For Immediate Release: Nov. 5, 2015
For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Riley at lauren.riley@aacr.org or 215-446-7155 or
Stephanie Guiffre at sguiffre@ccalliance.org or 703-477-1463.
Never Too Young Coalition and AACR Join Forces in Response to Rising
Trends in Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer by Offering Fellowships to
Qualified Researchers
PHILADELPHIA — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Never
Too Young Coalition are pleased to offer fellowship opportunities for young-onset colorectal
cancer research.
Founded by the Colon Cancer Alliance, the Never Too Young Coalition is a group of medical
professionals, patient advocacy organizations, cancer survivors, and caregivers united to take on
young-onset colorectal cancer through action, education, and research.
Three of the coalition’s member organizations – the Colon Cancer Alliance, Michael’s Mission,
and the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation – are supporting two fellowships for 2016: the
Never Too Young Coalition-AACR Fellowship in Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Research,
supported by the Colon Cancer Alliance and the Never Too Young Coalition-AACR Fellowship
in Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Research, supported by Michael’s Mission and the Chris4Life
Colon Cancer Foundation.
“The AACR is pleased to partner with the Never Too Young Coalition to support outstanding
early-career investigators working to enhance our understanding of young-onset colorectal
cancer,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “The urgent
need for more research in this area is highlighted by the fact that the colorectal cancer incidence
rate among adults younger than 50 has been increasing for many years. This trend is expected to
continue, and the AACR is proud to help provide resources to accelerate progress against this
devastating disease.”
“Colorectal cancer is on the rise in young adults while incidence rates are declining in those over
the age of 50. More than one-tenth of colorectal cancer cases (11 percent of colon cancers and 18
percent of rectal cancers) have a young onset and this number is expected to double in the next
10 years. Research is the key to unlocking the causes associated with this alarming trend. The
Never Too Young Coalition is pleased to work with the American Association for Cancer
Never Too Young Coalition-AACR Launch New Fellowships for Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Research
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Research (AACR) to fund this research and in doing so, we hope to be one step closer to
reversing these statistics,” said Stephanie C. Guiffre, MPA, director of the Never Too Young
Coalition.
“We are pleased to partner with the AACR and the Never Too Young Coalition to help fund
research focused on early-age onset colorectal cancer. Michael's Mission was founded in
memory of Michael Soussa, a young-onset colorectal cancer patient, and we are pleased to help
fund this vital research in his honor,” said Martha Raymond, MA, CPN, executive director of
Michael’s Mission.
The research proposed for funding may be basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological in
nature and should focus on understanding the mechanisms that underlie young-onset of
colorectal cancer.
Two one-year fellowships of $50,000 each will be awarded, with grant terms to begin July 1,
2016. The recipients will formally accept their grants at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016, held
April 16-20 in New Orleans.
Interested investigators can find further details online. Applications must be submitted by noon
ET, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, using the proposalCENTRAL website. Additional inquires may
be directed to Ashley Jones at grants@aacr.org.
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About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and
largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and
cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 35,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical
researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 101
countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate
progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than
30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with nearly
19,300 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and
a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research
directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand
Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of
team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term
patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the
value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information
about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
About the Never Too Young Coalition
The Never Too young Coalition is a group of medical professionals, patient advocacy organizations,
survivors and caregivers united to take on young-onset colorectal cancer through action, education and
research. For more information, visit http://ccalliance.org/nevertooyoung/.
About the Colon Cancer Alliance
Never Too Young Coalition-AACR Launch New Fellowships for Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Research
Page 3 of 3
The Colon Cancer Alliance was founded in 1999 out of the need to promote public awareness about colon
cancer and provide support for those affected by the disease. The Colon Cancer Alliance’s mission is to
knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers. They are doing this by championing prevention,
funding cutting-edge research and providing the highest quality patient support services. Read more
information about the Colon Cancer Alliance at www.ccalliance.org.
About Michael’s Mission
Michael’s Mission is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2009. Our mission is to
improve the quality of life and treatment options for colorectal cancer patients through education,
research and patient support. Headquartered in New York City, our national-reach patient support,
education and outreach programs assist all those affected by colorectal cancer. For more information, visit
www.michaelsmission.org.
About the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation
The principal goal of Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation is to permanently eliminate the threat of colon
cancer through discovery of a cure. As long as people are dying from this disease, we will be at the front
lines of the fight. To this end, we will fund cutting edge research so that the brightest minds and best
institutions are empowered to cure colon cancer for good. Until then, Chris4Life Colon Cancer
Foundation and their online patient community COLONTOWN is committed to significantly improving
the treatment experience for patients and caregivers, and to dramatically raise awareness about colon
cancer in general. Chris4Life will utilize health and wellness as a means of integrating the mind, body and
spirit in our approach. Working together we will build a culture of care and foster relationships with
research institutions, advocacy groups, the health care community, and the general public. Chris4Life four
core values are Compassion, Empowerment, Perseverance, and Life. For more information, visit
www.chris4life.org.