Career Development Award (CDA)

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All Conquer Cancer research grant applications are carefully reviewed and evaluated by an independent Grants Selection Committee (Committee) using consistent criteria across all applications for each grant or award type. The Committee scores and ranks the applications, and the highest-scoring applications are funded.

In some circumstances, applications already approved to receive funding based on their high application scores may be matched with Conquer Cancer grants that have additional donor-specified criteria. However, all approved applications will receive Conquer Cancer research grants. In no case will an application not eligible for funding in the initial review process receive a Conquer Cancer research grant.

The Career Development Award (CDA) provides research funding to clinical investigators, who have received their initial faculty appointment, as they work to establish an independent clinical cancer research program. This is a mentored award and the research project is conducted under the guidance of a scientific mentor. The research must have a patient-oriented focus, including a clinical research study and/or translational research involving human subjects. Proposals with a predominant focus on in vitro or animal studies (even if clinically relevant) are not allowed. Applications in all areas of cancer research are accepted from U.S. and international applicants. Funding Available

The CDA is a three-year grant totaling $200,000 that supports personnel and/or research expenses, and travel to attend the Conquer Cancer Grants and Awards Ceremony at the ASCO Annual Meeting. The number of CDA grants in each funding cycle is not predetermined by Conquer Cancer. Conquer Cancer is committed to funding the most meritorious applications in all areas of cancer research.

For 2026, dedicated funding is available in, but not limited to, the areas listed below. This list will be updated as new funding is confirmed. CDA in Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Breast cancers

_List as of August 27, 2025, will be updated as new funding is confirmed._ Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria: Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent with explanation) working in any country. Be in the first to fourth year of a full-time primary faculty appointment in a clinical department at an academic medical institution at the time of grant submission. Faculty appointment may begin with the entry-level faculty position within the applicant’s institution (i.e., Instructor/Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Assistant Member). Have a valid, active medical license in the country where the research will be conducted at the time of application. Have completed productive postdoctoral research and demonstrated the ability to undertake independent investigator-initiated clinical research. Be an ASCO member or have submitted a membership application with the grant application. To apply for new membership, or to renew an existing membership, visit asco.org/membership. Be able to commit at least 50% of their time for research (applies to total effort, not just the proposed CDA project) during the award period. Have a mentor from the sponsoring institution. If the mentor is not an ASCO member, a supporting letter from an ASCO member from the sponsoring institution must be included. Be up-to-date and in compliance with all requirements (e.g., progress reports, final reports, budget summaries, IRB approvals, etc.) of any past grants received from Conquer Cancer. Applicants with concurrent federal career development awards (e.g., K23, K08, or any other type of career…

Topic areas: Life Sciences and Health, Education and Training.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Not specified by the program.

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Career Development Award (CDA) is administered by Conquer Cancer ASCO Foundation (Conquer Cancer), listed via Conquer Cancer ASCO Foundation.