AACR Funds Minority and Underrepresented Scientists

Winners announced for two awards that bring underrepresented scientists to major cancer research meeting

PHILADELPHIA - Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR), a 3,000-member group within the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), has selected the winners of two scholar awards for scientists working in underrepresented areas of the cancer research community. These awards provide financial support for participation in AACR’s Annual Meeting 2008, where more than 17,000 clinical oncologists, basic scientists, epidemiologists, and translational researchers from around the world will discuss the latest findings and most significant advances in laboratory, translational and clinical cancer research.

“The AACR is strongly committed to education and the exchange of ideas. Our mission is to continue to drive and expand the field of cancer research. A pivotal component of this mission is investment in the next generation of scientists,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), AACR’s chief executive officer.

“Cancer is not one disease but many, and that diversity should be reflected in our network of cancer researchers,” Foti added. “These awards strive to improve the inclusiveness of cancer research so that no pool of talent goes untapped.”

* 24 early-career scientists will receive AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards to participate in the 2008 AACR Annual Meeting. These awardees were selected on the basis of their scientific qualifications, references from mentors, and an estimation of the potential professional benefit to the awardees. During the meeting they will attend scientific sessions, participate in networking events, and present meritorious scientific papers.

Criteria for candidacy for this award program include the stipulation that the applicant fit the National Cancer Institute definition of groups traditionally underrepresented in cancer and biomedical research: African Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders. Additionally, eligible candidates must be full-time graduate or medical students, residents, clinical or postdoctoral fellows, or junior faculty members. The award will provide complimentary registration, travel expenses, and a subsistence stipend to participate in the Annual Meeting and AACR Special Conferences.

The Minority Scholar Awards are supported generously by grants from the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch of the National Cancer Institute.

* The AACR Minority-Serving Institution Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research Awards aim to increase the scientific knowledge base of faculty members at Minority-Serving Institutions, encourage their research, and assist to inspire their students to pursue careers in cancer research. Formerly known as the AACR-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Faculty Scholar Awards, the program has been expanded to include predominantly Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities to extend its reach. These awards also are supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch.

Candidates must have completed doctoral studies or clinical fellowships relevant to cancer research and hold full-time faculty positions at the level of assistant professor or above at an institution designated as minority-serving. They must also be engaged in meritorious basic, clinical or translational cancer research. Each of the 25 AACR-MSI Faculty Scholars chosen this year will receive financial support toward expenses associated with attending the AACR Annual Meeting.

For the names, affiliations and, where applicable, abstract titles of all Scholar Award Winners’ research projects please visit the AACR website, www.aacr.org