The Conquer Cancer – Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) Young Investigator Award in Early Cancer Detection supports physician-scientists making the critical transition from fellowship or training to their first faculty appointment, with the specific goal of advancing early-stage cancer detection science across all cancer types. This is a mentored, one-year, $50,000 award — the same structure as Conquer Cancer’s flagship Young Investigator Award — and research is conducted under the guidance of an experienced mentor at the applicant’s sponsoring institution. Applications are accepted from both U.S. and international applicants, with the focus area open to all cancers as long as the proposed project advances early detection. Conquer Cancer has funded this award through Stand Up To Cancer’s dedicated support for early detection research. The application deadline is March 30, 2026. ASCO membership is required at the time of application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must hold an MD, DO, or MD/DO-PhD degree (or equivalent medical degree)
- Must be in the last year of a training or fellowship program, or in the first two years of a faculty/staff appointment at the time of submission
- Must be within 10 years of obtaining their medical degree at the time of application (exceptions may apply for foreign medical graduates)
- Must have a valid, active medical license in the country where research will be conducted
- Must be working in an oncology laboratory or clinical research setting
- Must have a mentor from the sponsoring institution in the proposed research field
- Must be an ASCO member or have submitted a membership application concurrently with the grant application
- Research must focus on early cancer detection (any cancer type accepted); 60% time commitment to research required
Funding Details:
- Award amount: $50,000 (one-year grant)
- Budget typically covers personnel, research expenses, and travel to the Conquer Cancer Grants and Awards Ceremony at the ASCO Annual Meeting
- Awardees may also be matched with additional donor-specified criteria for named awards within the broader YIA endowment pool
Deadline:
- Application Deadline: March 30, 2026
- Apply via Conquer Cancer’s online portal: log in at conquer.org, select Young Investigator Award Competitions under Programs, and click Apply
- For questions: grants@conquer.org
Contact / Further Information: