Fulfilling the promise of today's remarkable advances relies on funding for research projects and support for investigators. As a charitable organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology supports progress by funding cancer researchers at all stages of their careers—enabling oncology's best and brightest to pursue promising research.

The Conquer Cancer Foundation Grants and Awards Program is one of the largest grants programs among professional societies, with more than $78 million in funding awarded since its inception. The first Young Investigator Award (YIA) was awarded in 1984, and in the 30 years since, nearly $29 million in YIAs has been awarded. As the Grants and Awards Program has expanded, it has increasingly reflected the commitment of both the Foundation and ASCO to support research in all oncology subspecialties and emerging disciplines, such as cancer prevention, survivorship and quality of life, geriatric oncology, and fertility preservation.

The YIA is a one-year, $50,000 research grant designed to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. The YIA provides funding to promising physician investigators during the transition from fellowship programs to faculty appointments. Applicants must be physicians (MD, DO, or international equivalent) currently within the last two years of their final subspecialty training at an academic medical institution at the time of grant submission, and should be planning an investigative career in clinical oncology.

Permanent revenue streams

In an effort to ensure long-term support of cancer research, the endowment of research grants such as the YIA is imperative. An endowment fund, once fully funded, will provide a permanent revenue stream for its intended designation. In the case of an endowed YIA, the endowment will provide enough funding to award one YIA each and every year in perpetuity.

The Foundation's first endowed YIA honors the personal passion of its namesake. In 2012, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation established the Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award in memory of Evelyn H. Lauder. Ms. Lauder spent her life dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure. Beginning with the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, this YIA will be awarded annually to a promising young physician-scientist who is performing clinical or translational breast cancer research.

Support of an endowed YIA can be established in many ways and can be payable over a period of time, as necessary. This support creates a permanently named award. In 2013, support of a single YIA is $60,000. For more information about making a charitable gift to establish a Young Investigator Award, contact Sarah Sasman Jacoby, Major Gift Officer at the Conquer Cancer Foundation, at sarah.jacoby@conquercancerfoundation.org. For more information about applying for a YIA, please visit the Conquer
Cancer Foundation's website at conquercancerfoundation.org/yia.