Saswati Gupta Cancer Research Scholarship

Funded by
$2,000
2 winners, $1,000 each
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 6, 2024
Winners Announced
May 6, 2024
Education Level
Graduate, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Undergraduate junior or senior or Graduate student
Gender:
Female
Field of Study:
Medicine or Biology
Education Level:
Gender:
Field of Study:
Undergraduate junior or senior or Graduate student
Female
Medicine or Biology

Research into gastric cancer, and cancer in general, is one of the most valuable disease areas today. 

Cancer cuts so many lives short and touches millions of families each year. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, taking 1,670 lives each year for a total of more than 609,000 per year. 

This scholarship aims to support female students interested in medicine or biology so they can go on to advance cancer research and prevention.

Any female college junior or senior student, or enrolled in a graduate program may apply for this scholarship. Low-income and first-generation applicants are highly encouraged to apply for this scholarship.

To apply, please tell us your career goals and professional aspirations, and please attach a fully updated curriculum vitae or resume that highlights any publications or research presentations given.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published December 4, 2023
$2,000
2 winners, $1,000 each
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 6, 2024
Winners Announced
May 6, 2024
Education Level
Graduate, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

What are your career goals and professional aspirations?

250–300 words

Winning Application

Shruthi Sudhakar
Johns Hopkins UniversityBoston, MA
I am currently a student in a Regulatory Science Masters programme, with the ultimate goal of making safe pharmaceuticals accessible to those who need them the most. I currently work in women's health, primarily in ovarian cancer and endometriosis research, and I see how many women are affected by these diseases - it is my hope that through my work, I will be able to work with those who are developing tumour biomarkers to prevent disease progression. We must take into account the fact that the top pharmaceuticals are often inaccessible to those from low income backgrounds, and while we may be making progress on the disease front, we need to come up with equitable ways for women and people of colour to be heard and believed when it comes to their diseases. Many reports have shown that disease can go undetected in these groups simply because their healthcare providers don't recognise the level of pain they are in. Especially working in women's health, we see how many doctors women have to go through before they are given an accurate diagnosis; some women see more than 15 doctors before they are truly listened to. As a professional in regulatory affairs, my hope is to bridge the gap between clinicians, patients, and pharmaceutical companies to discuss solutions that work best for everyone, and ultimately be on the ground, providing medical access to those who may not get treatment otherwise. While I may not be a medical professional, over my years as a volunteer, student intern, and employee within the hospital systems in Boston, I see how we all play a vital role in cancer prevention and health equity.
Nikita Ganeshan
Loyola University ChicagoOak Park, IL
I was 16-years-old when my family learned my uncle had lung cancer. We were told it was stage IV and he had less than a year to live. As we sprung into action, everyone's workload increased. The adults took shifts with appointments and doctor's visits. My uncle's daughter and I were left in charge of our younger siblings. We packed lunches and drove everyone to and from school. On weekends, we would support our parents in whatever way we could. We saw our parents become patient advocates and caregivers, picking up prescriptions, and tackling the steep learning curve that is cancer-related care. I then realized that the delivery of medical care is so much more nuanced than any of us could have imagined. Sadly, my uncle passed away 9 months later. There are many things I wish to accomplish or partake in throughout my medical career. I want to serve patients, help combat misinformation and arm patients with the tools to take control of their health, continue researching, learn from those who came before and mentor those who come after me, and positively impact healthcare policy. Throughout my career, I will continue advocating for interdisciplinary medicine, healthcare entrepreneurship, health policy shaped by science, and compassionate clinical care, because I am truly passionate about these areas of medicine and believe these avenues can help bridge the delivery-of-care gap for all people. As an MS1 student, I'm exploring hematology/oncology as one of my specialties of interest. Based on these goals, Academic Medicine is where I’d like to practice. Not only is teaching and mentoring more likely in an academic medicine setting, but I can also lead research initiatives and new innovative procedures and technology. Above all, I can still see patients and witness the direct impact of medical practice.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 6, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 6, 2024.