Week 2: Research in colorectal cancer - 2026 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Throughout this year’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we will highlight a new theme each week to focus our collective attention and action.

Week 2 shines a spotlight on colorectal cancer research, highlighting the important contributions and discoveries emerging from the hereditary GI cancer community, as well as the resources available to support early-career researchers.

March 9 / We’re thrilled to kick off the week with the Call for Applications for the CGA-IGC Research Grants! We are sincerely grateful for the ongoing partnership and generous support of Fight CRC and the Roxanne and Henry Brandt Foundation, and we are proud that CGA-IGC will also fund a grant directly this year. Through continued investment in research, we seek to expand our members’ knowledge of both the fundamental science and the clinical management of inherited gastrointestinal cancers—ultimately improving outcomes for patients and their families. Our commitment to supporting research drives innovation in care while fostering the development of emerging leaders in hereditary GI cancer research and clinical practice.  Learn more about the grants HERE.

March 11 /  Our Communications Committee member, Chandrika Kurpad zoomed in on this important study, “An Exosome-Based Liquid Biopsy for the Detection of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: The ENCODER Multicenter Study,”  We will release her insightful blog post on March 11. Stay tuned!

March 13 /Thanks to the hard work of the CGA-IGC Research Committee, an exciting new Research Toolkit on Hereditary Gi Cancer Syndromes is coming soon!  Launching with 3 virtual webinars throughout 2026 and a special in-person session at CGA-IGC26 in Denver, this toolkit will support early-career individuals with the tools, knowledge, and ethical guidance needed to advance research in hereditary GI cancer syndromes. Designed for trainees, students, residents, and fellows, whether you’re a gastroenterologist, genetic counselor, APP, surgeon, or oncologist, stay tuned!  In the meantime, we will share more information about the upcoming webinars on March 13.

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Each week throughout Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we’ll spotlight a different theme to deepen learning and inspire action. Explore the upcoming weekly themes HERE.

Did you miss the week 1 initiatives? Read the blog post HERE and catch up!

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