ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2018 International Innovation Grants (IIG) and International Development and Education Awards (IDEA). Both the grant and award support oncology professionals in low-and middle-income countries, investing in either an innovative research project or formulating meaningful mentoring relationships that transcend borders.
“Cancer can affect anyone, anywhere,” said Thomas G. Roberts, Jr, MD, Chair of the Conquer Cancer Board of Directors. “By funding research, Conquer Cancer and its donors are working to improve the access and quality of cancer care not just in the United States, but worldwide. This year’s recipients of both the IIG and IDEA awards will continue to expand our knowledge of care in different settings and encourage international conversations about innovative and effective cancer care.”
International Innovation Grants
THE INTERNATIONAL Innovation Grants are 1-year grants of up to $20,000, given directly to each awardee’s nonprofit organization or government agency. The grants fund research projects aimed at improving cancer care in low- and middle-income countries that have the potential to be transferable to settings in other resource-constrained countries. This year, three International Innovation Grants will support innovative projects in India, Mexico, and Tanzania, focusing on broader access to palliative care, adherence to maintenance therapy of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and utilizing technology for early detection of skin cancers. The recipients selected for the 2018 IIG are:
International Development and Education Awards
THE INTERNATIONAL Development and Education Awards were established to connect early-career oncologists in low- and middle-income countries with oncology leaders based in Canada and the United States to establish mentoring relationships. The award includes attendance at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting and a post-meeting visit to the mentor’s institution, with the aim of developing a long-term, knowledge-sharing relationship to improve cancer care in the mentee’s home country. New countries represented for the first time among recipients include Guatemala and Bangladesh. The International Development and Education Award in Palliative Care (IDEA-PC) provides this same opportunity for early-career oncologists with a specific interest in palliative medicine. This year, Conquer Cancer awarded 24 IDEA and IDEA-PC awards, totaling 352 IDEA and IDEA-PC awards to recipients in 62 countries over the past 16 years.
The 2018 IDEA recipients are:
The 2018 IDEA-PC recipients are:
Supporters*
THE 2018 IDEA is supported by Takeda Oncology. The 2018 IDEA-PC is supported by Conquer Cancer’s Mission Endowment. ■
* As of February 22, 2018
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