The ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Awards are designed to further promote clinical research by young scientists and to provide fellows with an opportunity to present their research and interact with other clinical cancer investigators at ASCO scientific meetings.
A select number of ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding abstracts submitted for consideration for presentation at an ASCO scientific meeting. The awards are given to oncology fellows who are first authors on selected abstracts, and the criteria are described in the Eligibility and Award Terms sections.
Merit Award supporters and donors: Amgen
Bradley Stuart Beller Endowed Fund
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Genzyme
Lilly USA, LLC
Novartis Oncology
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
sanofi-aventis U.S.
Wyeth
The first author of an abstract must meet the following requirements to be considered for an ASCO Foundation Merit Award:
Be a physician (MD or DO) in an oncology fellowship training program or a doctoral degree candidate (such as PharmD or PhD) enrolled in an approved oncology specialty training program at the time of abstract submission
Work in an oncology laboratory or clinical research setting
Agree to present the abstract at the ASCO scientific meeting
Check the Merit Award consideration box on the online abstract submitter
Provide a letter of support from the Training Program Director indicating eligibility for the award
Submit a two-page curriculum vitae
If any of the above requirements are not met, the abstract will not be considered for a Merit Award.
Special ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Awards for Annual Meeting Abstracts
Three special ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Awards are given to fellows who are first authors of abstracts to be presented at an ASCO Annual Meeting.
ASCO Fellowship Award: Given to the fellow who submitted the overall highest-ranking abstract
Brigid Leventhal Merit Award: Given to the fellow who submitted the highest-ranking abstract on the subject of pediatric cancer, as determined by the Pediatric Cancer Subcommittee of the Scientific Program Committee
Pain Merit Award: Given to the fellow who submitted the highest-ranking abstract on the subject of pain management
The recipients of these special Merit Awards are recognized during The ASCO Cancer Foundation Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting.
