Recent reporting in The New York Times describes deep uncertainty across America’s cancer research ecosystem: stalled grant reviews, frozen payments, and labs forced to scale back or shut down. Behind each delay are investigators, trainees, and — most importantly — patients whose futures depend on steady scientific progress.
Other headlines echo the same alarm:
- 75% of US scientists surveyed by Nature say they’ve considered leaving the country
- Young scientists say they may abandon research as their career options sink amid cuts
- Funding cuts threaten a new generation of cancer immunotherapies
These stories spotlight a grim reality for science and reinforce why sustained funding is critical.
Our Mission Stands Firm
At the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), our mission and our work remain unaffected. As an independent nonprofit, we receive no government funding. Our support comes from donors, foundations, and corporate partners who believe — as we do — that lifesaving cancer immunotherapy must keep advancing regardless of political cycles.
When research is disrupted, we act. With federal funding in flux, we have moved quickly to protect momentum at the most vulnerable point of the pipeline: young scientists and early-stage discovery.
Earlier this year, we committed an additional $2.5 million from our reserve fund to launch 25 new postdoctoral fellowships, ensuring promising projects continue without interruption and the next generation of leaders stays in the fight.
Introducing the CRI IGNITE Award
To further safeguard the future of discovery, we have launched the CRI IGNITE Award: Inspiring Growth and Nurturing Independence Through Excellence.
This five-year, $1.05M award provides a guided pathway for outstanding postdoctoral researchers in cancer immunotherapy as they make the critical transition to independence — a stage of career development that is increasingly at risk.
Continuing a Legacy of Impact
This is what CRI was built for: to provide stability and continuity so breakthroughs aren’t lost and talent isn’t driven from the field.
From the dozens of FDA-approved immunotherapies that trace back to CRI-supported science to the five Nobel Laureates on our Scientific Advisory Council, our model has consistently driven impact–for researchers, for patients, and for the future.
Moving Science Forward, Together
As challenges mount, our resolve only deepens. CRI remains committed to advancing our mission by:
- Bridge funding gaps that threaten early-stage research and training
- Back bold ideas with the potential to rewrite standards of care
- Sustain momentum through fellowships and programs that bridge lab discoveries to patient care
Our progress and our promise are made possible by our donors. Together, we can safeguard the work and the people who make tomorrow’s treatments possible — no matter the headlines — until we achieve our vision of a world immune to cancer.
