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AACR ON CAMPUS (AACRoC) APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Defeating Cancer through Global Education and Training

1. Program Overview

The AACR on Campus (AACRoC) program is a cooperative global outreach initiative developed by the American Association for Cancer Research to deliver high-impact scientific education and professional development training to early-career cancer researchers and clinicians worldwide.

AACRoC is designed to:

  • Advance international collaboration by integrating global and local perspectives
  • Deliver customized scientific programming tailored to host institution needs
  • Strengthen research capacity, particularly in emerging economies and low-resource settings
  • Foster connectivity across basic, translational, and clinical oncology communities

The program is typically delivered:

  • Across two host institutions (e.g., universities, colleges, teaching hospitals or cancer centers), either within the same country or in two different countries
  • As two 1.5-day programs within a one-week period
  • With a combination of scientific sessions on day 1 and professional development training on day 2

Participants include:

  • Graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents and junior faculty
  • Clinicians (physicians, nurses, allied health professionals)
  • Early-career investigators seeking to integrate basic and translational research into clinical practice

2. Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include institutional representatives from:

  • Universities and colleges
  • Teaching hospitals
  • Cancer centers with an academic or research component

Applications are particularly encouraged from:

  • Institutions in emerging economies
  • Regions building cancer research capacity and global collaboration

Applicants must demonstrate:

  • Readiness and institutional commitment to hosting a multi-site program
  • Ability to coordinate local and international logistics and partnerships
  • Capacity to engage local scientific and clinical communities

3. Program Components

3.1 Scientific Program

Scientific sessions are tailored to local needs and may include up to four (4) topics. See examples below:

  • Cancer biology and mechanisms of disease
  • Translational and clinical research
  • Cancer prevention, epidemiology, and survivorship
  • Clinical trials and therapeutic development
  • Cancer immunology and precision medicine
  • Cancer disparities and underserved populations
  • Digital pathology and implementation science

3.2 Professional Development (Soft Skills)

Core training areas may include up to two (2) topics:

  • Manuscript development and scholarly publishing
  • Grant writing and funding strategies
  • Research integrity and responsible conduct of research
  • Scientific communication to diverse audiences
  • Career pathways in academia, clinical practice, and industry

3.3 Program Format

AACRoC programming includes:

  • Lectures and keynote presentations
  • Panel discussions
  • Interactive “Meet-the-Expert” sessions
  • Poster sessions and networking opportunities

3.4 Poster Competition

  • Early-career researchers present their work
  • Posters span basic, translational, and clinical oncology
  • Two poster prize winners (one per site) receive:
    • $2,500 USD travel award
    • Complimentary registration to attend an AACR Annual Meeting the following year

3.5 Post-Event Engagement

Participants benefit from:

  • Certificate of completion (upon fulfilling program requirements)
  • Eligibility for AACR Associate Membership
  • Access to AACRoC Global Alumni Network
  • Continued engagement through AACR programs, grants, and meetings

4 Application Instructions

Two application pathways exist:

4.1 Competitive Application (AACR Funding Requested)

  • Deadline: May 15
  • Events typically occur the following year (within 12-20 months from the application deadline)
  • Contact [email protected] to request a program overview via Zoom

4.2 Fully Funded by Host

  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Timeline flexibility, subject to AACR coordination
  • Contact [email protected] to request a program overview via Zoom

5. Application Process (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Institutional Preparation

Applicants must describe:

  • Lead institution and partner site(s)
    • Define roles and responsibilities of the partners
  • Appoint organizing committee (provide a summary of responsibilities)
    • Administrative leads
    • Scientific program coordinators
    • Marketing/outreach leads
  • Identify local chairs
  • Assess local cancer research priorities and needs
  • Obtain Institutional support letters/endorsement for each site

Step 2: Define Program Concept

Applicants must provide a brief narrative explaining:

  • The rationale for the selected overarching theme
    • Describe goals / objectives, and intended outcomes of the AACRoC event
  • How the scientific sessions build upon one another
    • Propose four (4) scientific topics and an overarching theme, presented in a logical order
  • How the scientific and professional development components complement each other
    • Proposed two (2) professional development topics, to be delivered by AACR Staff
  • Propose four (4) local speakers at each site, one for each topic
    • Describe how the specific expertise of each proposed speaker would help address the needs of local researchers and clinicians.
  • Identify panel discussion themes
  • How the program design supports participant learning and engagement

Step 3: Develop Letter of Intent (LOI)

Prepare a formal LOI addressed to the Chair of the AACR Global Affairs Committee (Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee) including:

  • Institutional overview, commitment, and motivation
  • Description of local cancer burden and research capacity
  • Proposed program structure, overarching theme, four (4) scientific topics, and two (2) professional development topics
  • Identification of local partner (second site)
  • Proposed two (2) event dates (primary + alternate) within 12-20 months from the application deadline (e.g., May and October)
  • Provide names and biosketches of local chairs, speakers and/or committee members

