ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Conquer Cancer^®, the ASCO Foundation, will present more than $11.7 million in funding through more than 480 grants and awards spanning multiple areas of cancer care. These awards will be given in conjunction with the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois, May 29–June 2.

“We are so very proud of this year’s class of recipients and of the global impact we know they will make through their work,” said Howard A. Burris III, MD, FACP, FASCO, who serves as Chair of the Conquer Cancer Board of Directors. “The expertise and innovation demonstrated in their work reflects Conquer Cancer’s deep-seated commitment to making an impact on every cancer, for every patient, everywhere.”

Conquer Cancer’s grants and awards support oncology professionals at every career stage, to help accelerate breakthroughs in research. This year’s recipients represent 45 countries around the world.

“By funding such a broad range of projects and professionals, we're committed to supporting work that benefits patients around the world,” Dr. Burris said. “Conquer Cancer cannot wait to see what each of these amazing individuals accomplishes, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the donors who make these grants and awards possible.”  

Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Awards

Launched in 2016, this award program honors extraordinary women leaders in oncology and role models who have excelled as mentors and have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the development of the next generation of cancer researchers and leaders.

Hologic, Inc Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award 

Katherine Van Loon, MD, MPH, FASCO, is a gastrointestinal oncologist and a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her research is focused on the global burden of gastrointestinal malignancies and on building capacity for cancer care delivery in resource-constrained settings. She is Co-Director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Program at UCSF which aims to advance equitable, outstanding care for patients with young-onset gastrointestinal cancers through clinical excellence, innovation, and advocacy. She is also the Director of the Global Cancer Program at UCSF’s Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center where she aims to lead innovative research that addresses the global disparities in cancer burden and to empower future leaders in global cancer care and research. In collaboration with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dr. Van Loon is the Co-Principal Investigator of a D43 award that has established a cancer research training program in Tanzania. In 2025, she became the Editor-in-Chief of JCO Global Oncology. Her self-defined higher purpose in academic medicine is “To enable others to make extraordinary impact through training, mentorship, sponsorship, and an environment conducive to success.” Dr. Van Loon has been the recipient of numerous mentoring awards for her efforts to build capacity for research training and mentorship for early career investigators with interests in global cancer control. 

Supported by: Hologic, Inc

International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award 

Manju Sengar, MD, is professor and head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, specializing in hematological cancers. She has played a pivotal role in advancing cost-effective cancer care in India and other low- and middle-income countries. She co-established the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation - Tata Memorial Hospital - Mumbai to support patients through reliable education, financial assistance, and accommodation—improving treatment access and completion for underserved populations. She also co-founded the Hematology Cancer Consortium, a multi-center academic initiative focused on collaborative research, standardizing affordable treatment protocols, and addressing region-specific challenges in blood cancers. As a core member of the National Cancer Grid (NCG) in India, one of the world’s largest cancer networks, Dr. Sengar has contributed significantly to improving quality and uniformity of cancer care across India. Her work has directly influenced national policy, enabling broader access to standardized oncology care. A strong advocate for value-based care, Dr. Sengar is actively involved in health technology assessment and NCG-led group negotiations to improve drug affordability. She has also contributed to digital oncology initiatives, including interoperable electronic medical records, tele-oncology platforms, and clinical decision support systems, helping decentralize cancer care delivery. Dr. Sengar has mentored several trainees in hematological cancer care who have gone on to establish high-quality hematological cancer units in various regions of India. 

Supported by: Generous supporters of Conquer Cancer^®, the ASCO Foundation.

Advanced Clinical Research Awards

Started in 2004, the Advanced Clinical Research Award (ACRA) supports mid-career physician-scientists to perform original research in an area not currently funded. At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, two researchers will be presented with the ACRA. 

Career Development Awards 

The Career Development Award (CDA) is a three-year grant that funds clinical investigators in the first to fourth year of faculty appointment to establish an independent clinical cancer research program. At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, 19 promising clinicians will be presented with CDAs.

Young Investigator Awards 

The Young Investigator Award (YIA) provides research funding to promising young physicians during the final years of training to support their transition to faculty appointments and to encourage quality research in clinical oncology. At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, 107 investigators will be presented with YIAs.

Global Oncology Young Investigator Awards 

The Global Oncology Young Investigator Award (GO YIA) provides research funding to early career investigators to encourage and promote quality research in global oncology and to develop the next generation of researchers to address global health needs. At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, five investigators will be presented with GO YIAs.

Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Research Fellowship

The Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Research Fellowship provides funding to a physician investigator, who is committed to conducting breast cancer research, as selected by the recipient of the 2026 Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Award. The 2026 Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Research Fellowship Award recipient is Inimfon Jackson, MD, MPH, PhD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Long-term International Fellowship

The Long-term International Fellowship (LIFe) provides early career oncologists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the support and resources needed to advance their training by deepening their relationship with a mentor at a host institution in the United States, Canada, or Europe. At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, two recipients will be presented with the LIFe. 

