AACR Travel Grant
$2,000 grant for cancer researchers to attend AACR 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
And the 2025 Travel Grant Recipients are...
Andreia Maia
Harvard University, USA
Abstract Title: Engineering of a novel Buddy-CAR system: CAR-NK cells expressing IL7/IL7Rα exhibit superior proliferation and anti-tumor responses while promoting trans-activation of the bystander T cells
"I am truly honored and excited to accept the Proteintech AACR travel grant. This support will play a crucial role in facilitating my participation in the upcoming AACR 2025 Annual Meeting in Chicago. This award will help cover my travel expenses, registration fees, and accommodations, allowing me to fully engage in this invaluable scientific event. I am eager to present my research, connect with leading experts, and gain insights into the latest advancements in cancer research. Thank you for this opportunity. "
Abdolrahman Shams-Nateri
University of Nottingham, UK
Abstract Title: RingingTME: A Scalable Patient-Derived Mini-Ring Platform to Model the Tumour Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer.
"I am delighted to have been awarded the AACR Travel Grant 2025. We have developed RingingTME, a novel mini-ring platform utilising patient-derived colorectal cancer explants that accurately models the tumour microenvironment. This scalable system preserves tumour heterogeneity, the cell secretome, and extracellular matrix interactions. It enables high-throughput screening of novel targeted therapies and biomarkers testing, thereby reducing reliance on animal models. Beyond colorectal cancer, the mini-ring system also shows potential for application in other malignancies, including lung, pancreatic, and breast cancers. By integrating this technology into both clinical and pharmaceutical research, we aim to advance drug and biomarker discovery efforts and contribute to the progress of precision oncology."
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Missed out on the grant this year? Apply next year! The 2026 Grant details will become available in February 2026.
Abstract Title: Germline p53 R181 variants and DNA binding cooperatively in tumorigenesis.
"I am honored to receive Proteintech's travel grant to attend the AACR Annual Conference in San Diego! This grant helps provide the incredible opportunity to attend and present my work at the nation's largest cancer conference where I will be able to network and build collaborations with pioneering cancer biologists. In addition to gaining valuable knowledge of the cancer biology field, I am excited to participate in AACR’s professional advancement events that will guide my career as a cancer geneticist."
Abstract Title: Targetting the triple-negative breast cancer solid stem cells by hematopoietic stem cells and conditioned media.
"I am honoured and thrilled to accept the Proteintech AACR travel grant. This grant will greatly support my attendance at the AACR conference, enabling me to engage with leading researchers, present my work, and gain insights into the latest advancements in cancer research. As I will be joining from India, it will be helpful to cover my travel expenses, registration fees, and accommodations, allowing me to participate fully in this invaluable scientific event. I am eager to leverage this opportunity to enhance my knowledge, network with peers, and contribute to advancing cancer research. Thank you for this generous support." - Sumit Mallick
"It is an honor to receive this travel grant from Proteintech for the AACR 2023 Annual Meeting in Orlando! This makes it possible to share my research on a large scale and learn from fellow scientists around the world. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope to network and expand my knowledge!" - Michelle Carnazza
"I am thrilled and grateful to have been awarded the Proteintech AACR travel grant. Attending the AACR meeting is an excellent opportunity for me to stay up-to-date with the latest breakthroughs in cancer research and learn from leading researchers in the field. This support is crucial in showcasing my work and advancing my career as a physician-scientist. I look forward to attending the various professional development and career sessions to enhance my skills and knowledge." - Zahraa Rahal
Abstract summary: Discovering novel mechanisms by which CD28 signaling influences antigen-specific PD-1+ CD8 T cells
"I am delighted to participate in the AACR 2022 meeting. This is a fantastic opportunity to share my advances with the community, and I am very grateful to Proteintech for their support in making this possible." - Etienne Humblin
"I feel privileged and I am sincerely thankful to Proteintech for supporting researchers like me with a travel grant and giving us the opportunity to be part of the AACR’s national and international platform this year. Thanks to the travel grant Proteintech offer, I have received a unique chance to meet the most important scientists in the world, favoring discussion and comprehensive learning opportunities." - Simona Migiozzi
Abstract:
Metastasis is the key event leading to mortality in cancer. A driver of this process in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is upregulation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways. Guan-Yu Xiao and colleagues discovered that loss of endocytic machinery protein FCHSD2 alters trafficking of two RTKs - EGFR and MET - towards recycling and results in nuclear translocation of downstream effectors, resulting in significantly increased activity. Xiao’s work uncovers novel, surprising connections between trafficking and oncogenic signaling.
