Columbus, Ga. - March 29, 2004 - Some of the most promising cancer researchers in the world will be honored at a banquet on March 29, at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes Resort, Florida. AFLAC is hosting the banquet in collaboration with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) during that Association's 9th Annual Meeting.

AFLAC Incorporated is a founding supporter of the AACR Associate Member Council. AFLAC has generously committed $1 million dollars over 10 years to AACR to continue and expand the travel awards program and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of early career cancer investigators.

v "At AFLAC, we believe it is critical to nurture the growth and development of the best young scientists in the field in order to conquer cancer. We are proud that AFLAC support has helped nearly 500 promising young cancer investigators to participate fully in AACR's outstanding meetings. The work of these dedicated researchers will continue to bear fruit for years to come," said Kathelen Spencer, Executive Vice President for AFLAC.

The AACR Associate Member Council represents the needs and interests of the more than 5,000 early-career scientists worldwide who are members of AACR. AFLAC has provided financial support to the Associate Member Council for the past six years to enable early career scientists to present their best work and highest quality findings through participation in the AACR Annual Meeting and Special Conferences and other educational meetings throughout the year.

AFLAC provides merit-based funding to early career scientists who have submitted the highest rated scientific abstracts for presentation at AACR meetings and conferences. In addition, AFLAC supports other training opportunities through AACR, including workshops on career development, grants development, an Associate Member newsletter and Web page; and other special initiatives for early career scientists.

"In the United States, the difficulty of finding stable and renewable funding is just one of the many disincentives facing young scientists considering a career in cancer research. AFLAC's leadership support has helped send important messages to these bright Scholars in Training. It tells them that we at AACR and our friends from AFLAC believe strongly in their ability to help overcome this disease. We want the best and brightest minds working on the cancer problem, and AFLAC shares our commitment to and our passion for conquering cancer. For this, everyone in the cancer community is extremely grateful."

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is a professional society of more than 22,000 laboratory and clinical scientists engaged in cancer research in the United States, Canada, and more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication, and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five leading peer-reviewed scientific journals (Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics). Also, AACR's annual meetings draw more than 15,000 participants from all over the world who present their newest and most significant findings related to cancer. Through this multidisciplinary meeting and 10-12 specialty meetings throughout the year focused on the most important areas of basic, translational, and clinical cancer research, AACR has become a major force in accelerating progress against cancer.

AFLAC Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is an international holding company. A Fortune 500 company, AFLAC insures more than 40 million people worldwide. It is a leading writer of insurance products marketed at the worksite in the United States, offering policies to employees at more than 288,100 payroll accounts. The company insures one out of four Japanese households and is the largest life insurer in Japan in terms of individual policies in force. In March 2004, Fortune magazine included AFLAC in its annual listing of "America's Most Admired Companies." In July 2003, Fortune named AFLAC to its list of "America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities." In January 2004, AFLAC was included in Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work for" for the sixth consecutive year. Also in January 2004, AFLAC was named to Forbes magazine's "Platinum 400 List of Best Big Companies in America" for the fifth consecutive year. AFLAC's Internet address is aflac.com.

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Patsy J. Thomas
AFLAC Incorporated
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