AACR to Send 36 Early-career Researchers to Capitol Hill

WHAT:
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) will host the seventh annual AACR Early-career Hill Day where 36 early-career cancer researchers, representing 20 states and Washington, D.C., will meet with over 70 members of Congress and their staff. The event will be held virtually this year.

WHEN:
March 3, 2022

WHO:
Students, trainees, and early-career scientists and physicians who conduct cancer research in institutions across the country. A full list is available on the AACR’s website.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The AACR Early-career Hill Day is an opportunity for graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and other early-career cancer researchers to meet with members of Congress and/or their staffs to convey the importance of robust, sustained, and predictable federal funding for medical research. The participants will call on Congress to complete fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations without delay and support a $3.5 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a $432 million increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last summer. They will also encourage members of Congress to support another robust funding increase for NIH in FY 2023, including at least $7.766 billion for NCI as recommended in the NCI Director’s Professional Judgment Budget Proposal.

Early-career investigators are especially vulnerable to career interruptions and setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, Hill Day participants will be able to provide personal testimony and real-world examples of the need for continued investment in cancer research during this ongoing public health crisis.

In conjunction with the Hill Day on March 3, the AACR is inviting early-career researchers around the country to participate in a National Day of Action by contacting their members of Congress via email or social media. The AACR has launched a campaign through its Legislative Action Center for sending emails to Congress. Individuals are also encouraged to tweet messages in support of NIH funding using the hashtags #AACRontheHill and #FundNIH.

In addition to the AACR Early-career Hill Day, the AACR supports and engages early-career scientists through the Associate Member Council, Science Education and Career Advancement Committee, and other Association groups, as well as through various professional advancement programs, career initiatives, grants, travel awards, and membership and mentoring opportunities available throughout the year. Learn more.