Funder: Conquer Cancer - the ASCO Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Abstract submission)
Funding Amounts: $1,000 plus meeting registration and hotel-block access; named awards of $1,000–$3,000
Summary: Merit Awards recognize high-quality oncology abstracts by trainees and students and support their participation in ASCO meetings.
Key Information: Candidates must apply at abstract submission and be the first author, agreeing to present if selected.
Description
Merit Awards, funded through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, recognize the scientific merit of oncology research submitted to ASCO meetings. A limited number of awards are available to eligible trainees and students, depending on funding availability. Recipients receive monetary support, complimentary meeting registration, access to reserved meeting hotel blocks, and the opportunity to present their abstracts.
For the 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting, donor funding preferences cover numerous cancer types, developmental therapeutics, early drug development, medical education, real-world evidence/data, and symptoms and survivorship. Some support targets particular researcher backgrounds or locations and cancer research involving LGBTQ+ patients. Abstracts on other oncology topics are also highly encouraged. Named awards recognize top-ranked abstracts overall and in pediatric oncology and pain and symptom management, with a separate pediatric oncology award for junior faculty.
