Fight CRC & CGA-IGC Early Career Award

A collaborative research grant awarded jointly by Fight Colorectal Cancer and the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer (CGA-IGC) to advance patient care and support for individuals and families affected by hereditary cancer syndromes.

Award Type: Research grant to early-career investigators

Geographic Scope: United States and Americas region

Focus Areas:

• Hereditary cancer syndromes
• Familial colorectal cancer
• Early-onset colorectal cancer (EAO CRC)
• Inherited colorectal cancer syndromes
• Patient-centered research
• Advancement of science and clinical care
• Patient advocacy

Eligibility:

• Early-career investigators
• Researchers focused on hereditary, familial, and early-onset colorectal cancer
• Scientists with research projects addressing gaps in care for high-risk populations

What They Fund:

• Research focused on improving clinical outcomes for patients with hereditary cancer syndromes
• Biomarker development and detection methods
• Quality improvement and informatics research
• Electronic health record interventions
• Non-invasive screening and detection methods
• Studies addressing care gaps for advanced colorectal polyps and familial risk

Recent Award Recipients:

• 2023: Dr. Alessandro Mannucci, Beckman Research Institute - developing novel blood test for early-onset CRC detection
• 2022: Timothy Yen, Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group - electronic health record intervention for familial CRC risk communication

Background Context:

• Approximately 5-10% of CRC cases have hereditary component
• Up to 25% of all CRC cases attributed to high familial risk
• 1 in 3 people have family history of colorectal cancer
• By 2030, CRC poised to be leading cause of cancer deaths in individuals under 50

Partnership Mission: Enhance well-being of patients and families by ensuring cutting-edge research and clinical care paradigms inform patient support tools and policy change in equitable and inclusive manner.