In This Section

AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships

Grant Amount $100,000 USD
Grant Term1 Year
Application DeadlineMay 31, 2024 5:00 PM
Additional InformationThis grant program pertains to the following fellowships:
  • AACR-AstraZeneca Clinical Oncology Research Training Fellowships
Description

The AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships Program is designed to provide an industry-academic clinical practicum with a unique opportunity for academic clinicians to train in drug development. Each fellowship provides $100,000 over one year for the fellow to work on site at the facility of one of the AACR’s pharmaceutical industry partners.

Please see the following for an account of past grantees’ rewarding experiences with the AACR CORE Training Fellowship program:

  • Testimonials from the 2020 (Nicholas Tschernia, Justin Chen) and 2021 (Praful Ravi) grantees
  • Inaugural grantee Siddharth (Sid) Sheth’s interview at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019, and first-person testimonial published in Leading Discoveries

Program Overview

Purpose: This fellowship is designed for early-career clinical scientists who hold a medical degree (MD, DO, or MD/PhD) and are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills related to drug development from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry. The fellow will gain real-world experience in drug development, including clinical research, clinical trial design, and data analysis.

Activities: It is expected that the fellow will be accountable for executing clinical activities and research projects to be completed during the one-year program. Depending on the background of the fellow, additional focus areas may also be provided (e.g., preclinical research, biomarker discovery). Opportunities for publication and presentation of completed work will be provided. The industry partners for this program and their areas of interest include the following:

  • AstraZeneca (facility located in Gaithersburg, MD or Waltham, MA)
    • Early- and late-stage clinical development including, but not limited to, antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy, and cell therapy

Duration: 12 months. Note that the continuous duration of time spent on site at the industry site may be flexible and will be determined on a case-by-case basis between the fellow, the fellow’s academic institution, and the industry partner (e.g., if a fellow must return to their academic institution during parts of the 12-month term to complete clinic duties).

Application Process Overview

1. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis via submission to [email protected].

2. Submitted applications will be reviewed quarterly by an AACR Scientific Review Committee.

3. Selected fellows will be notified following this review.

4. The start of the grant term is flexible and will be determined upon mutual agreement between the selected fellow, the fellow’s institution, and the industry partner.

Please note that applications will be accepted after the above application deadline but may be reviewed during a later quarterly review period.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available for download. For frequently asked questions and additional information, please review frequently asked questions (FAQ) here.

 

Eligibility Criteria

At the start of the grant term, applicants must:

  • Have a medical degree (including MD, DO, or MD/PhD) in a related field, and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral degree.
  • Have enrolled in an accredited hematology/oncology fellowship program at an academic, medical, or research institution within the United States
    • Applicant’s enrollment in an accredited hematology/oncology fellowship program cannot be contingent upon receiving this grant.
  • Not be employees or subcontractors of a U.S. government entity or for-profit private industry or be clinical fellows applying from a U.S. government laboratory (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA, etc.).

 

Citizenship Requirements

There are no citizenship requirements. However, by submitting an application for this grant, the applicant who is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident assures that their visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term.

The applicant should ensure that their visa status will allow them to complete the fellowship onsite with the industry partner while maintaining their employment with the host institution.

AACR Membership Requirements

Applicants must be AACR members in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Annual dues are not required for early-career researchers interested in Associate membership. Please be informed that AACR offers reduced rates for membership dues for applicants from countries with emerging economies based on the World Bank listing. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR membership by the application deadline. Nonmembers can apply for membership online. Please review the Membership Categories for the category that best fits your qualifications. Nonmembers must obtain a statement of support from a nominator who is an Active AACR member in good standing (dues paid for the current year). Nonmembers requiring assistance with finding a nominator may email [email protected] and include your geographical location to receive a list of members in your area to contact for nominations. For more information check the membership FAQ. Members can renew their membership through myAACR. You will need your logon (email address) and password to access the member portal. If you require assistance logging in, please submit a help form. Lapsed members must be members in good standing by the application deadline and should contact the Membership Department at [email protected] for assistance.

Application Instructions

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions are available here.

Applicants should send all application materials as email attachments to [email protected] under the subject line “Applicant name - AACR CORE Training Fellowship Application Submission”, including:

A. Completed Application Form with all necessary signatures obtained

B. Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae

C. Academic Mentor's Biographical Sketch

Applicant's should contact AACR’s RGA to provide the e-mail address of the current institutional mentor submitting a letter of reference and the e-mail address of the endorser (if applicable) at least two weeks before the application deadline. AACR’s RGA will reach out to the mentor for a letter of reference and the endorser for a statement of support with instructions. These documents should be sent directly from the current institutional mentor and the endorser (if applicable) to [email protected]

D. Letter of Reference

a. Academic Mentor's Letter of Reference

b. Endorser's Statement of Support (if applicable)

E.  Applicant Checklist with all necessary signatures obtained

Please review section 3.3. of the Program Guidelines and Application Instructions for detailed instructions. An application is only considered complete when all required documents are received and are in compliance with the Program Guidelines.

For frequently asked questions and additional information, please review frequently asked questions (FAQ) here.

Applicants with questions about this grant may contact AACR's Research and Grants Administration (AACR’s RGA) at [email protected] before submitting an application.