International Innovation Grants

The International Innovation Grant (IIG) provides research funding to support novel and innovative projects that can have a significant impact on cancer control in low- and middle-income countries. It supports promising research projects with the potential to reduce the cancer burden in local communities, while also being potentially transferable to other low- or middle-income settings. This year, five researchers will be presented with IIGs.

Annual Meeting Research Awards 

The Annual Meeting Research Award (AMRA) is a supplemental merit award for ASCO’s Medical Student & Resident Research Forum (Research Forum) presenters with high-ranking research. AMRA offers an opportunity for medical students and residents to meet oncologists and learn more about career options in the field of oncology by attending the ASCO Annual Meeting and participating in the Research Forum. This year, 13 medical students and residents will be awarded the AMRA. 

ASCO CORE

The ASCO Clinical Oncology & Research Experience (ASCO CORE) aims to introduce medical students to the field of oncology and provide them with critical exposure to cancer topics, research, and patient care through an immersive shadowing experience. This year, 83 medical students were selected to participate in the ASCO CORE. 

CLICK HERE for the full list of recipients. 

Supporters: 

ACRA: Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®.

CDA: These awards are generously supported by AstraZeneca; Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network; Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®; The Cinelli Family Foundation; Father William O. Seery Foundation; Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; Genentech, a member of the Roche Group; Hearst Foundations; Johnson & Johnson; Lilly; Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation; Walther Cancer Foundation.

LIFe: Generous supporters of Conquer Cancer^®, the ASCO Foundation.

YIA: These awards are generously provided by Anonymous; AbbVie, Inc.; AbbVie Oncology; AccessHope; American Society of Clinical Oncology; Amgen; Association for Value-Based Cancer Care; Association of Northern California Oncologists; AstraZeneca; Drs. Basch, Chino, Hershman, Jagsi, Patt, Polite, Reeder-Hayes, Rocque, Rosenberg, and Schrag; Dr. Kathryn and Mr. Bruce Beal; Behnke Family; Dr. Sumeet and Sumeeta Bhatia; Franci Blassberg and Joe Rice; Dr. and Mrs. Douglas W. Blayney; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Brave Like Gabe Foundation; Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®; Bristol Myers Squibb; Howard A. Burris III, MD and Karen Y. Burris; Carson Leslie Foundation; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.; The Dynami Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Trisha Elcan; Exelixis, Inc.; Friends and Colleagues of Dr. Feng; Florida Society of Clinical Oncology; Dr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Frist, Jr.; Gilead and Kite Oncology; GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer; Denis Goldenberg; GSK; HELSINN; Hudis Family; Friends and Family of Dr. Arti Hurria; Illumina; Johnson & Johnson; Dr. Judith and Alan Kaur; The John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation; Lilly; Friends and Colleagues of Dr. Lin, Dr. Small, and Robert Piety; Mantena Family; Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists; Merck & Co., Inc.; Georgia and Michael Michelson; Estate of Mike Miller; Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology; Victoria H. Montgomery; Dr. Anne Moore and Dr. Arnold Lisio; Nebraska Oncology Society; New Rhein Foundation; Novartis; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy; Pfizer Oncology; QuadW Foundation; The Norman & Ruth Rales Foundation; Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., MD, FASCO, and Susan M. DaSilva, DNP; Colleagues, Friends, and Family of Dr. Gladys Rodriguez and Dr. Narjust Florez; Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Aaron and Barbro Sasson; Anne Blaes, MD; Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH; Tara Sanft, MD; Lidia Schapira, MD, FASCO, and Color Health Inc.; Alexandra Shapiro and Adam Aron; Stephen A. Sherwin, MD; The Sontag Foundation; Stand Up To Cancer; Strike 3 Foundation; Swim Across America; Texas Society of Clinical Oncology; Peter and Teresa Alonso Thompson; Tomasello Family Foundation; Vaniam Group LLC; Veracyte; Jamie H. Von Roenn, MD, FASCO; The Wilky Family; Generous Supporters of the Women Who Conquer Cancer; Women Leaders in Oncology LLC and Deanna van Gestel; Dr. Robin Zon and Dr. Sumeet Bhatia.

GO YIA: Amy Peterson and Friends; Susan G. Komen^®

Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Research Fellowship: GSK

IDEA: Anonymous; Dr. Jeannie W. Hou, MD

IIG: ASCO Employees; Prevent Cancer Foundation

Annual Meeting Research Awards: AbbVie, Inc.; Stemline, Inc, a Menarini Group Company

ASCO Clinical Oncology & Research Experience: AstraZeneca; Bristol Myers Squibb; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.; Eisai Inc.; Elder Granger, MD, Major General US Army Retired; McKesson Foundation; Nebraska Oncology Society; R & D Impact Foundation

All listings are as of May 22, 2026, and reflect institutions at the time of award.