Calling all Early-Career Researchers: Applications Now Open for Research Scholar Award

The Gastric Cancer Foundation is dedicated to funding the work of early-career researchers who are searching for novel gastric cancer treatments. Since 2014, we have partnered with the American Gastroenterology Association to support the AGA-Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer. This award provides $100,000 per year for three years, totaling $300,000.

We are thrilled to launch the application process for the 2026-2029 Research Scholar Award. Young investigators, instructors and research associates who are working towards independent careers in gastric cancer research are invited to apply for the award by December 3. Funding will begin July 1, 2026.

The new AGA-GCF Research Scholar will follow our four previous scholars, all of whom were able to advance their career goals during their grant periods. Take a look at some of their accomplishments:

Mohamad El-Zaatari, PhD

University of Michigan

Received a three-year grant for $558,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue his research investigating the role of B cells in gastric cancer.

Jose Saenz, MD, PhD

Washington University School of Medicine

Received a five-year grant of up to $125,000 per year from the National Institute of Health to continue studying the pathogenesis of H. pylori in the development of gastric cancer.

Samuel J. Klempner, MD

Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

Received a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to expand his research into peritoneal spread and gastric ascites.

Martina Molgora, PhD

Moffitt Cancer Center

Co-authored a study in Science Immunology spotlighting her work linking TREM2 deficiencies with enhanced responses to immunotherapy in gastric tumors.

Learn More about the Research Scholar Award

Eligible applicants for the Research Scholar Award must have an MD, PhD or equivalent degree and a full-time faculty position at a North American institution. Applicants will be considered “early career” if no more than seven years have passed since the completion of their PhD degrees or clinical training. Researchers engaged in basic, translational and/or clinical research are welcome to apply.

View Eligibility Criteria and Apply

Fall for These Recipes

With every season change, it is an opportunity to reflect on what we have accomplished. Chef Hans offers these quick and healthy meals that make it easy to start your day with gratitude and joy!

Whole Grains

Chef Hans shares a delicious oatmeal recipe and discusses with Dr. Ellen Steinberg the wonderful blood regulating advantages of high fiber foods.

Kaiserschmarrn

Using leftover 7-grain pancakes along with apples, figs, nuts, and spices. Hans shows us how every meal is an opportunity to sneak in the nutrition you need.

Pancake Mood

Hans makes a delicious, protein-rich filled crepe using chickpea (garbanzo) flour. Easy to have on hand for when the mood takes!

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Research Roundup

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) was granted priority review by the FDA in patients with resectable, early-stage and locally advanced gastric cancer. The fast-tracked review was based on trial results showing that patients treated with the drug plus chemotherapy before and after surgery had a 29% reduced risk of progression. The FDA also gave the drug Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

In a study, 62% of patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) gastric cancer responded well to a combination of two immunotherapy treatments, Opdivo and Yervoy. When the two drugs were given together as a frontline treatment in MSI-H patients, the rate of disease control was 79%.

Jazz Pharmaceutials reported that in a phase 2 trial, Ziihera (zanidatamab) combined with chemotherapy showed promising efficacy in HER2-positive gastric cancer, with median overall survival of 36.5 months. Top-line results from an ongoing phase 3 trial combining Ziihera with chemotherapy and immunotherapy are expected later this year.

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