The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award supports promising physician-investigators conducting high-quality clinical oncology research while transitioning from fellowship training to an academic faculty position.
This one-year, mentored award is open to eligible investigators working in all areas of cancer research. Projects must be conducted under the guidance of an experienced mentor at the applicant’s sponsoring institution. Applications are accepted from investigators based in the United States and internationally. (ASCO)
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be physicians holding an MD, DO, or international equivalent.
- MD/PhD applicants are eligible when both degrees are completed before the award period begins.
- Applicants may work in any country.
- At the application deadline, applicants must be in one of the following career stages:
Within the final two years of an accredited oncology subspecialty training or fellowship program.
Enrolled in an oncology training program in which a protected research year occurs during the first year.
Within the first year of an initial full-time academic faculty appointment, including instructor-level positions. - Applicants must generally be within 10 years of receiving their medical degree. Limited exceptions may apply to foreign medical graduates and fellows in prolonged specialist training pathways.
- Applicants must be planning a research career in oncology.
- Applicants must hold a valid and active medical licence in the country where the research will be conducted.
- Applicants must work in an oncology laboratory or clinical research environment.
- Applicants must be current ASCO members or submit an ASCO membership application with their award application.
- Applicants must commit at least 60% of their professional time to research activities during the award period.
- First-year faculty members may apply to either the Young Investigator Award or the Career Development Award, but may not submit applications to both programs simultaneously.
- An individual may hold only one active Conquer Cancer research award at a time. (ASCO)
Funding Details:
- The award provides USD 50,000 for one year.
- Funding may support research personnel and project-related expenses.
- The budget may also support travel to attend the Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards Ceremony during the ASCO Annual Meeting.
- Recipients may receive funding from other sources when there is no scientific or budgetary overlap.
- Dedicated donor funding for the 2027 cycle includes areas such as:
ALK-related cancers
Breast cancer
Colon cancer
Genomics
Therapeutics
Pancreatic cancer
Paediatric cancers
Prostate cancer
Sarcoma
Research conducted by investigators based in Northern California - Applications addressing these areas should still be submitted through the general YIA competition. (ASCO)
Deadline:
- Applications opened: July 1, 2026.
- Application deadline: September 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
- The application portal is currently accepting submissions. (asco.smapply.org)
Further Information:
- Applications must be prepared in English.
- All materials must be submitted electronically through the official ASCO and Conquer Cancer application portal.
- Applications submitted by email, fax, or post will not be accepted.
- Applicants who are uncertain about their eligibility should contact grants@conquer.org and provide an updated CV together with an explanation of their current career stage.
- Visit the official Young Investigator Award page for the complete eligibility requirements and Request for Proposals.