Step 4: Prepare Prospectus (Program & Logistics Plan)

The prospectus must include:

Full Program Design

  • Applicants must define 3–5 objectives and measurable outcomes (e.g., participant reach, skills gained, collaborations formed).
  • Proposed two (2) event dates (primary + alternate) within 12-20 months from the application deadline (e.g., May and October)
  • Detailed agenda for Day 1 (Full-day) and Day 2 (Half-day)
  • For each scientific and professional development session, applicants should provide:
    • Session title
    • Brief description
    • Scientific or educational rationale
    • Target audience (include expected number of participants at each site, expected career levels)
    • 2–4 participant learning outcomes
    • Anticipated competencies or skills participants will acquire
  • Local speaker recommendations for both institutions (how the specific expertise of each proposed speaker would help address the needs of local researchers and clinicians.)

Site Information (for both locations)

Applicants should explain how proposed facilities support:

  • Institutional descriptions
    • Include room capacities and relevant facility specifications
    • Include photos of the meeting space (highly recommended)
  • Expected attendance
  • Poster presentations
  • Networking activities
  • Interactive sessions
  • Audiovisual requirements

Logistics Planning

Applicants should describe:

  • Registration process
  • Participant communications strategy
  • Accessibility accommodations
  • Wi-Fi and technology availability
  • Transportation arrangements
  • On-site attendee support
  • Safety and emergency procedures
  • Language support or translation services, if applicableAccommodation plans for AACR speakers (hotel recommendations)
  • Transportation (airport transfers, inter-site travel)
  • Poster session setup (judging criteria, winner selection)
  • Networking, faculty dinners, and optional cultural activities

Operational Planning

  • Local marketing and outreach strategy
  • Media engagement plans
  • Follow-up plans to gather feedback on overall participant satisfaction, including whether the AACRoC offerings met their expectations, or were relevant to their needs
  • Plans to amplify and ‘pay forward’ AACRoC content
  • Draft a timeline and milestones for progress calls via Zoom (typically 1-year planning horizon)

Step 5: Budget Development

Provide a detailed budget pro forma, including:

AACR-Supported Costs

  • International travel for up to four (4) AACR speakers and four (4) AACR staff, inclusive of accommodations.
  • Two travel awards (USD $2,500 each)
  • In-kind program development, IT, and marketing support

Host Institution Responsibilities

  • Meeting space and AV/IT, and/or simultaneous translations if needed
  • Secured local transportation and transfers
  • Accommodation (if applicable)
  • Meals for AACR Speakers and Staff
  • Meals and coffee breaks for attendees
  • Printing and materials

Step 6: Compile Supporting Documents

Include:

  • Signed institutional letter of support / endorsement for each site / partner institution
    • Financial contributions committed to the AACRoC event
    • In-kind support (meeting space, audiovisual support, staff time, transportation, catering, translation services, marketing support, etc.)
    • Roles and responsibilities of contributing organizations
    • Confirmation that institutional leadership approves and supports the proposed AACRoC program
    • Commitment to participate in planning and implementation activities
  • Additional Letters of support from Local funders/sponsors (if applicable)
    • Indicate budget and explicit commitment of financial and/or in-kind contributions
  • CVs or biosketches of:
    • Local chairs, speakers, and/or scientific committees
    • Planning committee members
    • Include in your proposal a brief explanation of how the individual’s expertise aligns with the proposed topic

Step 7: Submit Application

Submit all required materials via the portal:

[Submit Application HERE]

After submission:

  • Applications are scored by the AACRoC Reviewers
  • Applicants may be contacted for clarification or additional information

5. Review and Selection Process

Applications are evaluated based on:

  • Clarity of AACRoC goals, objectives, and intended outcomes
  • Scientific quality and educational merit
  • Logical organization and sequencing of program content
  • Quality and appropriateness of proposed speakers and chairs
  • Strength of audience engagement strategies
  • Participant learning outcomes
  • Marketing and outreach effectiveness
  • Institutional commitment and resource contributions
  • Quality and suitability of facilities
  • Feasibility of logistics and operational planning
  • Evaluation and assessment plans
  • Sustainability and “Pay Forward” impact strategy
  • Potential for long-term partnerships and capacity building

6. Post-Selection Expectations

Selected institutions are expected to:

6.1 Coordination with AACR

  • Participate in regular planning meetings
  • Collaborate on event planning and implementation

6.2 Program Implementation

  • Execute all local logistics
  • Ensure participation of target audiences
  • Deliver high-quality event experience

6.3 Reporting and Evaluation

  • Support AACR evaluation processes
  • Facilitate participant surveys
  • Contribute to impact tracking and follow-up

7. Contact Information

For questions regarding the AACR On Campus program and application process:

[email protected]

8. Key Considerations

  • AACRoC is a competitive and collaborative program
  • A 1-year planning timeline is strongly recommended
  • Strong local coordination and funding are critical to success
  • The program is intended as a catalyst for sustained collaboration