Young Investigator Award Special Competitions: Drug Development Grant

The Young Investigator Award Special Competitions in Drug Development is designed to support promising researchers transitioning from fellowship to faculty positions. Funded by Conquer Cancer Foundation and AACR, this award encourages innovative research in clinical oncology, specifically focusing on the development of new cancer therapies. Eligible applicants can hold only one active grant at a time, and the award covers research expenses and travel for the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Note:

• Eligible applicants are allowed to hold only one active grant from Conquer Cancer at a time.

Conquer Cancer and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) jointly support a Young Investigator Award for Translational Cancer Research. Previous or current recipients of a Conquer Cancer – AACR Young Investigator Award for Translational Cancer Research or an AACR – Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award for Translational Cancer Research are not eligible.
Applicants may concurrently apply for other AACR grants and may receive funding simultaneously.
About Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation
Conquer Cancer funds research for every cancer, every patient, everywhere. Since 1984, its Grants & Awards program has awarded more than $203 million through more than 9,800 grants and awards to improve cancer care and accelerate breakthroughs in clinical and translational oncology research. Conquer Cancer donors support vital programs needed to deliver the highest quality patient care and share a vision of a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy
The Young Investigator Award (YIA) provides funding to promising investigators to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. YIA Special Competitions are open for specific topics, as noted below.
Funding Available
The YIA is a one-year grant that supports personnel and/or research expenses, and travel to attend the Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards Ceremony at the ASCO Annual Meeting. Applicants who are selected to receive a YIA are allowed to receive grants from other funding sources as long as there is no scientific or budgetary overlap.
Areas with Endowed and Dedicated Funding (as of December 2, 2025)
Conquer Cancer has endowed and multi-year funding for certain areas that allows us to fund grants in these areas year after year. For 2026, dedicated funding is available in, but not limited to, the areas listed below.
Young Investigator Award in Drug DevelopmentYoung Investigator Award in SurvivorshipYoung Investigator Award in Supportive Care Young Investigator Award in Geriatric OncologyYoung Investigator Award in Primary Brain Tumors Young Investigator Award for Veteran CancerYoung Investigator Award in Mantle Cell LymphomaYoung Investigator Award in Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaYoung Investigator Award in Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer
Purpose
The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award (YIA) in Drug Development provides funding to promising investigators to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology with a focus on drug development, from discovery to development of new therapeutic drugs for cancer treatment. The purpose of this award is to fund physicians during the transition from a fellowship or training program to a faculty appointment. This is a mentored award and the research project is conducted under the guidance of an experienced mentor in the proposed research area. Applications in all areas of cancer research are accepted from U.S. and international applicants.

Eligibility

You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.