The oncology workforce struggles with adequate representation of racial and ethnic minorities, with only 2.3% of practicing oncologists self-identifying as Black or African American and 5.8% of practicing oncologists self-identifying as Hispanic.1
Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation® is offering a growing list of awards to be given in 2021, designed to provide support and funding to populations underrepresented in medicine at various stages of their careers, as well as address issues of health equity and disparate outcomes in cancer care. These new awards reflect the “Equity: Every Patient. Every Day. Everywhere.” presidential theme selected by ASCO President Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO.
Awards for Trainees and Students
Young Investigator Award for Diversity, Inclusion and Breast Cancer Disparities
Provides funding to either promising investigators who are members of racial and/or ethnic groups historically underrepresented in academic medicine, with a research focus on breast cancer, or promising investigators of any race and/or ethnic background with a research focus on breast cancer disparities. The purpose of this award is to fund physicians during the transition from a fellowship program to a faculty appointment as they seek to build a career in clinical cancer research.
Application Deadline: October 29, 2020
Medical Student Rotation (MSR) for Underrepresented Populations
Provides financial support for U.S. medical students from underrepresented populations in medicine to complete a clinical or clinical research oncology rotation.
Application Deadline: November 12, 2020
Resident Travel Award (RTA) for Underrepresented Populations
Provides financial support for residents from underrepresented populations in medicine to attend the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, where they will have the opportunity to meet oncologists and learn more about career possibilities in oncology.
Application Deadline: November 12, 2020
Awards for Early-Career Investigators
Career Development Award (CDA) for Diversity, Inclusion, and Breast Cancer Disparities
Provides funding to clinical investigators who have received their initial faculty appointment as they work to establish an independent clinical cancer research program. The CDA for Diversity, Inclusion, and Breast Cancer Disparities is open to applicants who either identify as members of racial and/or ethnic groups historically underrepresented in academic medicine who also have a research focus on breast cancer or promising investigators of any racial and/or ethnic background with a research focus on breast cancer disparities.
Application Deadline: October 29, 2020
Conquer Cancer encourages those who identify as members of racial and/or ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine to apply for any of our various grants and awards and to share these opportunities with colleagues, trainees, and students.
Applicants must be a member or submit a membership application with the grant application. Visit asco.org/grants-awards for the latest information on the Grants & Awards Program, eligibility criteria, and application requirements. Prospective applicants may submit questions to grants@conquer.org.
© 2020. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
REFERENCE
1. ASCO: Facts & figures: Diversity in oncology. Available at https://www.asco.org/practice-policy/cancer-care-initiatives/diversity-oncology-initiative/facts-figures-diversity. Accessed September 23, 2020.
