Conquer Cancer has announced the recipients of the 2025 ASCO GI Symposium Merit Awards

These prestigious honors are given to the first authors of the highest-ranking abstracts chosen for presentation at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, from January 23–25, 2025, in San Francisco, California.

The Conquer Cancer Merit Award is a prestigious recognition given by the Conquer Cancer Foundation, which is affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This award specifically targets oncology trainees who are the first authors of abstracts selected for presentation at ASCO scientific meetings, including the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, provides several types of Merit Awards to recognize and support outstanding early-career oncology researchers. These awards aim to foster the next generation of oncology leaders by funding and showcasing their research.

1. Merit Awards

– Recognize exceptional abstracts submitted by medical students, residents, fellows, or early-career oncologists for presentation at ASCO meetings (e.g., ASCO Annual Meeting, ASCO Quality Care Symposium).
– Winners receive funding to attend the meeting and present their work.
– Abstracts typically represent innovative research with the potential to impact cancer care.

2. Specialized Merit Awards

– There are merit awards aligned with specific meetings (e.g., Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, Genitourinary Cancers Symposium).
– Some are targeted toward underrepresented populations or researchers from low- and middle-income countries.

3. Benefits for Recipients

– Financial support for travel and meeting participation.
– Opportunity to present research to a global oncology audience.
– Networking with leading researchers, mentors, and peers.

These awards reflect Conquer Cancer’s mission to accelerate progress in cancer research and promote equity in the oncology field. Let me know if you’d like details on eligibility or how to apply!

“We are pleased to announce the recipients of 2025 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Merit Awards to recognize first authors on top-ranking abstracts selected for presentation at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, 1/23–25, in San Francisco.” – Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation

35 oncologists are recognized for their contributions and advancements in cancer research and care:

Elio Adib, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Elisabeth Arrondo, BSc, National Cancer Center Hospital East
Nicole Balmaceda, MD, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
Antonio D’Alessio, MD, Imperial College
Arun Dang, DO, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
Gideon Dosunmu, MD, MPH, University of Chicago
Rebecca Forman, MD, Yale New Haven Hospital
Lauren Guerrero Negrón, Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine
Amy Huang, MD, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Whitney Johnson, MD, University of Minnesota
Georgina Keogh, MBCHB, MSC, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Donghyun Kim, MD, PhD, University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ioannis Kournoutas, MD, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Michael LaPelusa, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Luís Felipe Leite da Silva, MS, Universidade Federal Fluminense
Judy Li, MD, BA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Zheng Liu, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University
Pooja Mittal, PhD, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Myungwoo Nam, MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University
Elham Nasrollahi, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Masashi Nishino, MD, National Cancer Center Hospital
Mary O’Reilly, MSc, MBBCh, MRCP, St. Vincent’s University Hospital
Jun Okui, MD, MPH, Keio University School of Medicine
Ayobami Olafimihan, MD, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Angelo Pirozzi, MD, Mayo Clinic Arizona
Elizabeth Seitz, BS, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Nakul Shah, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Joao Paulo Solar Vasconcelos, MD, BC Cancer – Vancouver, University of British Columbia
Benjamin Ueberroth, MD, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
Hannah Williams, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Rong Yan, Zhongda Hospital, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Medical School, Southeast University
Faiza Yasin, MD, MHS, Yale School of Medicine
Chih Chieh Yen, MD, National Cheng Kung University Hospital
Joseph Zhao, MBBS, National University Cancer Institute
Binbin Zheng-Lin, MD, MSc, Mayo Clinic Arizona

Further Reading:

Fernanda Rivera’s Journey as the first Mexican RadOnc Resident to receive the ASCO IDEA Award

Conquer Cancer Announced Recipients of Seven Oncology Research Grants

2024 Conquer Cancer Scientific and Career Development Retreat