20 years of partnership accelerating people, ideas, and impact
For two decades, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has partnered with the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) to grow the cancer research workforce—supporting faculty at launch, training students at every level, and building a mentoring culture that turns early promise into sustained impact.
Through the ACS Institutional Research Grant (IRG), tenure-track faculty can receive 12-month, $50,000 pilot awards to generate data and momentum for competitive external funding, complete with mentoring and milestone feedback. Likewise, students and trainees gain real-world experience through ACS's support for hands-on, mentored research by Case CCC investigators. Post-doctoral fellows receive rigorous training that readies emerging scientists for independent research careers, post-baccalaureate students are challenged to move on to advanced careers in the sciences, and high-schoolers gain exploratory experiences that demystify lab science and cancer careers.
From IRG faculty mentors to trainee cohort leaders, ACS funding strengthens a Case CCC ecosystem where mentoring isn’t an add-on. Trainees learn by doing. Early-career faculty get practical guidance.
Undergraduates tap into biomedical research in Cleveland
CanSUR Applications Open for Summer 2026. Click Here to Apply
An example is ACS-CanSUR. Each year under the leadership of Case CCC's Associate Director of Basic Research, Ruth Keri, PhD, eight undergraduate students, supported by ACS, participate in longitudinal activities focused on cancer biology, detection, prevention, therapy, and survivorship to help reinforce their understanding of cancer research and career development. This includes conducting interviews with Cleveland community members and healthcare professionals to create short, educational videos.
- Watch the 2024 video: What Does a Scientist Look Like?
- Watch the 2023 video: Cancer Does Not Discriminate: Making Clinical Trials Accessible for All
Students work with a cohort of 40, get paid for their work in cancer labs with researchers, attend networking opportunities and career-enhancing seminars, and present their work at an academic symposium as the culmination of the program.
Faculty advisors and undergrads can learn more about ACS-CICRT at the ACS Website and apply at the link at the bottom of the page.