and      

Present the 2026 Travel Award Request for Proposals

Introduction:

The Scholarship Committee and the Finance and Operations Committee for the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) are excited to partner with eContour and MIM Software on a travel award opportunity for eligible applicants. With our partners, we will be awarding $625 in travel funds to up to 8 radiation oncology residents, fellows, or new practitioners who contribute a case that is currently not represented on eContour. This year, we have a special call for radiation therapy for benign disease cases! Case content will be evaluated based on novelty and strength of evidence.

The $625 grant will be released in two phases, contingent on the timely submission of the case (see timeline below).

Award Timeline:

• November 16, 2025 - Submission deadline for applications
• December 5, 2025 - Selected case submitters will be notified
• December 22, 2025 - Deadline for selected case submitters to upload full case descriptions, complete contour review with eContour team, and upload DICOMs to the eContour website.  
• February 4-7, 2026 (ACRO 2026) - All selected participants are expected to attend the ACRO 2026 Annual Meeting. The first payment of $500 will be given to the selected case submitters at the meeting, contingent on successful completion of case submission requirements as outlined by the eContour team. All selected grant recipients, regardless of case completion status, will receive an award certificate at the annual meeting.
• Post-conference - The remaining $125 grant disbursement (for a total of $625) shall be given to the case submitter once the case is successfully published on the eContour website. 

Details:

• Eligible applicants will submit a contouring case proposal that fills a current need on the eContour website. We also have a special call for benign disease cases this year. Currently, pediatric cases are not accepted.
• The eContour committee will select up to eight eligible applicants’ proposals for a new eContour case.
• Selected applicants will prepare their proposed case and upload to the eContour platform for approval.
• These recipients will be awarded upto $625 for travel to the ACRO Annual Meeting, February 4-7, 2026 (see timeline above).
  • Expenses exceeding the award funds will be the responsibility of the recipient.
  • Recipients must make all arrangements to attend the meeting.
• Final acceptance and disbursement of funds is subject to review and final approval by the ACRO Scholarship Committee and Finance & Operations Committee. Failure to comply with program requirements may be subject to award revocation.
• The deadline for application and case proposals is November 16 at 11:59 PM PST. Selected case submitters will be notified by December 5, 2025.
  

Eligibility:

• ACRO Membership: Applicants must be members of ACRO and in good standing at a radiation oncology residency or fellowship program, or be a new practitioner. Applications for ACRO membership can be found at acro.org/membership.
• Submission Requirements: All submissions must include the following:
  • Application Form and Case Proposal (below)
  • Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Support from Radiation Oncology Faculty for project review/ mentoring 
  • Case submitters must be available to review the case with an eContour-appointed faculty expert at a mutually agreed time on Zoom/Teams to receive feedback, make adjustments to volumes, and complete the learning process.
    
• Selections will be made by eContour. For questions, please contact support@econtour.org.  

Documentation Requirements:

• Letter of support: The faculty member who will serve as the case reviewer/ mentor should indicate support for trainee’s contouring case proposal. This letter must also indicate that the department supports and approves time away to attend the 2026 ACRO Annual Meeting.
• Travel confirmation: Confirmation of travel reservations must be provided to ACRO at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting.