The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) received a record-breaking 40 abstracts from early-career investigators interested in presenting their work at the upcoming Young Investigator Symposium. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 21, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern Time, as part of the Virtual Fall 2020 Group Meeting. The Mentoring Program Committee is now reviewing the abstracts and will choose up to eight for the event. Open to all registered meeting attendees, the Symposium is a valuable opportunity for early-career researchers to share their work and connect with experienced investigators. Following the presentations, the Committee will recognize two presenters with awards of distinction, one for clinical research and the other for translational research.

“This is a terrific opportunity for early-stage investigators,” said Abhinav Jha, PhD (Washington University in St. Louis), a past Symposium participant who received the Distinction Award for Translational Research in 2015. “Presenting and being recognized as part of this event provided me excellent exposure and a chance to learn more about ECOG-ACRIN.”

The Young Investigator Symposium is just one of several mentoring initiatives created by ECOG-ACRIN, which has an established history of supporting young investigators in their pursuit of career development opportunities. Other programs include the Young Investigator Award, which recognizes scientific achievements made by investigators during the early years of their careers, and the Paul Carbone, MD Fellowship Award, a research grant that aims to develop and promote excellence in clinical trials leading to improvements in cancer care.

Though the Young Investigator Symposium may look somewhat different this year, given the virtual meeting environment, the event promises to be just as engaging and valuable as ever. Save the date and join your colleagues in supporting the next generation of cancer researchers. Registration for the Group Meeting will open soon – please visit the Group Meeting page on ECOG-ACRIN.org for updates.

Learn about the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for the Young Investigator Symspoisum on ecog-acrin.org.