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AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition

View the 2023 winners

The AACR is excited to announce the 18th Annual AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition (USCPC) during the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando, Florida. This exciting informative, and engaging session will take place in person, on April 15, 2023, and will bring 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

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

AACR ANNUAL MEETING 2023 REGISTRATION

All eligible registrants for the 18th Annual AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition will also receive complimentary registration to the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando, Florida from April 14-19, 2023.

How to Register

Registration and abstract submission opens in November.

  • 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 2023 winners of the Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research

First Place Prize Winner

Isaiah K. Boateng, Junior

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio

Abstract: Investigating if genetic features contribute to poor outcomes in Black acute myeloid leukemia patients with inv(16)

Second Place Prize Winners

Saahil N. Javeri, Sophomore

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Abstract: MET inhibition enhances the effect of radiation in MET dysregulated non-small cell lung cancer models.

Ruiqi Yang, Senior

Tsinghua University
Beijing, China
Abstract: Exercise training prevents exosome mediated pre-metastatic niche formation in the live

Third Place Prize Winners

Mathias E. Bigger, Senior

Ellison Institute
Los Angeles, California
Abstract: Rapid Batch Processing of FLIM Images for Dynamic Metabolic Readout of Drug Response in Colorectal Cancer Organoids

Hadil Elldakli, Senior

University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Abstract: Real-Time Monitoring of T-Cell Function to Identify Tumor Evasion Mechanisms