More than $11.7 Million and 480 Grants & Awards 

From medical students and residents to established clinical researchers, Conquer Cancer grants and awards support outstanding oncology professionals as they work to make a difference in the lives of people living with cancer. Your extraordinary generosity made it possible to fund more than 480 grants and awards, distributing over $11.7 million in vital funding to physicians and cancer professionals representing 45 countries. This funding plays a critical role in continuing to advance research across the entire cancer care continuum. 

"Innovation requires a stable foundation to thrive. Our program remains dedicated to seeding critical new projects and supporting oncology professionals at every stage of their journey," says Dr. Howard A. Burris III, who serves as Chair of the Conquer Cancer Board of Directors. "This momentum is only possible because of our community of donors. Your generosity is the engine of this progress, providing the resources needed to strive for a world where cancer is prevented and treated more effectively." 

For researchers just getting started, learning they’ve received a Conquer Cancer grant can be a career-defining moment. Watch our newest class react when they receive the life-changing news.

Past Conquer Cancer grant recipient Dr. Brian Wolpin shares a practice-changing pancreatic cancer breakthrough during the prestigious Plenary Session.
© ASCO/Scott Morgan 2026

A Historic Milestone for Past Conquer Cancer Grant Recipients and the World

In a powerful demonstration of long-term donor impact, two past Conquer Cancer grant recipients took to the main stage to share historic medical milestones. Dr. Brian Wolpin’s presentation earned a standing ovation from a packed room of nearly 10,0000 attendees. Together, the discoveries presented by Dr. Wolpin and Dr. Mark Dickson will immediately improve care for people facing aggressive, hard-to-treat forms of cancer. 

• Pancreatic Cancer: Doubling Precious Time with a Daily Pill  
  Pancreatic cancer has long been one of the toughest diagnoses for families to face because it is usually diagnosed late and resists traditional treatments. Dr. Brian Wolpin shared landmark data showing that a once-daily targeted pill successfully doubled the amount of time patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer survived compared to standard chemotherapy, while also stopping the cancer from growing for twice as long. This specialized pill acts like a master switch to turn off the abnormal protein driving the cancer's growth. Because it caused significantly fewer harsh side effects, patients experienced less physical pain and a vastly improved quality of life, allowing them to spend precious time feeling well. 
   
• Sarcoma: Halting Tumor Growth for a Rare Cancer  
  Advanced liposarcoma is a rare, highly aggressive cancer that forms in the body's fat cells. While surgery is the primary treatment, the cancer returns in about 40% of patients, leaving families with very few options when standard chemotherapy fails. Dr. Mark Dickson shared results proving that a targeted oral medication delayed tumor growth five times longer than a placebo. This milestone represents a 15-year journey in the making; years ago, Conquer Cancer donors funded Dr. Dickson's very first small study on this exact concept. Today, that smart therapy delivers immediate hope and extended survival to a historically underserved patient population. 

While the life-changing results belong entirely to these doctors and their teams, this historic moment is proof of what happens when we invest in a researcher’s potential early in their career. Long before these breakthroughs make global headlines, donor investments provide these bright minds with the resources they need to launch their careers and work in the cancer research field.  

Learn more about this historic dual appearance at the ASCO Plenary Session 

Read about Dr. Brian Wolpin and his commitment to changing pancreatic cancer care 

Read about Dr. Mark Dickson and his 15-year journey to targeting rare sarcomas

A Closer Look at the Breakthroughs   

The discoveries celebrated at this year’s meeting are reshaping the future of medicine. To help you navigate some of the exciting developments celebrated at this year’s conference, we’ve published a guide highlighting 10 Advances in Cancer Care. This collection features easy-to-read overviews of global discoveries in early detection, targeted therapies, and lifestyle oncology, including the historic work led by past Conquer Cancer grant recipients.  

Past Conquer Cancer grant recipient Dr. Mark Dickson shares a long-awaited clinical triumph for families facing rare sarcomas during the Plenary Session.
© ASCO/Phil McCarten 2026

Attendees from around the world connect in the presentation hall to exchange knowledge and bring practice-changing insights home to their patients.
© ASCO/Zach Boyden-Holmes 2026

Driving Research Across Every Area of Cancer Care 

Approximately 46,000 attendees from around the world gathered to learn about the latest clinical breakthroughs, exchange knowledge, and share insights to bring home to patients. Driven by your commitment, Conquer Cancer not only supported the meeting itself, but also funded some of the brightest minds in oncology and the work they shared.  

The extraordinary reach of your support was evident across every day of the meeting:  

• 56 research studies were presented by past recipients of Conquer Cancer funding, demonstrating the long-term, compounding impact of supporting these investigators early in their careers.  
• 32 scientific presentations were directly funded by Conquer Cancer, showcasing data and clinical advancements across a comprehensive range of disease sites, including breast cancer, pediatric oncology, melanoma, head and neck cancer, sarcoma, and more. 

An Evening to Celebrate Community and Connection 

To honor this incredible momentum, supporters and past grant recipients from across our global community came together for An Evening to Conquer Cancer, a special event honoring the generosity of Conquer Cancer donors and the meaningful progress they help make possible. This year's celebration was especially impactful, raising more than $410,000 to fund research and vital programs for every cancer, every patient, everywhere. 

Attendees had the unique opportunity to hear about the important work they support directly from the researchers themselves, including from Conquer Cancer grant recipient Dr. Alison Schram. Learn more about her research and the impact it has had on patients, like Ahmet.  

A standing ovation from the crowd of supporters and recipients in attendance at this year’s An Evening to Conquer Cancer.
© ASCO/Nick Agro 2026

Top Donors 

A special thank you to Conquer Cancer’s 2026 Top Donors. These supporters each contributed more than $1 million between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.  

• AstraZeneca  
• Franci Blassberg and Joe Rice  
• Dr. and Mrs. Douglas W. Blayney  
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®  
• Genentech, a member of the Roche Group   
• Hudis Family  
• Johnson & Johnson  
• Mantena Family  
• Dr. Anne Moore and Dr. Arnold Lisio  
• Novartis  
• Novocure  
• Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy  
• The Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation   
• Veracyte  

Medical milestones like the ones unveiled this year are only possible when someone believes in a researcher's potential long before they make global headlines. Your belief in our work is the bridge between a brilliant scientific concept and a patient living a longer, healthier life.  

Please consider making a gift today so we can continue to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer research and empower people everywhere to conquer cancer.