The Conquer Cancer – Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Career Development Award (CDA) provides funding to an Israeli clinical investigator who has received initial faculty appointment to establish an independent clinical cancer research program. The award is not intended for those already established as independent investigators. This grant welcomes application submissions in all oncology subspecialties. The investigator must be a citizen of Israel and the clinical research project must be conducted in Israel.

The Conquer Cancer - ICRF CDA is available for an Israeli investigator with research potential who needs additional experience in a scientific environment that is conducive to the development of a career in clinical research. The award is not designed to provide salary support for an individual who is already conducting full-time research, nor is it a mechanism for providing institutional support. Its main purpose is to provide protected time for an early-career oncologist to devote to a clinical research project conducted in Israel and to obtain additional (post-fellowship) training to become a leader in clinical research programs.

The Conquer Cancer- ICRF CDA is a three-year grant totaling $200,000. One grant will be awarded for 2024. The project period is October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2027.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the Conquer Cancer-ICRF CDA:

• Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent with explanation).
• A citizen of Israel, both native-born and those who have settled. Funds are not available to visiting scientists. (Proof of Israeli citizenship must be furnished upon request.).
• Be in the first to fourth year of a full-time primary faculty appointment in a clinical department at an academic medical institution in Israel at the time of grant submission. Faculty appointment may begin with the entry-level faculty position within the applicant’s institution (i.e., Instructor/Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Assistant Member). If there are questions regarding whether the potential applicant is at the correct career stage, send an email to our Grants team for clarification and eligibility verification.
• Have completed productive postdoctoral research (at least two years of fellowship training in medical or pediatric hematology-oncology or a related oncologic specialty, but not more than five years of subsequent relevant professional experience prior to the requested beginning date of the award). 
• Have a valid, active medical license in Israel.
• Must be in Israel for the entire grant period.
• Have demonstrated the ability to undertake independent investigator-initiated clinical research.
• Be an ASCO Member or have submitted a membership application with the grant application. To apply for membership, or to renew your existing membership, please visit asco.org/membership.
• Be able to commit at least 50% effort to research (applies to total research, not just the proposed project) during the award period.
• Have a primary mentor who should be available for guidance at all times. It is preferable that the mentor be at the same institution as the applicant. The mentor must provide a letter of support. If the mentor is not an ASCO Member, a supporting letter from an ASCO Member from the sponsoring institution must be included.
• Eligible applicants are allowed to hold only one active grant from Conquer Cancer or ICRF at a time.
• Eligible applicants may not accept another clinical research career development type of award that would duplicate the provisions of the CDA grant. Other development awards considered to be duplicative include clinical investigator awards, academic and teacher investigator awards, and postdoctoral and senior fellowships.
• Should not have been a Principal Investigator on any large project grants (e.g., R01 or international equivalent, or private foundation grants).

Application Instructions

All applications must be submitted in accordance to the requirements and instructions of the Request for Proposals. All application materials must be in English and must be submitted through the Application Portal. Paper applications or applications sent by e-mail or fax will not be accepted.