Physical Health United States Project #65182

Help Make Cures Possible for ALL Cancers

by National Foundation for Cancer Research

Help Make Cures Possible for ALL Cancers

Project Report | Apr 24, 2026
Areas of Research Focus for 2026

By NFCR Staff | NFCR Communications

As we prepare to allocate funds to cutting-edge research initiatives, our mission remains unchanged and our commitment unwavering: to make cures possible for all cancers.

To stay ahead of the most promising scientific advances, NFCR is sharpening its focus on areas of research with exceptional potential to save lives. Throughout this year and beyond, we are prioritizing:

- Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Cancer Intervention
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cancer Research

Catching cancer early, before it spreads, can dramatically improve outcomes and survivorship. Research that enables earlier detection and timely intervention continues to show some of the most powerful impacts on patient lives.

We are already funding researchers in this area, including Dr. Azra Raza and Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, who are pushing the boundaries of diagnostics to shift towards proactive and personalized healthcare for individuals.

The second area of our renewed research focus is centered on Artificial Intelligence and Cancer Research.

AI is accelerating the pace of discovery by helping researchers identify patterns, improve diagnostics, and move toward more personalized treatments. As showcased at the recent 2025 NFCR Global Summit and highlighted within this newsletter, researchers see AI-driven tools as essential to advancing cancer science and improving patient care.

With your help, a cure to cancer is more than a vision of hope.

It is a vision of reality. Science has reached a point where curing cancer is possible. We are confident that our research focus this year -and into the near future - will help us to advance against cancer - faster.

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Jan 2, 2026
A YEAR OF PROGRESS. MISSION-DRIVEN IMPACT

By NFCR | We Make Cures Possible

On October 24, 2025, NFCR convened an extraordinary community of leading scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and supporters united by one purpose: to conquer cancer together. We celebrated innovation and collaboration. Leading-edge ideas were shared openly and partnerships formed organically. We honored one of the true giants in biomedical science whose seminal discoveries led to more than 80 drugs for patients. From Research Discovery to Patient Impact: The AI Revolution in Cancer Research Throughout the 2025 NFCR Global Summit, more than two dozen expert panelists, along with attendees, discussed and debated the emerging power of AI in cancer research and patient care. From Dr. Monica Bertagnolli’s keynote on making healthcare innovation work for every community, topics ranged between thoughtprovoking discussions about early detection and prevention, precision diagnostics, and personalized treatment. NFCR is helping lead these conversations—connecting people, ideas, and technology to move science forward and improve lives. Key takeaways from the 2025 Global Summit include: • AI-assisted clinical-trial matching, precision imaging, and machinelearning models are moving from theory to real-world applications. • Panelists highlighted that AI’s role in prevention is not to over-screen but to target wisely—using precision data to identify who is most at risk and why. • Thought leaders emphasized that AI is not just improving research, it is redefining it, linking molecular discovery, patient care, and public health insight into one continuous learning ecosystem. • Expert panelists discussed the concept of the molecular “digital” twin—a data-rich, individual profile, or ‘avatar’, built from a patient’s genetic and clinical information to help predict how they might respond to treatment. • Across all sessions, a unifying theme emerged: AI enhances, rather than replaces, the human dimension of cancer care. The doctor– patient relationship, empathy, and contextual judgment remain irreplaceable. Speakers echoed, while AI recognizes massive patterns, it still struggles with small, human details that make medicine work. The 2025 NFCR Global Summit reinforced how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire ecosystem of cancer research and patient care, from laboratory discovery to bedside decision-making. We are leading and uniting the world’s top scientific minds to confront these questions head-on—ensuring that innovation in artificial intelligence serves not only science, but humanity. For a complete recap, including Dr. Bertagnolli’s full keynote speech and remarks from the 2025 NFCR Global Summit, visit NFCR.org

Attachments:

NFCR_2025_YE_Snapshot_FINAL.pdf (PDF)

1 Attachment

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Sep 12, 2025
Early Detection & Intervention - Cancer Prevention

By NFCR | All Things Cancer Episode 8

In our latest episode of All Things Cancer, leading voices from across the cancer research ecosystem share how the future of cancer care is being reshaped by early detection and early intervention. The conversation underscores a central truth: detecting cancer early only matters if it’s paired with action.

Keep reading below to see which experts lend their knowledge in this episode!

Why Early Detection Must Lead to Action Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee explains that while early detection is critical, it can also create anxiety if there isn’t an effective treatment pathway. He envisions a future where targeted therapies and AI-driven drug development make lifesaving treatments both accessible and affordable worldwide.

The Promise of Biomarkers and Interception

Dr. Samir Hanash of MD Anderson details how bloodbased biomarker panels are revolutionizing lung cancer detection, moving toward a world where a routine blood test can flag risk for multiple cancers.

Dr. Steven Lipkin of Weill Cornell introduces the “cancer dome” concept—detecting risk early and intercepting cancer before it develops using RNA vaccines and cellfree DNA.

Turning Knowledge into Prevention for All

Dr. Sapna Syngal from DanaFarber highlights the importance of implementation. Tools like the PREM model, embedded in electronic medical records, can automatically flag highrisk patients for genetic testing and screening—especially critical in underserved populations.

Dr. Ajay Goel of City of Hope focuses on gastrointestinal cancers and the promise of cellfree DNA, RNA, and exosome biomarkers, while emphasizing the need for affordable, equitable testing.

Industry’s Role in Transforming Care

Dr. Carlos Doti of AstraZeneca provides the industry perspective: pharma must prioritize prevention and early intervention, moving beyond shortterm profit cycles to truly transform patient outcomes.

Together, these experts paint a hopeful picture of a future where early detection, paired with effective intervention and broad access, can dramatically reduce cancer mortality

Links:

NFCR Podcast Series

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