Made possible by Conquer Cancer Foundation donors
 

As the Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF) plans for the year ahead, it is a good time to take stock of the gains made over the past 12 months and to express appreciation to the donors who made it all happen. The following are the Foundation’s top five achievements from the past year.

1. More than 50 Young Investigator Awards for 50 Years

In 2014, ASCO celebrated its 50th anniversary by awarding more than 50 Young Investigator Awards (YIAs) at the 50th ASCO Annual Meeting. The young scientists who received the awards are now at work at their home institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and Italy, completing promising research in a broad spectrum of cancer types, and, most importantly, laying the critical foundation for decades-long research careers.

2. Support for ASCO’s Obesity and Cancer Initiative

Recognizing that obesity is quickly overtaking tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer, ASCO launched the obesity initiative in 2014. CCF was there to support materials developed for patients and providers on how oncologists can help to spread awareness of the link between obesity, cancer risk, and outcomes, as well as provide strategies to help cancer survivors manage their weight.

3. Featured Participant: 2014 REV Forum

REV is a unique, collaborative forum that provides a platform for stakeholders in the cancer community—including clinicians, patients, patient advocates, business leaders, and policymakers—to discuss issues, build collaborations, and identify actions that are needed to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. As a Featured Participant alongside the event cosponsors—LIVESTRONG Foundation and Genentech—CCF was front and center in conversations held throughout the two-day meeting in Washington, DC, which focused on navigating cancer care in the era of personalized medicine.

4. First International InnovationGrants

In 2014, CCF awarded the first International Innovation Grants, which provide funding to support novel and innovative projects with the potential to advance cancer control in low- and middle-income countries. The first International Innovation Grants are supporting community health educators in Nigeria, tobacco prevention efforts in Tanzania, telehealth education in Colombia, and cervical cancer prevention in Myanmar.

5. Record Number of YIA Applications

CCF received a record number of YIAapplications for the fifth consecutive year from promising young investigators seeking critically important early funding to launch their careers. By the time applications closed for 2015 YIAs in September 2014, 225 early career researchers had submitted proposals, marking a 36% increase in applications over the past five years.This jump is just one reflection of the increasing need to support young researchers at a time when federal sources of research funding are declining. You can help by making a gift today at conquercancerfoundation.org/donate.