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AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition

The AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition (USCPC) takes place during the AACR Annual Meetings. This exciting informative, and engaging session is bringing together undergraduate students at all levels to address educational pathways, explore career options in the cancer field while presenting their own research and competing for prizes. All prizes are funded by the Margaret Foti Foundation which rewards excellence in research conducted and presented by undergraduate students. Learn more about Dr. Margaret Foti.

About Science Education View the 2024 winners

Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate students and post baccalaureate students who are interested in cancer and related biomedical science are invited to attend. Undergraduate students may submit a poster for presentation during this special program, a poster presentation is not required to attend this program. 

JUDGING

Student presentations will be judged by AACR members who are established investigators in the field.  Judging is based on the student abstract, research content of the poster, and on the ability of the student to effectively present their research during the competition.  Winners will be awarded Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research. 

Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research

The Margaret Foti Foundation is founded by the American Association for Cancer Research CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Margaret Foti. The Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research was established in 2018 and are given at the AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition during the AACR Annual Meetings. These award prizes rewards excellence in research conducted and presented by undergraduate students.

(All prizes consist of monetary awards.)

  • 1st Place Prize — $1,500 awarded to one student
  • 2nd Place Prize — $1,000 to be awarded to two students
  • 3rd Place Prize — $750 to be awarded to two students
  • Meritorious Honors for the top posters

AACR ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION

All eligible registrants for the AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition will also receive complimentary registration to the AACR Annual Meeting.

How to Register

Registration must be completed through myAACR.

  • Log in to the myAACR portal. If you do not have a myAACR account, select, “Create New Account.”
  • Once you are logged in, click on, “Applications/Awards.” After you’ve been transferred to the awards portal, click on, “View All Activities,” and choose “18th Annual AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition.”

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research

First Place Prize Winner

Abhay R. Sheeri, Junior

University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstract: Novel anti-PD-L1-IL-15 diabody immunocytokine in combination with radiation therapy improves response rates in immune-resistant murine head and neck cancer

Second Place Prize Winners

Sejal S. Chikhale, Junior

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Abstract: Investigating the role of NF-κB pathway mutations in resistance of myeloma cells to BCMA-targeted therapies

George Morcos, Senior

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Abstract: Investigating Mechanisms of Salivary Gland Tissue Sparing in Response to Ultra-High Dose-Rate “FLASH” Proton Radiotherapy

Third Place Prize Winners

Nishah Jaferi, Junior

Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Abstract: Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF)-Factor XIIIA mediated Macrophage-Stromal crosstalk in Pancreatic Cancer

Kylie Emma Chan, Sophomore

University of California
San Diego, California
Abstract: Comparative Analysis of Microbial Composition in Healthy and Tumor Tissue of Cancer Patients