Through the generosity of its loyal supporters, the AACR is pleased to provide financial support to meritorious undergraduate students and early-career scientists residing anywhere in the world, and also to members of minority groups residing in the United States and Canada that have been traditionally underrepresented in cancer research and biomedical science, to assist them in attending the AACR Annual Meeting. Detailed information about these award programs, including eligibility and selection criteria, is available below.

AACR Scholar-in-Training Awards

Exclusive Member Benefit
Scholar-in-Training Awards are available for Associate Members in good standing (membership current through 2025) who are the presenters of meritorious proffered papers at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025. These awards are made possible by the generosity of supporting foundations and corporations. Nonmember graduate students, medical students and residents, clinical fellows or equivalent, and postdoctoral fellows who wish to apply for a Scholar-in-Training Award should submit their AACR membership applications by October 21, 2025. To apply for a Scholar-in-Training Award, an applicant must first submit an abstract and then complete a separate award application. While awards will be based on meritorious applications across scientific disciplines, some funding for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 has been designated to support awards for applicants meeting specific scientific or geographic criteria. For details of the application process and the selection criteria, please visit the Scholar-in-Training Award page. Application deadline: November 18, 2025.

AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award

Global Scholar-in-Training Awards (GSITA) are available for eligible early-career investigators in countries building cancer research capacities. Applicants must submit an abstract to the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 and then complete a separate GSITA application. Applicants must be Associate Members of the AACR in good standing (membership current through 2025). Student Members completing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or other international undergraduate/first degree medical degree equivalent to an advanced medical degree in the United States, are also welcome to apply. Nonmember undergraduate /first degree students pursuing an international medical degree, graduate students, medical students and residents, clinical fellows or equivalent, and postdoctoral fellows who wish to apply for a GSITA should submit a Membership Application Form by October 21, 2025, before submitting their GSITA application. For additional details and a list of eligible countries, visit the GSITA page. Application deadline: November 18, 2025.

AACR Patient Advocates in Cancer Research Awards

AACR Patient Advocates in Cancer Research Awards are available to patient advocates presenting meritorious abstracts at the AACR Annual Meeting. To apply for this award, an applicant must first submit an abstract and then complete a separate award application and patient advocate verification form. For more information, please visit the Patient Advocacy page. Application deadline: January 16, 2026.

AACR Faculty Scholar in the Field of Cancer Research Awards

This program will provide funds to support the participation of full-time highly meritorious faculty (primarily junior faculty at the level of assistant professor) in high-caliber national scientific conferences organized by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Full-time faculty members who present a proffered paper at the AACR Annual Meeting are encouraged to apply for this competitive scholar award. These awards are intended to increase the scientific knowledge base of faculty to encourage them in their research, and to assist them in inspiring their students to pursue careers in cancer research. Only citizens of the United States or Canada, or scientists who are permanent residents of these countries, may receive one of these awards. For details or to submit an application, visit the award page. Application deadline: December 12, 2025.

AACR Early-Career Scholar in the Field of Cancer Research Awards

Presenters of proffered papers who are full-time predoctoral (graduate or medical) students, residents, and clinical or postdoctoral fellows who are engaged in cancer research or have the training and potential to make contributions to this field are encouraged to apply for this scholar award. This competitive award program will provide funds to talented and highly meritorious early-career trainees in the field of cancer research to support presentation of their research at high-caliber national scientific conferences organized by the AACR. Only citizens of the United States or Canada, or scientists who are permanent residents of these countries, may receive one of these awards. For details or to apply, visit the award page. Application deadline: December 12, 2025.

AACR-Women in Cancer Research (WICR) Scholar Awards

The WICR scholar awards support the participation of investigators to attend the AACR Annual Meeting. These awards are given annually to any member of Women in Cancer Research who are scientists-in-training and presenters of meritorious scientific papers at this AACR Annual Meeting. The purposes of this award program are to increase the scientific knowledge base of Women in Cancer Research members and to encourage them to pursue careers in cancer research. For details or to apply, visit the award page. Application deadline: December 5, 2025

AACR Undergraduate Scholar Awards

The AACR is pleased to offer this highly competitive award program which is intended to inspire promising third-year science students to enter the field of cancer research and provides students with the unique opportunity to network with peers and senior investigators around the world. A separate application form is required. For details or to submit an application, visit To learn more about this award program, visit the award page. Application deadline: December 5, 2025.