AACR-Chemistry in Cancer Research Working Group Annual Meeting Travel Award

Award Description

AACR conferences provide early-career investigators with unparalleled opportunities for professional growth, from networking and informal exchanges to engaging sessions led by the world’s foremost cancer researchers. To expand access to these opportunities, the AACR Chemistry in Cancer Research (CICR) Working Group is introducing its inaugural travel awards for the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting—helping the next generation of scientists connect, share, and shape the future of cancer research. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025.

The CICR Working Group is one of 10 Scientific Working Groups at the AACR. The Steering Committee is composed of world leaders from the chemistry in cancer research field. CICR leads the hallmark AACR Annual Meeting New Drugs on the Horizon sessions which consist of first disclosures of the chemistry and biology of small and large molecule agents that are actively being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. CICR also leads the Chemistry to the Clinic educational series at the Annual Meeting and two Town Halls throughout the year, one at the AACR Annual Meeting and one at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.

These awards are made possible through the AACR-CICR Chemistry Impact Fund—a dedicated effort led by the CICR Working Group Steering Committee to establish a sustainable fund for chemists, by chemists. This initiative empowers our community to invest in its future by recognizing excellence and fostering innovation in cancer research.

Donate to the AACR-CICR Chemistry Impact Fund

Eligibility Criteria

• Research Fields (must be cancer research-related): Chemistry, chemical biology, structural biology, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, computational chemistry, drug development and delivery
• Institutional Affiliation: Academia, industry, non-profit
• Career Level: Graduate students (MS or PhD) transitioning to post-graduate role, postdoctoral research fellows, research associates, industry scientist/senior scientist/principal scientist levels up to five (5) years post-training

Applicants may apply for as many other AACR awards for which they are eligible but may only receive one award from the AACR to attend the Annual Meeting. Other award types include NextGen Stars, Global Scholar-in-Training Awards, Women in Cancer Research Scholars, and Early-Career Scholars in the Field of Cancer Research. Selected recipients must attend the AACR Annual Meeting in person.

Terms and Conditions

AACR Annual Meeting registration will be processed internally. Economy round-trip coach fare between home city and San Diego, California (Max: $850 for domestic travel; Max: $1,700 for international travel) excluding first-class and/or business class tickets. Travel arrangements must be handled by the awardee.

All award recipients will be required to pay in advance for all hotel charges up to a maximum of five nights (room and tax only). Hotel arrangements must also be handled by the awardee.

Maximum fellowship award including registration, housing, and travel: US $4,000. Awardees will be reimbursed upon submission of the reimbursement form and scanned copies of receipts as outlined in the AACR reimbursement policy.

Questions

For questions regarding the application, please contact Raquel Castellanos, PhD, Deputy Director of Scientific Programs and Initiatives, at [email protected].

For questions regarding the Chemistry Impact Fund, please contact Heather Franz, Associate Director, Leadership Philanthropy-AACR Foundation, at [email protected].