Junior faculty and researchers just beginning their careers are invited to submit applications for the 2009 ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Program, which includes the Career Development Award (CDA) and the Young Investigator Award (YIA). Interested physicians can submit applications online now through October 30, 2008.

The CDA totals $200,000 disbursed over three years, and is awarded to applicants with an MD or DO degree or international equivalent who are second-, third-, or fourth-year faculty members at the beginning of grant term (July 1,2009). The YIA is a $50,000 one-year award given to applicants with an MD or DO degree or international equivalent who, at the beginning of the grant term (July 1, 2009), are in the last year of their final subspecialty training program or in the first year of a post-subspecialty training program.

These awards are designed to encourage investigators early in their careers by promoting the development and conduct of high-quality cancer research. All oncology subspecialties and emerging disciplines are considered for funding, including—but not limited to—breast cancer, health disparities, ovarian cancer, cancer survivorship, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, geriatric oncology, multiple myeloma, and sarcoma.

Priority consideration is given to proposals that include patient-oriented and, ultimately, clinical research. ASCO defines clinical research as "hypothesis-driven research that employs measurements in whole patients or normal human subjects, in conjunction with laboratory measurements as appropriate, on the subjects of clinical biology, natural history, prevention, screening, diagnosis, therapy, or epidemiology of neoplastic disease." [J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:666-670].

Since the inception of Grants Program in 1984, more than $50 million has been awarded in support of clinical investigations conducted by fellows and junior faculty. Many of the grant recipients have gone on to cultivate careers as outstanding researchers and have become renowned experts in their subspecialty areas, as well as leaders within ASCO and in the oncology community.

The ASCO Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded in 1999 to support the Society’s education and research programs worldwide.

Additional eligibility requirements and award details, including access to the online application, can be found at www.ascocancerfoundation.org/grants. Prospective applicants can submit questions by e-mail to grants@asco.org.


Apply for 2009 Young Investigator Award or Career Development Award