Abstract:
Immunotherapy has shown efficacy across a wide range of cancers, but it has been ineffective in pancreatic cancer thus far due to the thick stroma of stellate cells protecting the tumor. O’Connell and colleagues found a potential weakness in this wall. They discovered that inhibition of fibroblast activation protein in stellate cells reduces the stroma and allows natural killer cells to infiltrate and kill the tumor. Inhibiting this target in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment enhances efficacy in their model. Their work suggests a crack in the wall to make immunotherapy more effective for pancreatic cancer patients.
Description of Research:
Choosing the best therapeutic strategy to combat cancer is a key hurdle for physicians. In the case of glioblastoma, there is a great need to discover biomarkers to predict the response to harsh chemo- and radiation therapy. Pratap and colleagues found that estrogen receptor beta functions as a tumor suppressor and sensitizes tumors to these therapies through inhibiting DNA damage repair. Their results suggest that estrogen receptor beta may not only be a useful biomarker, but it may also be useful as a drug target to improve response to therapy.
Abstract:
Great work in vivo showing a potent in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of TAMA (tumor associated mitochondria antigen)-based immunotherapy in combination with checkpoint inhibition in murine kidney tumor models. It is a very innovative work showing that TAMA antigens are targetable and can elicit a durable in vivo antitumor responses and therefore, they should be used in prophylactic or therapeutic IO approaches. It is an advanced work, based on previous results of the same team on TAMA-vaccination, and is highly applicable as a proposed therapeutic approach,at least for renal cancers. More importantly, they provide mechanistic insights as to how checkpoint shapes the tumor microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of the TAMA-vaccine.
Abstract:
Programmed death ligand -1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors such as atezolizumab have been revolutionizing cancer treatment. However, the potential of these drugs has not been fully realized. To improve the stromal penetration of checkpoint inhibitors to tumors, Sau and colleagues have chemically linked a chemotherapeutic agent to atezolizumab for immune-chemo combination therapy. Their current data suggest that this approach may significantly improve the potency of checkpoint inhibitors for multiple cancer types.
“I am delighted to network and develop cancer-killing smart drugs.” - Samaresh Sau
Abstract:
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fatal pediatric brainstem tumor with 100% fatality. These tumors are often treated on the assumption that they are molecularly similar to adult high-grade gliomas; however, they are distinct. Ramya and her colleagues have generated a genetically engineered mouse model of DIPG which represents a novel platform to study the molecular pathways underlying disease pathogenesis. An understanding of the functions of mutations that lead up to the disease can help to develop novel therapies for DIPG
"I'm excited to be presenting at the AACR 2018 Conference and I'm thankful to Proteintech for their support in making this possible.” - Ramya Ravindran
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Only applicants from Universities and Research Institutions are eligible to take part in this competition.
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This award will cover only the cost of registration, accommodation, and transport to the AACR 2025 meeting, to the total value of $2,000 USD. Any remaining balance available after these costs have been covered is not transferable and cannot be used for other expenses.
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By taking part in the competition, you agree to take part in any marketing and PR activities that Proteintech deem necessary. These may include the following: An interview, featuring on Proteintech blog/website, and associated press releases.
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The deadline for entries to be submitted is March 9th, 2025. Any applications submitted after this date will not be eligible.
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Applicants can only submit one entry. Any further entries will not be eligible. Applicants must complete the application form in full.
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The applicant must be available to attend the 2025 AACR meeting in Chicago, IL. The travel grant applies only to the AACR 2025 meeting. The reimbursement cannot be used for any other meeting.
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The winning applicants will receive this travel grant via reimbursement from Proteintech Group. The recipient must provide receipts for their AACR registration, accommodation, and travel to receive reimbursement.
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The recipient will receive reimbursement within 7 days of proof of expense being obtained.
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The reimbursement can only be paid to the individual or institution that originally paid for the travel expenses, registration, and accommodation.
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The winners will be decided by the Proteintech scientific writing team and an assisting group of scientific peers. The winning entries will be the abstract deemed most interesting, innovative, and impactful by the panel.
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Should the event have to be canceled for any reason, the winner will receive their prize in the form of a research grant, instead of a travel grant.
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The decision on which applicants win is at the discretion of Proteintech Group and their decision is final.
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This competition is not affiliated with AACR in any way.