The ASCO International Clinical Research Scholars (ICRS) program is an initiative led by the ASCO Asia Pacific Regional Council to encourage the development of cancer research across the region.
The ICRS a 1-year program delivered in a hybrid format and designed to support mid career investigators from the region through the process of refining a research concept, developing a protocol, leading a research team, statistical considerations, data collection and interpretation, writing a manuscript, and applying for grants.
The program includes a 2-day in-person course, monthly virtual clinical research trainings, networking opportunities, and a 1-year virtual mentorship with an ASCO expert. It requires a time commitment to actively participate in virtual sessions, conduct independent study, develop a research concept, and will require travel to an in-person workshop.
Accepted applicants will have travel costs covered for the in-person portion of the program (economy airfare, ground transportation, hotel accommodation, and meals).
At the conclusion of the program, selected applicants will have research projects underway and will be equipped with the necessary skills to lead research teams through a project and to submit their data for publication.
Objective
Bring together a diverse interdisciplinary group of researchers in oncology who are equipped with skills to identify and conduct compelling research projects in their countries, and empowered to lead research teams within their practice settings.
Topics
- How to lead – what makes a successful PI and what skills are needed to lead a research team
- How to identify a compelling research question
- How to develop a research concept
- Ethical conduct in research
- Statistical principles for investigators
- Clinical trial design and methodologies
- How to avoid bias in research
- Observational studies and real world data
- Writing a manuscript for publication
- Grant writing
Content Delivery
Content will be delivered as a hybrid of live on-line and in-person learning sessions from June 2026 - June 2027. Online sessions will be held monthly, and the in-person training will be held June 23-24, 2026 immediately preceding the ASCO Breakthrough Congress in Singapore.
Eligibility
Applicants for the 2026-2027 ICRS must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current ASCO member or willing to join if accepted
- Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent), pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or advocate working in cancer in an eligible country (East Asia & Pacific Countries)
- Must have completed one’s final subspecialty training and have some years of work experience (generally, mid-career)
- Be proficient in English
- Have a compelling research idea that is feasible to complete in less than two years (ie. observational, quality of life, health systems, etc.) and that has not yet started. The project year will focus on the development of your idea.
- Have the support from a supervisor or senior member from one’s institution/practice. A letter of support endorsing participation in the program will be requested.
- Have a local mentor to help guide and support their project. Local mentors do not have to be in the same field as your project.
Research Question
Applicants will be asked to submit a research question that they would like to work on during their program year.
They are welcome to view our recent webinar: Impacting Care Through Clinical Research: Crafting the Ultimate Research Question
Passcode: ?X6dGW!^
Notification Process
Finalists can expect to be notified by November 15, 2025.
Commitment to Diversity
The ICRS will represent diverse countries, resource settings, gender, and specialties. Where appropriate, priority will be given to candidates representing minority or indigenous groups in the region who are considered under-represented in medicine.
ASCO Intl Clinical Research Scholars Program (ICRS) Asia-Pacific
The ASCO International Clinical Research Scholars (ICRS) program is an initiative led by the ASCO Asia Pacific Regional Council to encourage the development of cancer research across the region.
The ICRS a 1-year program delivered in a hybrid format and designed to support mid career investigators from the region through the process of refining a research concept, developing a protocol, leading a research team, statistical considerations, data collection and interpretation, writing a manuscript, and applying for grants.
The program includes a 2-day in-person course, monthly virtual clinical research trainings, networking opportunities, and a 1-year virtual mentorship with an ASCO expert. It requires a time commitment to actively participate in virtual sessions, conduct independent study, develop a research concept, and will require travel to an in-person workshop.
Accepted applicants will have travel costs covered for the in-person portion of the program (economy airfare, ground transportation, hotel accommodation, and meals).
At the conclusion of the program, selected applicants will have research projects underway and will be equipped with the necessary skills to lead research teams through a project and to submit their data for publication.
Objective
Bring together a diverse interdisciplinary group of researchers in oncology who are equipped with skills to identify and conduct compelling research projects in their countries, and empowered to lead research teams within their practice settings.
Topics
- How to lead – what makes a successful PI and what skills are needed to lead a research team
- How to identify a compelling research question
- How to develop a research concept
- Ethical conduct in research
- Statistical principles for investigators
- Clinical trial design and methodologies
- How to avoid bias in research
- Observational studies and real world data
- Writing a manuscript for publication
- Grant writing
Content Delivery
Content will be delivered as a hybrid of live on-line and in-person learning sessions from June 2026 - June 2027. Online sessions will be held monthly, and the in-person training will be held June 23-24, 2026 immediately preceding the ASCO Breakthrough Congress in Singapore.
Eligibility
Applicants for the 2026-2027 ICRS must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current ASCO member or willing to join if accepted
- Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent), pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or advocate working in cancer in an eligible country (East Asia & Pacific Countries)
- Must have completed one’s final subspecialty training and have some years of work experience (generally, mid-career)
- Be proficient in English
- Have a compelling research idea that is feasible to complete in less than two years (ie. observational, quality of life, health systems, etc.) and that has not yet started. The project year will focus on the development of your idea.
- Have the support from a supervisor or senior member from one’s institution/practice. A letter of support endorsing participation in the program will be requested.
- Have a local mentor to help guide and support their project. Local mentors do not have to be in the same field as your project.
Research Question
Applicants will be asked to submit a research question that they would like to work on during their program year.
They are welcome to view our recent webinar: Impacting Care Through Clinical Research: Crafting the Ultimate Research Question
Passcode: ?X6dGW!^
Notification Process
Finalists can expect to be notified by November 15, 2025.
Commitment to Diversity
The ICRS will represent diverse countries, resource settings, gender, and specialties. Where appropriate, priority will be given to candidates representing minority or indigenous groups in the region who are considered under-represented in medicine.