Student-led oncology research
Advancing curiosity in cancer research, medicine, and innovation.
A high-school research organization, mentored by MD Anderson faculty. Open to everyone.
Our purpose
Real cancer research, within reach of every high school student, at no cost.
Onco Research Scholars exists to close the distance between curious students and real oncology research. We take high school students with no connections and help them reach a real research output: a mentorship, a lab role, or a publishable piece, mentored by MD Anderson faculty.
- Always free. No fees and no paid programs, ever. Every resource, mentorship, and tool is open to you at no cost.
- Open to everyone. Any high school student is welcome, wherever you study and whatever you have done before.
- For the community. We educate, mentor, and fundraise for research that serves cancer patients and their families.
By the numbers
We help high-school students do real, curious work in cancer research.
13
School collaborations
25
Placed in research positions & mentorships
5
Faculty & mentors backing us
2
Journals members publish in
120+
Members
As of June 2026.
Ideas
Read the Digest →
From the Research Digest
Topic
How AI reads a tumor genome
A plain-language look at the models and public databases behind precision oncology.
Topic
What a clinical trial actually proves
Reading endpoints, phases, and results the way a working researcher does.
Topic
One scan, many early warnings
Why a lung-screening CT could become a shared research resource for AI.
Get started
Start your first research project
No lab, no coding, no paid programs, just a real question and free public data. We will help you reach the mentor who can guide it.
About ORS
