A new coalition of cancer research charities is putting early detection of some of oncology’s deadliest tumours firmly on the agenda, committing $12m to six collaborative research projects, announced ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February.
The programme will focus on pancreatic, ovarian and oesophageal cancers – three indications that often grow and spread silently and are frequently diagnosed at advanced, hard-to-treat stages – as well as cancer predisposition syndromes where inherited risk is high. Each selected project is eligible for up to $2m in funding.
Charities involved
The initiative is led by The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the Lustgarten Foundation, Break Through Cancer, and The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation (Tina’s Wish) – all organisations with distinct but complementary missions in cancer research, early detection and collaborative science.
“We can’t cure what we can’t detect, and late-stage diagnosis often limits treatment options,” said Ryan Schoenfeld, CEO, The Mark Foundation. “For too long, significant advances in early detection of these deadly cancer types have been lacking. This coalition breaks down barriers between funders, scientists and research disciplines to drive faster progress.”
The scheme builds on an early-detection workshop held in Philadelphia in January 2025, which brought together experts in pre-invasive disease, screening, trial design and regulation for hard-to-treat cancers.
Prevention science
Among the teams selected for grants, projects will cover a range of innovative approaches:
- Exploring digital pathology and AI to stratify oesophageal cancer risk;
- Investigating whole-genome signals such as extrachromosomal DNA and aneuploidy in early ovarian cancer detection;
- Developing cell-free DNA surveillance platforms for cancer predisposition syndromes;
- Mapping molecular signatures and precursor lesions that could transform risk stratification and early detection across tumour types;
- Studying KRAS-driven biology in pancreatic cancer with aims to detect and intercept disease earlier.
Potential outputs include new biomarker signatures, risk scores and imaging strategies that could later underpin companion diagnostics, adaptive trial designs and earlier-line use of targeted and immuno-oncology therapies.
Hopes for the project
“Knowledge-sharing is central to solving the most pressing challenges in cancer research,” said Margaret Foti, CEO, AACR, highlighting the opportunity to unite international, cross-disciplinary expertise on cancers that remain difficult to detect.
If the project delivers robust early-detection tools in key indications, they could represent a major leap toward intervening before cancers become incurable, potentially helping to reduce the vast number of patients who are currently diagnosed at advanced stages.
