active Conquer Cancer grant at a time.
Funding Details:
- The current Research Professorship funding structure provides USD 500,000 over five years.
- Funding is generally paid in annual installments of USD 100,000.
- The award offers flexible support that may be used to strengthen the recipient’s overall cancer-research activities.
- Exact budget restrictions, indirect-cost limits, and eligible expenses are defined in each topic-specific Request for Proposals.
Deadline:
- For the dedicated 2027 ovarian cancer competition, the Letter of Intent deadline is September 23, 2026.
- Deadlines vary according to the dedicated research area and annual Request for Proposals.
- Applicants should review the current Conquer Cancer funding-opportunity listings for available competitions.
- Ovarian cancer eligibility and application details are covered in a separate funding post.
Further Information:
- Research Professorship competitions may focus on specific cancer types or priority research areas.
- Applicants should carefully review the topic-specific RFP because geographic eligibility, research focus, budget rules, and deadlines may differ.
- Applications generally assess the applicant’s research accomplishments, team leadership, mentoring record, institutional resources, and proposed scientific impact.
- All application materials must be prepared in English and submitted through the ASCO and Conquer Cancer Application Portal; email, fax, and paper submissions are not accepted.
- Current opportunities are listed on the official Conquer Cancer funding opportunities page, and eligibility questions may be sent to grants@conquer.org.