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AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition

The AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition (USCPC) takes place during the AACR Annual Meetings. This exciting informative, and engaging session is bringing together undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students at all levels to address educational pathways, explore career options in the cancer field while presenting their own research and competing for prizes. All prizes are funded by the Margaret Foti Foundation which rewards excellence in research conducted and presented by undergraduate students. Learn more about Dr. Margaret Foti.

Register View the 2024 winners

Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate students and postbaccalaureate students who are interested in cancer and related biomedical science are invited to attend. Undergraduate students may submit a poster for presentation during this special program, a poster presentation is not required to attend this program. 

JUDGING

Student presentations will be judged by AACR members who are established investigators in the field.  Judging is based on the student abstract, research content of the poster, and on the ability of the student to effectively present their research during the competition.  Winners will be awarded Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research. 

Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research

The Margaret Foti Foundation is founded by the American Association for Cancer Research CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Margaret Foti. The Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research was established in 2018 and are given at the AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition during the AACR Annual Meetings. These award prizes reward excellence in research conducted and presented by undergraduate students.

(All prizes consist of monetary awards.)

  • 1st Place Prize — $1,500 awarded to one student
  • 2nd Place Prize — $1,000 to be awarded to two students
  • 3rd Place Prize — $750 to be awarded to two students
  • Meritorious Honors for the top posters

AACR ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION

All eligible registrants for the AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition will also receive complimentary registration to the AACR Annual Meeting.

How to Register

Registration must be completed through myAACR.

  • Log in to the myAACR portal. If you do not have a myAACR account, select, “Create New Account.”
  • Once you are logged in, click on, “Applications/Awards.” After you’ve been transferred to the awards portal, click on, “View All Activities,” and choose “20th Annual AACR Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition.”

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research

First Place Prize Winner

Abhay R. Sheeri, Junior

Abhay R. Sheeri, Junior

University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstract: Novel anti-PD-L1-IL-15 diabody immunocytokine in combination with radiation therapy improves response rates in immune-resistant murine head and neck cancer

Second Place Prize Winners

Sejal S. Chikhale, Junior

Sejal S. Chikhale, Junior

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Abstract: Investigating the role of NF-κB pathway mutations in resistance of myeloma cells to BCMA-targeted therapies

George Morcos, Senior

George Morcos, Senior

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Abstract: Investigating Mechanisms of Salivary Gland Tissue Sparing in Response to Ultra-High Dose-Rate “FLASH” Proton Radiotherapy

Third Place Prize Winners

Nishah Jaferi, Junior

Nishah Jaferi, Junior

Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Abstract: Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF)-Factor XIIIA mediated Macrophage-Stromal crosstalk in Pancreatic Cancer

Kylie Emma Chan, Sophomore

Kylie Emma Chan, Sophomore

University of California
San Diego, California
Abstract: Comparative Analysis of Microbial Composition in Healthy and Tumor Tissue of Cancer Patients

Meritorious Honors

Josephine Chang, Junior

Josephine Chang, Junior

Hampton Roads Academy
Newport News, Virginia
Abstract: Racial Disparities Among Breast Cancer Patients in Large Phase III Clinical Trials Enrollment in the United States and in Hampton Roads, Virginia

Bum Seok Lee, Junior

Bum Seok Lee, Junior

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Abstract: Discovery of a novel sialic acid O-acetyltransferase in colon tissue

Hoi Wan Lee, Junior

Hoi Wan Lee, Junior

The University of Chicago Ben May Department for Cancer Research
Chicago, Illinois
Abstract: Ephrin Receptor A4 is a novel mechanism of BACH1 driven metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Sandra Makar, Senior

Sandra Makar, Senior

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Abstract: The role of Regulatory T cells in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Kaitlyn Mills, Junior

Kaitlyn Mills, Junior

Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
Abstract: Bridging the gap: Exploring the roles of ETS-Coactivator interactions in promoting prostate cancer

Daniela Miro-Rivera, Senior

Daniela Miro-Rivera, Senior

Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Abstract: Social determinants of medication use for depression and anxiety among individuals with a history of cancer

Songhan Pang, Sophomore

Songhan Pang, Sophomore

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Abstract: Tumor-immune microenvironment associated with obesity in triple-negative breast cancer in the Mayo Clinic cohort

Durga Meenakshi Panneerdoss, Freshman

Durga Meenakshi Panneerdoss, Freshman

University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Abstract: LIPA inhibitor ERX-208 improves the effectiveness of DNA damaging drugs in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Sophia Pribus, Senior

Sophia Pribus, Senior

Stanford University
Stanford, California
Abstract: ecDNA Inspector: ecDNA Structural Validation and Conservation Analysis in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Tomohiro Tamura, Senior

Tomohiro Tamura, Senior

Keio University
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract: Integration of human omics analysis and new syngeneic tumor organoid models reveals that aberrant RAS/PI3K crosstalk triggers refractoriness in high-grade serous carcinoma